AUCKLAND (CNS): New Zealand’s Catholic bishops expressed horror and distress at a March 15 terrorist attack targeting two mosques in Christchurch, in which at least 50 people died and at least as many injured. 
 
The attacks took place at or near the Al Noor Mosque, most of the victims were killed, and at the Linwood Mosque as  people gathered for Friday prayers.
 
Muslims had gathered at the mosques for Friday prayers. Some of those killed were children, it has been reported.
 

AUCKLAND (CNS): The St. Addai Chaldean Catholic community in suburban Auckland felt the impact of the Christchurch mosque killings with a special poignancy, because many members have experienced the sufferings inflicted by terrorism.
 
“There is a lady in my community—they beheaded her son in front of her,” Chaldean Father Douglas Al-Bazi told NZ Catholic. “Another man; they killed his parents in front of him.”
 

JAKARTA (UCAN): In response to the deadly mosque attacks that took place on March 15 in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 50 people died, Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, Indonesia, issued a statement on March 18 condemning the “savage acts which are against the values of any religious teachings and of universal humanity.”