Coptic Leader Forgives Islamic State for Beheading 21 Christians

A leader of the Coptic Christian church recently said that he forgives the Islamic State terrorists who recently beheaded 21 Coptic Christians in Libya, adding that he doesn't forgive the act, but he does forgive the murderers.

Bishop Angaelos, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, told CNN in a recent interview that although the recent beheadings are gruesome and barbaric, he forgives the murderers.

A recent video released by the Islamic State shows militants beheading 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya as the victims called out loud to Jesus to save them.

"It may seem unbelievable to some of your readers, but as a Christian and a Christian minister I have a responsibility to myself and to others to guide them down this path of forgiveness," Bishop Angaelos told CNN in a recent interview. "We don't forgive the act because the act is heinous. But we do forgive the killers from the depths of our hearts."

Bishop Angaelos added that failing to forgive the killers would cause Christians to " become consumed by anger and hatred. It becomes a spiral of violence that has no place in this world."

Angaelos added that the recent beheading should be a sign to all persecuted persons, not just Chrisians, of the danger of extremist groups like the Islamic State.

"It is a crime against humanity, and if there's anything we should stand for as human beings, first and foremost it's the sanctity of all human life," the bishop continued.

"Of course, the vast majority of persecution falls squarely right now on Christians in the Middle East and that needs to be addressed," he said. "But, as a Christian, I will never be comfortable just safeguarding the rights of Christians. We need to help everyone."