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The Editorial

Terrorism and forgiveness?

July 7 brings the first anniversary of the terrible atrocity when four fanatical suicide bombers blew themselves up on the London transport system killing many innocent people.

John Benton

Since that horrendous event I have often pondered the story of the Rev. Julie Nicholson who lost her daughter Jenny in the Edgware Road attack. In March it was reported that she had resigned her post because she found it too hard to forgive the murderers. ‘It is very difficult for me’, she said, ‘to stand behind an altar and celebrate the Eucharist and lead people in words of peace and reconciliation and forgiveness when I feel very far from that myself.’ One feels both the greatest sympathy for her and at the same time real admiration for the transparent integrity displayed in her decision to resign.