AFRICA/LIBYA - "Do not offend the peoples religious sensibility," said Mgr. Martinelli

Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - "What has happened is terrible, but we need to avoid offending the peoples religious sensibility," says to Fides His Exc. Mgr. Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, on hearing the news of the death of the U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three officials, in the assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, by a group of armed men last night, probably to protest against the screening of a film in the United States that offends the Prophet Mohammed.
"One has to respect the sensitivity of the Muslim population. The Arab countries are already in the throes of momentous upheaval, pouring gasoline on religious outrage is really dangerous. Not everything is good and holy, but we must try to understand the precise reality of these Countries with their feelings," adds Mgr. Martinelli.
Even in Egypt, demonstrators attacked the local U.S. embassy, while Egyptian Copts announced a protest against the film "that insults Islam." (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/09/2012)