Churches Attacked During Easter Services in Sri Lanka; Parisians Pray for Swift Restoration of Notre Dame
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN ANCHOR: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Alex Marquardt in for Ana Cabrera on this Easter Sunday. We have breaking news right now. An entire country shaken after hundreds of people are killed in a wave of bombings. This is Sri Lanka. More than 200 people are dead, hundreds more wounded in three separate cities. There were at least eight explosions that went off in what authorities are now saying was clearly an act of terrorism. U.S. officials are confirming that several American citizens are among the dead. The places that were hit on this Easter Sunday are places where people gather, high-end hotels as well as several Christian churches that were full as they so often are on Easter Sunday. We have CNN senior international correspondent Sam Kiley live in the capital of Colombo. Sam, the entire country is locked down. It's under curfew for several more hours after this wave of explosions. What are officials now saying about what happened and who may be behind it?</s>SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the -- as you say there, Alex, the entire country is under lockdown with 207 confirmed dead, including three policemen who were killed in two explosions during a follow-up operation. There have been at least seven arrests, among them, according to the local media, a whole family of people. There's no suggestion yet from the authorities as to who might be behind this, what is clearly a terrorist attack. The locations singling out hotels popular with westerners. Local authorities are saying there could be up to 30 foreigners killed. The Shangri-La is just about 150 yards down the road from where I'm standing now. That was hit in the teashop at the same time as this other explosions were going off inside churches, picking out for Christians for particular murderous treatment. But, Alex, there has been a very interesting development that might point to who was behind this because there's been a memo released, or at least leaked, written on the 11th of this month, nine days before the attacks, to a number of security officials around the country by the deputy inspector general of police in which he warns that, and I quote, the state intelligence services have stated that they have information regarding an alleged plan of suicide attack by the leader of Nations Thawahid Jaman. And they named the leader as Mohomad Saharan. Now, that is a militant organization that's associated with the ideology of al Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State. It goes on to say that he requires these different security organizations to up their security and pay special attention. And already, there are even cabinet ministers here -- excuse me -- complaining that no extra security efforts were made. So that will be part of what the Prime Minister here has already said will be an inquiry into what went wrong, Alex. But he also insists that the most important thing to do is to maintain peace and try and round up the rest of -- if there is, the rest of the group behind these killings, Alex.</s>MARQUARDT: So there is a name but no confirmation yet that they are behind it. Sam Kiley, live in the Sri Lankan capital. Thank you very much. Joining me now is CNN's religious commentator, Father Edward Beck. Father Beck, thank you so much for joining us on this Easter Sunday. First of all, what was your reaction when you heard that among those more than 200 victims today were Christians in what we now understand were three Catholic churches just celebrating Easter mass?</s>REV. EDWARD BECK, CNN RELIGION COMMENTATOR: Well, you know, Alex, of course, it's not the first time that people have conspired to make this week not Holy Week but an unholy week. Remember, there have been Easter attacks in Kenya, in Pakistan, in India, all in recent years. So the fact that, in these Christian minority countries, that on these major feast days, even the Christians show up in such numbers knowing the risk, I mean, that's just a testimony to me that people do believe in the power of goodness and the message of this season, of rebirth. That that's stronger than the evil and that's stronger than the violence and the death. And it's really the testimony of the faith. So my first response was, this terrible tragedy has once again befallen innocent people, Christians, on this High Holy Day, and yet it is the mystery that we're celebrating. It is the suffering, death, and resurrection that Christians are committed to and that they continue to show up to celebrate.</s>MARQUARDT: Father, we heard from Pope Francis today in the Vatican as we do every Easter, and he said in his speech that he was praying for, quote, all of the victims of cruel violence in Sri Lanka. As you've noted, it's been a grim week overall this week, not just the Sri Lankan attacks that we saw today. There is the historic fire at Notre Dame on Monday, the arson scare here in New York at St. Patrick's Cathedral, churches intentionally burned down -- three of them -- in Louisiana, as well. On top of all that is the ongoing sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. So, Father, after hearing that long list, does Easter Sunday feel different this year?