Michigan Pastor weighs in on Sri Lanka explosions

Detroit, (FOX 2) - St. Anne’s Church of Detroit was packed for Easter services. This was probably the same case for churches in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately bombs started going off killing more than 200 people and injuring 500 more. 

“It’s supposed to be a day of joy, hope and peace,” said St. Anne Pastor Monsignor Chuck Kosanke. 

But for Christians in Sri Lanka, this was a day of terror because eight bombs went off killing worshippers at the churches and other innocent people at high-end hotels. 

“Obviously with Easter being one of our holiest days of the year, the day is deliberate,” Kosanke said. 

Kosanke says Easter Sunday services are always well attended around the world, which means the attackers were looking to do the most damage. 

“My heart just sank because you immediately think of the victims and their families,” he said. 

Kosanke says sadly attacks against religion aren’t a new issue. 

“Jews and Christians have been persecuted throughout history in horrible ways and that continues today,” Kosanke said. 

Just last month, 50 people were shot and killed at two mosques in New Zealand, and last fall a gunman targeted Jews praying in a Philadelphia Synagogue. 

“Quite frankly whoever does this against any place of worship it's blasphemous because if it's done in the name of God that's not the God we believe in,” said Kosanke. 

Kosanke says he wants Sri Lankens to know Christians here in Detroit stand in solidarity through this troubling time.

“The more all of us work for world peace hopefully this will happen less.”