ISIS Family Slaughters Christians at Worship in Three Churches

At least 18-people have been killed in Indonesia following a spate of suicide bombings which targeted 3-churches.  The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility, crediting the attack to a family of bombers, which includes children.

On Sunday, May 13th, a husband, a wife, and four children … including a 9-year-old girl … carried out the attacks against churchgoers at Santa Maria Catholic Church, Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church, and Surabaya Central Pentecost Church.  The father reportedly exploded a car bomb, while the mother and her two daughters, aged 9 and 12, and two sons, 18 and 16, use a motorbike to carry out the other church attacks.

“The husband drove the car, an Avanza, that contained explosives and rammed it into the gate in front of that church,” confirmed police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera, according to Sky News.

Christian leaders have responded to the deadly wave of attacks on believers by calling for peace, and by praising the actions of those who sacrificed their lives to save others.  Father Alexius Kurdo Irianto, the priest at Santa Maria Catholic Church, said that a churchgoer by the name of Aloysius Bayu Rendra Wardhana died while attempting to prevent the bombers from entering the church compound.  “If he had not stopped the bombers, there would have been more victims [inside the church],” Irianto said.

The victim’s mother, Rosalia Siswaty, said that her family was “proud to have a martyr who gave his life to save hundreds of people attending Sunday Mass inside the church building.”  “He had completed his service in this world.  He was called to serve the Lord in Heaven,” she stated.

ISIS, which for years has been spreading its influence in the world’s largest Islamic nation, claimed responsibility for the attack.  The terrorists also said they orchestrated another hostage-taking ordeal last week, where imprisoned ISIS militants at a detention center near Jakarta killed six officers.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo spoke out at the scene of attacks, declaring: “This act is barbaric and beyond the limits of humanity, causing victims among members of society, the police and even innocent children.”

Father Agustinus Ulahayanan, executive secretary of the bishops’ Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, called on Catholics and other Christians to unite.  “We must not be afraid.  We must tighten security,” Ulahayanan said.

Christian persecution watchdog group Open Doors pointed out in a statement shared with The Christian Post that the attack on the churches comes 2-days before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.  Over the past several years, there has been an increase of violence against believers around the time of Ramadan.  “ … as westerners, we can hardly imagine a holiday [Ramadan] that is accompanied by intense and justifiable fear, but Christians in some predominantly Muslim countries often experience increased persecution during this time,” said David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA.  “Atrocities like these attacks in Indonesia often increase as groups like ISIS encourage extremists to commit violent acts during this Muslim Holy Month,” he added, noting that Indonesia ranks No. 38 on his group’s World Watch List.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel