Cardinal Dolan Offers Prayer, Support For Coptic Christians After ISIS Massacre

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Cardinal Timothy Dolan showed his support for Coptic Christians at a prayer service on Thursday, after the massacre of 21 followers of the faith by Islamic State militants.

As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported, Dolan prayed for the victims of the massacre this past Sunday at the Staten Island service. He then wrapped his arm around Coptic Christian Bishop David.

"St. Paul tells us we're all a family with Jesus Christ, and when one part -- we are all one body -- when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer," Dolan said.

Dolan and several other Christian faith leaders offered condolences and promised solidarity with Bishop David.

"When it comes to tragedies like this, we forget about any differences," Dolan said. "We just look at how close we are."

Bishop said Coptic Christians are not fearful of terrorism.

This past Sunday, a faction calling itself the Tripoli Province of the Islamic State released video of the mass beheading of a group of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians.

The brutal execution of the Coptic Christians, who were first paraded along the sore before they met their barbaric death, was denounced by Pope Francis.

In:
• Staten Island
• Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant