The Islamic State has taken credit for the attack on a French Catholic Church where an 85-year-old priest conducting a Mass was forced to kneel before the church’s altar where one man slit his throat while a second videoed the horrific murder.

A statement issue by ISIS said “two soldiers of the Islamic State” carried out the attack. The Associated Press reported this was the first ISIS attack inside a Western church.

Certainly other ISIS attacks have been horrific, like the recent killing of more than 80 in Nice where a truck was used to intentionally run over people out enjoying a sidewalk stroll. Plenty of other innocent people have been victims of ISIS violence. Just in the last year we’ve seen tourists killed in Tunisia, 224 killed in attacks in Egypt, 130 killed in coordinated attacks in Paris, the shootings in San Bernardino, a bombing in Brussels, the nightclub shootings in Orlando and others.

As horrible as each and every one of the previous attacks has been, attacking an elderly priest during a Mass inside his church seems even more horrible. A witness described how two men wielding knives forced the priest to his knees, killing him while videoing the murder and even giving “… a sermon in Arabic.”

It’s hard to imagine “soldiers” who attack innocent people, people just going about their daily lives, people who aren’t a direct threat to them in any real way and especially soldiers who would attack a priest in his church during a Mass, at the altar.

The horror of the previous attacks should already have convinced Westerners of the threat of the Islamic State and how more aggressive action needs to be taken to combat this group. The murder of this priest should convince any remaining doubters that ISIS is a threat to us all.

French President Francois Hollande called the church attack “vile” and said it was one more sign that France is at war with ISIS.

The U.S. and its allies need to step up their efforts to root out ISIS activists and supporters.

The frequency of ISIS attacks is increasing, as is the level of violence. A New York Times report says more than 1,200 persons outside of Iraq and Syria have been killed in attacks coordinated or inspired by ISIS.

Just as ISIS is increasing its attacks we’ve got to go on the offensive to find those involved with this group and end their ability to threaten us and other innocent people elsewhere.

The killing of this priest is tragic. Hopefully it will motivate countries to work together to put an end to ISIS.

WILL CHAPMAN

PUBLISHER