Vatican calls for release of kidnapped Nigerian girls

[hrmjustin]

Josephine McKenna

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican issued an urgent appeal Thursday (May 8) for the release of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The abduction of the young girls three weeks ago was the latest instance of the “horrible forms of violence” for which the militant Islamic group has become known in Nigeria, said the Vatican’s chief spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi.

“The denial of any kind of respect for life and for the dignity of human beings, even the most innocent, vulnerable and defenseless, calls for the strongest condemnation,” Lombardi said.

He added that the kidnappings aroused the most heartfelt feelings of compassion for the victims and a sense of horror for the physical and spiritual suffering and the incredible humiliation they have suffered.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/05/08/vatican-calls-release-kidnapped-nigerian-girls/

[cbayer]

1. That's nice, but this situation needs a lot more than "urgent" appeals.

The international community is offering too little, too late and the US response is particularly shameful.

[hrmjustin]

2. I agree. I think military help from the UN might be the way to go.

[cbayer]

3. A coalition of some sort seems to be in order.

This group is bad, but relatively small. I'm certainly no expert, but it seems like they would be relatively easy to take out.

[hrmjustin]

4. Well I imagine the worry is that some of the girls could get killed in a raid but I don't think

there is much of a choice.

[cbayer]

5. Some of those girls might rather be killed in a raid than continue to be subjected

to what I imagine they are going through right now.

I can barely even think of it.