Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Prayer a stronghold in life, death of Catholic journalist James Foley

Prayer a stronghold in life, death of Catholic journalist James Foley

Last updated on: August 21, 2014 at 1:01 am by CNA Daily News

Prayer a stronghold in life, death of Catholic journalist James Foley 2014-08-21T01:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Manchester, N.H., Aug 20, 2014 / 07:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Prayer not only served as a source of strength for Catholic journalist James Foley – who was allegedly killed by militant Islamic State forces – but is now a foundation for his family and community.

Foley's bishop, Peter A. Libasci of Manchester, N.H., told EWTN Aug. 20 that the news of the journalist’s death is “very, very troubling,” but that the family and community have been “praying for him and for news of his whereabouts” since Foley's disappearance in Nov. 2012.

“It's been a family that has continued to pray,” the bishop said, adding that the community has also offered its support and prayers since Foley went missing.

“You just know that the reality of faith is what’s holding them right now.”

On Aug. 19, the Islamic State, a militant group who controls territory in Syria and Iraq, released a video titled “A Message to America” in which the video purportedly shows the beheading of Foley, though U.S. authorities have not yet publicly verified the film’s authenticity. After the beheading was shown in the online video, insurgents showed another man, stated to be another missing American journalist, Steven Joel Sotloff, saying that his life depends on American President Barack Obama’s actions.

Insurgents said that Foley’s execution was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State targets in northern Iraq.

In an Aug. 20 press conference, James Foley’s parents John and Diane spoke of their faith as well of their pride in their son.

“We thank God for the gift of Jim. We are so, so proud of him,” said Diane Foley. She added that they prayed to God for strength and were grateful that “God has given us so many prayers” throughout James’ captivity.

She also thanked their family, parish, local priests and community for their prayers.

“It's not difficult to find solace in this point in time,” John Foley said. “We know he is in God's hands, and we know he’s done God’s work,” the father added through tears.

“We need the courage and prayers now to continue without him,” John Foley continued.

Previously detained for six weeks in Libya in 2011, James Foley wrote a letter to his alma mater, Marquette University, a Catholic university in Wisconsin, about how he turned to prayer, specifically the Rosary, during his captivity, and how the prayers of family and friends also gave him strength.

“I began to pray the Rosary.” he wrote. “It was what my mother and grandmother would have prayed. I said 10 Hail Marys between each Our Father. It took a long time, almost an hour to count 100 Hail Marys off on my knuckles. And it helped to keep my mind focused.”

When he was first allowed to call home after over two weeks in captivity, Foley said his mother told him about the prayers others have offered up for him. This news made him wonder if instead of his own prayers, “it was others’ prayers strengthening me, keeping me afloat.”

“If nothing else, prayer was the glue that enabled my freedom,” Foley said, “an inner freedom first and later the miracle of being released during a war in which the regime had no real incentive to free us.”

Marquette University offered its prayers for Foley and his family at the news of his death, and stated that it will hold a memorial Mass for Foley on Aug. 26.

President Obama stated that he was praying for the Foley family in an Aug. 20 press conference, and decried the tactics of the Islamic State.

The organization, the president said, “speaks for no religion,” noting that many of the Islamic State’s victims are Muslim. “No just God would stand for what they did yesterday, and for what they do every single day,” said Obama.

The president pledged that it would “do what we must do to protect our people” and would work to “do what’s necessary to see that justice is done.”

Secretary of State John Kerry, who got to know the Foley family during Jim’s first captivity in 2011, also offered his prayers for the Foley family in an Aug. 20 statement, calling the Islamic State’s actions “evil.”

“There is evil in this world, and we all have come face to face with it once again,” the Secretary of State said. “ISIL is the face of that evil, a threat to people who want to live in peace, and an ugly insult to the peaceful religion they violate every day with their barbarity,” he emphasized.

“James Foley went to the darkest of places to shine the light of truth,” Kerry stated. “He was brave and bold, and no masked coward can ever steal the legacy of this courageous American who lived out the meaning of the word journalism.”

Bishop Libasci said that those who feel frustrated and angry in the wake of Foley’s execution should look towards the example of St. John the Baptist, who also died from beheading and whose feast day will be celebrated shortly.

“All I can think of is here was this young man who was pointing the way toward truth, here was a man who pointing out what was happening in the country of Syria, here was a man who was pointing to what we should be aware of,” the bishop said.

He added that Christians in this time should look to Christ as St. John the Baptist did. “Let us be one with Christ and let us remember the one who pointed the way towards Christ.”

“A Christian must always remember that revenge does not belong to us,” Bishop Libasci added. “Mercy, as difficult as it may seem is the most important message we can carry at this time.”

Previous Post

August 20, 2014

Archbishop notes troubling rise of youth unemployment

Next Post

August 21, 2014 Supreme Court halts marriage redefinition in Virginia

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I was made a watchman for the house of Israel. If I failed to warn the wicked, whose blood would be required?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The wicked person's No one's The watchman's The people's