</s>BECK: Well, I think Easter Sunday feels like what it's supposed to feel like. That that's not the final word, that even amidst -- I mean, Jesus goes to the cross. It's unjust crucifixion, unjust persecution. And the symbolism of that for us is it's not the final word. So you name all of these tragedies -- and, yes, terrible tragedies -- but at Notre Dame, I mean, that cross still stood. The wall still held. All of the donations have come in to rebuild. And it's people's testimony that this will not win. And so I think that the Easter message is just needed in the midst of such tragedy and that list. And I'm thinking, too, you mentioned about the sex abuse scandal. I mean, institutional religion is not doing well right now. And I think the point, though, that people are feeling, that's still a need for spirituality and a connection to some depth in their lives but maybe they're not finding it in the institution. But is it the buildings that matter? I mean, Notre Dame fell. These churches have been destroyed. But the people of God are the church. So that's the real message of Easter, that Christ lives in those believers who will continue on despite the destruction, despite those who would thwart that advancement.</s>MARQUARDT: And in the wake of these horrible attacks in Sri Lanka, we did saw the Eiffel Tower in Paris go dark as it so often does following tragedy around the world. Paris, of course, dealing with its own tragedy in the past week, that fire that you noted at Notre Dame Cathedral. Parishioners who might normally go to Notre Dame on Easter Sunday, they had to attend services at a nearby church. So for those non- Catholics or for those who don't know, what significance does Notre Dame hold for Catholics?</s>BECK: Well, it is the cathedral of Paris. So you have a hundred parishes but that is the seat of the archbishop. It's the most important church. And historically, it has held such significance, not only for tourists but for people who wanted to go there to pray. And, you know, I've heard some the critique like, well, it's just a building, and why are we spending all this money on a building? And, yes, it is that. But I think it's a testimony that the human spirit needs to be lifted up in some way. To know that all of that time and money and effort were placed in a building for God and that the human spirit might be lifted up to something higher, that's really why it's such an important symbol. It's not about the brick and mortar. It's about what the symbolism of that building, what people aspire to, what it helps them get to. And so I think that it's so important because, yes, it's beautiful. It has the paintings, it has the organ, it has those beautiful bells that toll, but it's because people have been baptized there, people have been married there, people have been buried there, people have gathered for prayer to go beyond themselves, to be lifted higher. And that's why I think it resonated throughout the world, even with nonbelievers who looked at it and said, you know, I don't know everything about what that's about but something special is happening there and it moves me even though I'm not Catholic or not Christian.</s>MARQUARDT: Yes. It resonated so much that there has been an outpouring of offers of funds to the tune of more than $1 billion that had been raised for the effort to rebuild the cathedral. Were you surprised by this response?</s>BECK: I was and surprised by it, first of all. And I was surprised that even non-Christians were donating to it. I think for the reasons I just enunciated.</s>MARQUARDT: Right.</s>BECK: And I was also not surprised, though, that people are protesting that. That, you know, you have protesters in France who've been protesting for a fair wage, against economic injustice, and saying, well, why aren't they spending the money on that? Why are they spending it on a building? And so I get that. I mean, people come first before buildings, and so I think we need to do both. And I think the protesters have a point, but I think the people are responding to the building, again, not for the brick and mortar but for what it represents. We need beauty in our lives to lift us up, to take us beyond ourselves. That's why people are giving to it, not because buildings are more important than people.</s>MARQUARDT: Well said. Father Edward Beck, thank you very much, and happy Easter.</s>BECK: Happy Easter, Alex. Thank you.</s>MARQUARDT: Coming up, the President's lawyer claims that there's nothing wrong with getting information from Russians. We'll dig in to his argument. Plus, a new Democratic call to begin impeachment proceedings. But will it impact Speaker Pelosi's hope to make -- to take, rather, a more cautious approach?