British bishop criticized for remarks about Iran's release of troops

Published: 2007-04-10

LONDON (CNS) -- The head of Great Britain's military diocese has come under fire from politicians, military leaders and the media after he welcomed Iran's release of 15 sailors and marines as religiously motivated "good deeds." Bishop Thomas Burns of the Bishopric of the Forces was called naive, accused of wishful thinking and was the subject of several critical newspaper editorials. Meanwhile, the Vatican said Pope Benedict XVI had sent a written appeal to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, urging the release of the 14 men and one woman captured by Iran in contested waters March 23. An informed Vatican source said that in an effort to quell increasing international tensions over the crew's seizure Pope Benedict sent the letter for "exclusively humanitarian" reasons. The Vatican would provide no details on the contents of the letter or when it was sent.

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