Prince appeals for help for Middle East Christians

I am posting a mailing I received from that excellent charity Aid to the Church in Need:

HRH The Prince of Wales delivered an impassioned appeal on behalf of persecuted Christians in the Middle East, saying that the growing crisis of extremism “threatens the very existence of Christianity in the land of its birth”.

ACN attended a special Advent reception yesterday (17th December) at Archbishop’s House, Westminster, where the Prince called for more “practical” help for persecuted Christians  and went on to praise ACN as “a remarkable organisation”.

Quoting from ACN’s ‘Persecuted and Forgotten? report, Prince Charles said: “Christianity is on course to disappear from Iraq within five years, unless emergency help is provided on a greatly increased scale.”

You can listen to Prince Charles' full speech.

In his speech, Cardinal Nichols also underlined that Christians were among many oppressed faith groups in the Middle East.

The Cardinal also said: “To remain silent about this specific persecution is to neglect and weaken the awareness and role of this faith here.”

ACN is responding further to the plight and suffering of Christians by supporting 19 new relief programmes in Syria and 11 new programmes in Iraq.

The relief programmes provide vital aid including food, medicine, shelter and pastoral support for Christians across the region – including for families fleeing Daesh (IS), escaping persecution.

With your continued support and prayers ACN supports over 140 projects in Iraq and Syria – Thank you!

Please stand in Solidarity with Christians in Iraq

The other day I received this e-message from Aid to the Church in Need, and I am sharing it with readers.


URGENT PLEA FOR PRAYER – as more Christians in the Middle East face exodus and exile, join with Iraqi Christians outside the Houses of Parliament this Saturday (26 July), at 12 midday.

We at ACN appeal for your prayers and solidarity, particularly for our brothers and sisters in Mosul, Iraq. The Islamic State (formerly ISIS), which seized the city of Mosul, ordered Christians to convert to Islam or pay the 'jizya' Islamic tax. They were told failure to comply would mean "death by the sword". 

More than 1,500 people have fled in the last few days – having left almost all their possessions behind. For the first time in 1,600 years, there have been no Masses or Liturgies in Mosul, and reports have come in that an 1,800-year-old Syriac Catholic Church was desecrated and burnt to the ground. Neville Kyrke-Smith, National Director of Aid to the Church in Need UK, said "This is an exodus in anguish as Christians flee terror into exile from their ancient homelands – where for centuries they have built understanding and trust between different communities. Just as in Biblical times, we cry with them 'by the waters of Babylon' in tears and prayer."

Please join us in front of the Houses of Parliament this Saturday (26 July) at 12 noon and take part in a demonstration with Iraqi Christian communities, in support of those suffering so much at this time. Neville writes: "If you cannot join us in person then please join us in prayer at 12 midday by saying the Angelus or the Rosary for all those who are suffering in the Middle East."

In a message to all people of goodwill, Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, Iraq’s most senior Catholic leader, said: "It is truly unjust to treat Christians by rejecting them and throwing them away, considering them as nothing."
As a Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, Aid to the Church in Need invites you to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. ACN is already offering emergency support – food, shelter and medicine – to Christians in Nineveh who fled Mosul in the days that followed the capture of the city and stands ready to do more. We are in regular contact with both Patriarch Sako and Archbishop Amel Nona of Mosul. 

Archbishop leads Christian Iraqis

"It is truly unjust to treat Christians by rejecting them and throwing them away, considering them as nothing. Another war would mean the end, especially for us Christians"

Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako

For more information go to
is.gd/acnuk_iraq

In addition here is a link to a post from Rorate Caeli about the situation Chaldean Patriarch to Christians of Mosul: "We your shepherds will stay with you to the end." "Our suffering will be salvation to us and others."

The FSSP have announced a day of intercession for Iraqi Christians on August 1st as can be seen in this post from NLM Urgent Appeal -- August 1st Day of Prayer, Adoration, and Solidarity for Persecuted Christians

This is an important issue which should command our attention and prayer. It is not commanding that much attention from the political leaders or the media of the West, as has been pointed out by Le Figaro in France as can be seen at  MAJOR NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL BREAKS MEDIA SILENCE: Why the Global Conspiracy of Silence on Persecution of Christians in Iraq?