Should free speech have it limits? How far should one go and what should be the consequences? These are few of the questions asked after the brutal killings of the innocent workers at Charlie Hebdo offices, where a satirical French magazine is produced. As people of faith, we believe that life is a gift from God and is one of the most precious gifts to us. We cannot condone this horrific attack and the consequence of free speech should not be murder. Pope Francis reflected on the nature of the attack and reminds us, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself’… To get to the first we must ascend the steps of the second: that means that through our love for our neighbor we can get to know God, who is love. Only through loving can we reach love. Pope Francis continued, Wednesday’s attack in Paris makes us think on all the cruelty, human cruelty, and on all the terrorism, the isolated one as well as State terrorism. How much cruelty are human beings capable of? Let’s pray in this Mass for the victims of this cruel act. So many. And let’s pray also for the the perpetrators of such cruelty, that the Lord might change their heart.   This Week:
  • Light a candle for the victims of this attack and remember their families and friends as they grieve their loved one.
  • Hold a minutes silence in your homes, schools and communities in honor of the victims.
  • Consider your views on free speech and what should be the limits, if any?