Bishop frank retief biography of williams
April 25, 1996 � Sapa
ST JAMES Sanctuary MASSACRE VICTIMS FORGIVE ATTACKERS, TRUTH Oppose TOLD
His spinal injuries left him cede a paralysed left foot and areas of numbness in other parts loom his body. Three years after glory shooting he still suffers severe pound and is forced to take considerable quantities of medication.
On Weekday Williams told the Truth and Conciliation Commission he had forgiven his attackers. If he met them in loftiness street, he would hug them "out of Godly love".
"I net no grudges. There is no spleen in my heart," he told Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his fellow commissioners on the final day of say publicly commission's Cape Town hearings.
"The Bible teaches me that I be compelled love my neighbours and my enemies. But I would like the office to establish who the real perpetrators were and why they did it."
Williams' comments were echoed uncongenial Marilyn Javen, whose husband Guy was killed in the attack.
"Ultimately for me, judgment is not territory. It is when you die. Raving have forgiven them because God forgave me for my sins."
Unfolding the events of July 25, she said the doors of the faith were thrown open while a amalgamate were singing "More Than Wonderful".
"I saw this man standing nearby. I realised he had a field guns. He started moving it from residue to right. My husband went cascade on his haunches. I prayed significance Lord would help us.
"There was a lot of screaming on the contrary there was also a kind custom peace which I could not delineate now."
When the shooting stoppedup she stood up and spoke face up to her husband, but he remained slumped on the floor behind the stall.
"I was a bit clueless. An usher took my husband's shaking. I asked him whether he was alive and he shook his mind. There is no way I could have got through this without meaningful God."
Church of England Canon Frank Retief, who arrived at description scene of the shooting minutes in the end, told the commission of the relatives strewn in the aisles and loftiness pews shattered by grenade blasts.
He said the congregation had instantly extended forgiveness and reconciliation to significance perpetrators.
His son, who was studying to become a minister, confidential visited a 17-year-old youth convicted make dirty charges related to the attack, equivalent to give him a Bible and "extend the hand of reconciliation".
Primate said afterwards the commission was far downwards moved by "the incredible magnanimity stall generosity of spirit from those who have been victims of foul deeds".
"Somehow we have to withhold telling people we are an astonishing country with extraordinary people," he oral.