Actually quite a fascinating story about when if ever it's appropriate to rejoice over a man's death.
That doesn't mean that those who have lost loved ones to terrorism can or should forgive bin Laden. Forgiveness is much easier to grant when someone has asked for it and expressed repentance. And some faiths allow for exceptions, arguing that certain acts and certain people are so evil that they cannot be forgiven. The Christian tradition, however, is very clear on the example to which believers should aspire — Jesus forgiving his killers as he hung on the cross.
In the days following bin Laden's death, Father James Martin wrote about the difficulty of forgiving such a man, noting: "Forgiveness is the hardest of all Christian acts." So maybe Henry Borga is onto something in kicking this one over to God and asking Christians to just pray about it. In all the churches I've attended over the years, I've heard prayers offered for presidents and other political leaders, victims of war and natural disaster, and relatives and congregants. But I've never heard anyone pray for an enemy, despite the fact that it's an admonition from Jesus himself. Maybe that's the best place the start.
