Anders ran a clinic for a decade, and as Lirene says, he began his operation “without thought for coin.” And why? Because he cares about people; obviously he does, or he would have seized that opportunity of great suffering to wring the last dregs of wealth from the desperate and the sick. Doesn’t it seem odd, then, to think that Anders would allow his actions to claim more innocent lives than necessary to make his point? If you watch the destruction scene, the only people shown in the chantry are (approximately) five priestesses, a templar, and the grand cleric—but no civilians. If civilians were intended to be caught up in the act and harmed, I think BioWare would have made it a point to show that.