"To the Presbyterian Church (USA)

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

we are writing this letter with deep compassion and we wish to convey how much we think of you in this time of sorrow, weeping and uncertainty for your whole nation and especially for the members of your Church. We are not able to write to you in any other way than in deep sympathy. We could not retain our tears when seeing the TV reports of the terroristic attack on the buildings where thousands of people worked, and when we watched the fall of the magnificent constructions which burried the workers and visitors who were unaware of such a terrible situation, we could not hold back our tears. We laid the question: what sort of a world is it in which we are living? We found new meaning in the warning of the prophets against those who speak about peace where there is no peace. We ponder if we as Christians have not been conciliated by the development which ended up the span of "cold war" and if we have not forgotten the power of evil and the abyss of human sin from which only Christ’s forgiveness can make us free.

Human society has the duty to defend the precious values of a peaceful human life, the personal freedoms, the cultural and spiritual estimation. And yet the tragic event, the terroristic attacks have proved how defenceless is this modern technological civilization. We are convinced that laws which make safe the civilized society against violence and despotism, must go hand in hand with the Christian effort for the change of the human hearts.

We think of you all in our prayers of intercession. Together with the Bishops’ conference and with other Christian churches, we shall meet together on Saturday, September 15. at 5 p.m. at the St. Vitus cathedral in Prague, where we shall pray for you and for your country.

A steadfast bond of mutual relations over many years binds us closely together. Thousands of emigrants who searched for sustenance and freedom have found their spiritual home in your Church. That is why we perceive the death of all who died during the terroristic attack as if it were the death of our own sisters and brothers, members of our families. Together with you we weep over the lost lifes and we share the pain of the fathers, mothers, wives and husbands, children and friends who survived. We ask you to convey our condolences to all, who have been so painfully stricken.

We are grateful to our Lord that even such horrible events can never destroy our Christian hope. In the midst of darkness there shines the light of Christ’s gospel and the promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him.

The terrible offence that had been committed against your nation must be punished. We trust that the offenders will be caught, not only those who were the submissive instruments, but also the spiritual and ideological leaders of the terroristic intentions. But we believe that you, as the people of Christ, will bring into the aroused atmosphere, the powerful witness of the Father of Jesus Christ, who is the God of righteousness and the giver of reconciliation. We know you are aware of this difficult service and therefore we encourage you to protect the soul of your nation, not to be overcome by the desire for vengeance and unlimited violence. The apostle reminds us in his letter to the Hebrews: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay".

Dear sisters and dear brothers, we are praying for you, that your hearts may be comforted through the Holy Spirit; that you may receive courage and wisdom. We pray that your preachers may give over the words of hope, when they bear witness over the open graves of the victims; we pray for the afflicted families; we also pray for wisdom for the President and the government of your state, that they make such steps that will contribute to safety, peace and righteousness in your country.

We commit you into the hands of our Lord and entrust you into his gracious protection.

With sincere greetings in the name of the Synodal Council and our whole church

RNDr. Lydie Roskovcova, Lay moderator
Mgr. Pavel Smetana, Moderator"

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