Christian Leaders Reflect on Bin Laden’s Death

In the days following Osama bin Laden’s death at the hands of U.S. military forces, Americans have responded to the news with a myriad of emotions — shock, unbridled joy, tears, relief, and a deep certainty that justice was served.

Faith leaders in Greenbelt not only had their own personal reactions to bin Laden’s death to reflect upon, but those of their congregations as well. Patch spoke with three of the community’s leaders, Father Walter J. Tappe, of Saint Hugh of Grenoble Church, Rev. Fay Lundin, of and College Park UMC, and Pastor Daniel Hamlin, of , who spoke candidly about their faith, reconciliation and justice.

“The congregation remembers Sept. 11 and remembers the people who have died,” Rev. Lundin said. “Some hope that this might be the beginning of going forward,” adding that the prevailing reaction is "a feeling of … relief seems to be the feeling.”

Pastor Hamlin offered a different perspective — a personal one. “He [bin Laden] did horrific things. His death does not make me feel safer,” he said. And he shared a feeling by members of his congregation that doesn’t reflect the jubilation expressed by many millennials.

“People have commented on it — trying to put it onto some kind of perspective,” Hamlin said. “They realize that it ought to be a big deal, but it’s not a big deal — so many years have gone by.”

For many millennials, including here in the Washington metro area, news of bin Laden’s death struck a chord, eliciting a collective response of euphoria on college campuses, towns and cities across the country.

“I can’t bring myself to rejoice over the death of a human being who has done horrendous things,” Hamlin said. But he added that he could understand why the students cheered.

“Most of the people [are] college age — eight, 10, 12 years old when 9/11 happened,” he noted.

Lundin agreed, acknowledging that the specter of Sept. 11 has loomed over a majority of their lives.

“There’s a desire to get justice — an end in some ways, perhaps a victory. I can definitely understand their attitude,” Lundin said.

Father Tappe said that he wondered why the students were rejoicing. Were they happy because bin Laden’s death meant an end to more crimes? “That’s worth rejoicing. That’s justice,” he said.

When asked if they would speak about bin Laden’s death from the pulpit, Tappe said that he was waiting for the Holy Spirit to inspire him. Lundin said that she and her staff would address the subject more indirectly. She added, “I want to get more of a feeling of what the congregation is feeling. It will take longer than a week.”

Hamlin said that he and the congregation have included Osama bin Laden and his family in prayer. He also said that members of his congregation stated that this was really hard to do. Hamlin’s response: “Yeah, it’s hard for me, too. But that’s what we’re called to do.”

Lundin, who ministers to a congregation in College Park as well, said that there’s concern in both of her churches, especially given the proximity of the Muslim school in College Park. The separation of bin Laden from the Muslim community at large — that his actions do not define the Muslim faith — is what needs to be understood and accepted.

“Let’s go forward and find common ground and have respect for different faiths. Hopefully we can separate the two and go on living,” Lundin said.

People of faith have a hard time rejoicing at the death of someone, Hamlin said. Both Tappe and Lundin agreed that it would have been better for bin Laden to stand trial and punished accordingly.

“We have to take responsibility for our actions before God and the rest of humanity,” Tappe said. “From a religious perspective, God doesn’t write anybody off. Mercy’s got to be in there somewhere. How do you deal with evil in the world? It’s not just a matter of revenge; it has to be about reconciliation — our job as Christians.”