IN the Psalms we read “Mercy and truth are met together, justice and peace have kissed each other”, (Psalm 85, verse 10).

As representatives of the Christian Churches in Boscombe, we do not believe that the killing of Osama bin Laden has served mercy or truth, justice or peace.

As followers of Jesus Christ we believe in the God of mercy, not of extra-judicial killing, and that His peace only triumphs where truth and justice meet.

No matter how convinced we may be about the guilt of Osama bin Laden, every effort should be made to bring such people to trial.

It is reported that the American Special Forces were warned that bin Laden might have been wearing a suicide vest, so if he was not naked when they found him he should be shot dead.

In a military operation that may have been sound advice, but not in the pursuit of justice. It was highly unlikely that bin Laden would be found naked, and therefore almost inevitable that he would be executed on the spot, without any trial.

Saint Paul wrote: “Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them… repay no one evil for evil… vengeance is mine, says the Lord’. (Epistle to the Romans, ch 12, verses 14, 17, 19).

This is not the way of the world, but it is the way of the Cross we gather around every Easter.

Jesus said, “My Peace I give to you”, and His peace is not made by meeting violence with violence, evil with evil, or hatred with hatred.

The thousands of people we saw on TV carousing outside the White House, in New York and in many other places across America, seemed to be celebrating vengeance, but not justice.

We wish to disassociate ourselves from such celebrations, and pray for all the people, Christians, Jews, Muslims, people of faith and people of none, who are now in danger of violent reprisals from followers of Osama bin Laden.

We also pray for all those considering carrying out such acts.

Violence begets violence; vengeance begets vengeance.

They become a self-perpetuating cycle and are never the end of the story. They are not the way to peace.

REV BOB VERNON, FR DENIS BLACKLEDGE SJ, REV SUE GOWLING, Churches Together in Boscombe