By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

The Archbishop Emeritus of Lahore, Pakistan, who was ordained archbishop on the day of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the U.S., said he fears a backlash against Christians in the days following the death of Osama bin Laden, but hopes his death will lead to a reduction in militant radicalism in the future.

Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha, former head of the Catholic Church in Pakistan, told ucanews.com that retaliation against Christians in the country where bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces on Monday is very possible.

“We are a soft target as they cannot attack America. We demand security. The government should control any retaliation,” the Archbishop said.

However, he also expressed hope that bin Laden’s killing could return balance to the war-torn society of Pakistan by reducing the militant radicalism that has engulfed that country in recent years.

 “At last we have hope that things will get better gradually,” he said. “Many looked on bin Laden as a hero of the Islamic revolution. But he was a role model of extremism and a threat to world peace. His death will change the complexion and decentralize as well as demystify extremism,” the archbishop said.

A elite team of U.S. special forces killed bin Laden, the founder of al Qaeda, in Abbottabad city in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after a brief firefight. His body was buried at sea to avoid the scenario of having his tomb made into a shrine for terrorists.

The Saudi Arabian-born bin Laden ordered the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States which killed more than 3,000 people.

It was on this same day that Saldanha was ordained an archbishop.

“The post 9/11 events affected my whole episcopal career and life,” he said, adding that the situation changed for Christians who were badly affected by violence and bloodshed. “I saw it growing worse,” he said.

In neighboring India, the same fears are gripping the Christian population.

Father Babu Joseph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, regretted that bin Laden had met a violent death. “The Church never endorses violence or associates with violence. Violence perpetrated by religion is never acceptable to any civilized society.”

There were mixed reactions to bin Laden’s death in another neighboring country, Bangladesh.

“No killing is welcomed,” said Catholic Bishops’ Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue  chairman Bishop Bejoy D’Cruze of Khulna said. “A criminal should be brought to trials and be duly prosecuted . . . I don’t know if bin Laden or Al Qaeda had any connection with Bangladeshi militants or not. But it’s sure they were encouraged and inspired by his activities, which will decline I believe.”

Sujit Purification, 34, a Catholic NGO (non-governmental organization) officer said, “I’m glad the 9/11 mastermind is dead now, it’s good news. No one can support the terrorist activities he committed.”

Moni Haider, 47, a Muslim, said he believed Bangladeshi militants would be discouraged by bin Laden’s death. “They’ve got to realize that the bin Laden chapter is over even though he was such a powerful terrorist.”

American officials are also expecting retaliation and are preparing by instructing diplomatic personnel around the globe, to be on “high alert.” The security situation is being described as “serious” even though “no specific threats have been identified” – yet.

Fox News is reporting that the Department of Homeland Security sent out a warning about Al Qaeda affiliates who “may seek to accelerate plotting efforts in the homeland, particularly Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.”

The State Department also issued an advisory overnight urging U.S. citizens abroad to use caution “in areas where recent events could cause anti-American violence.” The department instructed Americans to limit travel outside their homes and hotels and avoid mass gatherings.

Rep. Peter King, (R-NY) said the intelligence community within U.S. border is also on the lookout for any signs of an emerging retaliatory plot.

“For a while, Al Qaeda’s going to be off its game, but they will recoup quickly enough,” King told Fox News. “We have to move quickly now to take advantage of this temporary confusion with Al Qaeda, but also we have to be on our guard because they have suffered a massive defeat and Al Qaeda’s going to want to avenge this as quickly as they possibly can.”

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