Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services USA and Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, have issued the following statement in response to the January 27 bombings in and around the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the Philippine island of Sulu in Jolo, Philippines.

The full statement follows:

“The Catholic bishops of the Philippines have condemned these attacks as ‘an act of terrorism’ and asked Christians to pray for the victims and ‘join hands with all peace-loving Muslim and indigenous people against violent extremism.’ The bombings, which occurred as people attended Mass, have been condemned by Cardinal Orlando Quevedo and Archbishop Angelito Lampon as being the ‘action of evil people with utter disregard for the sacredness of human life.’

The bishops of the United States stand in solidarity and prayer with these victims and join the bishops of the Philippines in condemning such senseless acts of violence. We invite Catholics and all men and women of good will to do the same.”