Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday, 8 August 2014

The future for Iraqi Christians


Following the day of prayer last Friday for Iraqi Christians Rorate Caeli has had more posts about the situation.


The first is an open letter published on Sunday, July 27, 2014 by the Archbishop of Mosul of the Syriac Catholic Church. In it His Excellency Youhanna Boutros (John Peter) Moshe, Syriac Catholic Archeparch of Mosul and Qaraqosh. In it he urges his flock not to abandon their homeland and birthright due to the false videos, false rumours of destroyed churches, false rumours of invasion that cause great fear among an already frightened people, and to trust in Divine Providence. It can be read at A Brave Open Letter, by the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Mosul Do not give in to alarm or fatalism: Jesus has conquered the world.

On the other hand the same blog now also carries this lament by exiles:  GOODBYE, MOSUL!

Now we have had AN URGENT LETTER OF THE CHALDEAN PATRIARCH, Qaraqosh falls: A greater punishment is ready for the more mighty and CHALDEAN PATRIARCHATE'S APPEAL FOR URGENT HELP S.O.S.

Today the blog has postedIraqi Christian Refugees call upon the Vatican and the West"Come, Pope in the Vatican!" "America, fix it." "Where are you?"Updated

In the face of little interest by other than the French political elite here in the West we should at very least keep these fellow Christians in our prayers.

 

 

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