dhalltoyo
Veteran Expediter
Christians 'fleeing from Iraq'
Wednesday, 30th January 2008. 11:45am
By: Nick Mackenzie.
CHRISTIANS are on the verge of being wiped out from Iraq, and from ‘the entire region where Jesus Christ lived and worked,’ an Archbishop has warned.
The startling claim came from Archbishop Avak V Asadourian, a leader in the Armenian Church in Iraq. Speaking to Ecumenical News International, the church leader said that Christians are fleeing the country and now make up less than three per cent of the country’s 27.5 million population.
He said of Iraqi Christians: "They are faced each day with being kidnapped or facing the agony of having a loved one who is kidnapped."
He cited the case of a Syrian Orthodox priest in Mosul who was decapitated for refusing to convert and of a Chaldean priest and his three assistants, who were all shot dead.
While Iraqi Christians were ‘strong enough’ to face martyrdom, he said that action was needed, or: "I am afraid that Christianity will face a slow demise not only in Iraq but in the entire region where Jesus Christ lived and worked."
He called on Christians in Western countries to put pressure on their governments to help Iraqi Christians.
His comments were echoed by Canon Andrew White, the Anglican chaplain in Baghdad, who told CBS that things in Iraq were ‘the most difficult they have ever been for Christians, probably ever in history.’
The Geneva-based ecumenical umbrella World Council of Churches has launched an initiative to help Christians in such situations around the world. 1
Sources Cited:
1 Religious Intelligence - Welcome
Wednesday, 30th January 2008. 11:45am
By: Nick Mackenzie.
CHRISTIANS are on the verge of being wiped out from Iraq, and from ‘the entire region where Jesus Christ lived and worked,’ an Archbishop has warned.
He said of Iraqi Christians: "They are faced each day with being kidnapped or facing the agony of having a loved one who is kidnapped."
He cited the case of a Syrian Orthodox priest in Mosul who was decapitated for refusing to convert and of a Chaldean priest and his three assistants, who were all shot dead.
While Iraqi Christians were ‘strong enough’ to face martyrdom, he said that action was needed, or: "I am afraid that Christianity will face a slow demise not only in Iraq but in the entire region where Jesus Christ lived and worked."
He called on Christians in Western countries to put pressure on their governments to help Iraqi Christians.
His comments were echoed by Canon Andrew White, the Anglican chaplain in Baghdad, who told CBS that things in Iraq were ‘the most difficult they have ever been for Christians, probably ever in history.’
The Geneva-based ecumenical umbrella World Council of Churches has launched an initiative to help Christians in such situations around the world. 1
Sources Cited:
1 Religious Intelligence - Welcome
