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.

 

 

Drawing attention to the plight of Iraqi Christians

Further to my post about the need to express support for the Christians of Iraq - indeed for all Christians in the Middle East - there is a piece on the Oxford Oratory website about the situation which can be read at Pray for the Christians of Iraq

Rorate Caeli has a report about a statement made by a number of public figures in France about the situation. This can be read at "An Appeal for the Christians of the Middle East"French elected officials lead the way: will those elsewhere follow suit, or remain silent?

One does rather wait to hear or read on anything being said by Western governments or opinion makers about this situation.

Christians in the Middle East

Today's feast of the nineteenth century Maronite monk St Shabel Makhluf  is a reminder to us, if we need it, to keep in our prayers, and lend whatever support we can to Christians in the Middle East. The Iraq war and the Arab Spring have placed many of these communities in an extremely difficult position - hitherto protected or tolerated by relatively secular regimes they now face the risk of attack from supporters of more militant branches of Islam or from those who have overthrown governments that enjoyed the relative support of the Christian communities. From Egypt to Syria and into Iraq their future is uncertain, and support from Western governments often appears to be only routine expressions of vague concern.

These communities are not only Christian brethren but part of the continuing witness to the faith from Apostolic and post apostolic timesin the region. They need and deserve our prayers and support.