David Brody, chief political correspondent for CBN News, criticized Obama’s somber tone in announcing the death. “How about showing a little joy?” wrote Brody, suggesting that the president was overly concerned about Arab reaction.

Read a blog post at America magazine, the Jesuit weekly, titled “What is the Christian Response to Bin Laden’s Death?” It is written by the Rev. James Martin and argues that “as a Christian … I cannot rejoice at the death of a human being, no matter how monstrous he was.”

Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, cautions against celebratory reactions to Osama bin Laden’s death and says bin Laden did not have an earthly court trial but won’t escape God’s judgment. Mohler also describes the raid as fully acceptable under just-war theory.

Former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee responded to the news of Osama bin Laden’s death by saying, “Welcome to hell, bin Laden.”

Christianity Today has a blog post titled “How Should Christians Respond to Osama bin Laden’s Death?” It rounds up some initial reactions to bin Laden’s 2011 killing.

The Vatican called for reflection, not rejoicing, at the news of Osama bin Laden’s killing.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, on May 5, 2011, voiced reservations about the killing of bin Laden and the varying accounts of the episode. Read an article from The Telegraph about the controversy his remarks generated.

Johari Abdul-Malik is outreach director for Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va., one of the largest Islamic centers in the country. He is a former chaplain at Howard University and is also president of the coordinating council of Muslim organizations representing 46 Islamic centers, schools and organizations from Baltimore to Richmond, Va. His […]

Steven Rosenthal is a professor of history at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.