Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Dr. Anthony Husemann — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:48:46 GMT

Christians around the world need to be in prayer and fasting for these brethren in Iraq. We need to get the word out to even the toughest places, and we cannot if we abandon them. But, this is easy for me to say, since I live in a peaceful and stable country. I take my place beside Father Benyameen in prayer and fasting today for his Congregation to come home!

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

jon — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:47:41 GMT

Everybody is sorrowful for loss of loved ones in Iraq as a result of the war. Those who lost their loved ones include people of all religions, ethinicities and backgrounds. Come on guys, bagdad is supposed to be free and liberated by now. We are hearing that quite for some time after the surge. Iraqi people and government particularly has been claiming quite for sometime that they are in control of security. This baby sitting secrity of Iraqi's will evntually be limited to themselves. Everyone should get on with the program to help themselves. All Iraqi communities will have to come back from exile, come togather and face head on the issues of security and supporting their systems.
i am sure there is plenty of oil money to help out financially with the effort.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

James, Jacksonville, Florida — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:19:22 GMT

It is a stark reminder of the dangers of being a christian outside of the United States. Our religious freedom is a wonderful thing but brings with it the danger of complacency and becoming stagnant. God Bless this man for his conviction and I pray for his ministry to thrive.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Steve, Norfolk, Virginia — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:21:06 GMT

It's a matter of hatred by some Muslims towards Christians, not the war. Christian Churches are outlawed in many if not most Islamic countries. We see Islamic violence in East Timor, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, Nigeria, Uganda, and the list goes on. The West should stand up for freedom of religion like it stands up for democracy and free trade.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Mike H, St. petersburg fl — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:24:12 GMT

It's amazing how it's front page news in the US if someone says anything even slightly anti-Islamic, but all over the middle east Christians are treated like dogs, killed, chased away and forbidden to express their faith. And no one seems to care.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Phillip Injeian, Pittsburgh,Pa — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:31:38 GMT

All you have to do is study Armenian history, the first christians of the the world who's lands are being fought over and you will understand what is going on in the middle east. Most of these extremists muslims have always been around to destroy that which is democratic and just and they have ruined the middle east. Hence, the Crusades!

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Christopher, Lebanon, Ohio — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:52:37 GMT

As someone of Lebananese Christian descent I find this lack of interest in Christian, who are based in the Middle East, very curious. Is it because they belong to sects associated with the Catholic Church or is it a matter of their being from the MIddle East. There is no great outcry from the U.S. and the question is why?

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

jamal, houston tx — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:54:40 GMT

As a muslim, I cannot defend the behavior of my co-religionists in Iraq. However, the violence directed towards Christians pales compared to the internecine brutality occuring between and within the Iraqi Muslim communities. That the Iraqi's have had to endure a brutal conquest and subsequent occupation by nominally Christian soliders hasn't I'm sure improved the standing of the Chaldeans within Iraq.

I'm from Lebanon and would challenge the general tone of these comments about general Muslim hatred towards Christians in the Arab world. The situation is complex and imperfect but not as dire as has been suggested. Beyond that, I would suggest the stone casters consider this country's history and recent record of brutality towards Muslims. Consider Gitmo and the madness following 9/11 and finally consider the underlying revenge rationale for a brutal American war on Iraq that was based on lies and deceit and has directly led to the deaths of 100,000's. The Chaldeans deserve all the sympathy in the world but I have little regard for moralizing by American Christians who seem woefully blind to the beams in their own eyes.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

thomas rodgers spartanburg sc — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:14:42 GMT

God will do a great thing in iraq. Just as the persecuted christians in China are triving, so the church invisible will grow again. I feel sorry for the state of our faith in america. we have grown weak without persecution. the right worship the bible the left worship the humanity. God is lost. when in actuality he is within, as close as our next breath.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Heath Renner, Minneapolis, MN — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:22:46 GMT

Religious Liberty is taken for granted here in the US far too much. So many parts of the world do not respect a human beings right to worship or not worship according to the dictates of one's own conscience. There are many differing faiths around the globe and that alone should teach us that whichever God we serve, He obvious allows us the freedom to choose. With that, it should be self evident that we should also allow others the freedom to choose, no matter what faith we are.

There is a great organization that is active in and outside the US to promote religious freedom. It is the North American Religious Liberty Association. At least from what I've read they seem to be quite active in promoting this basic right with global effort.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

d.HAT — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:24:48 GMT

Don't forget the christians in Turkey. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholemew is constantly harassed. Over 4000 properties have been confiscated during the last 40 years. He is the leader of the 2nd biggest Christian Church in the world, with 300 million members. But Turkey is trying to wipe out Orthodox Christianity in that country. The US MUST STEP IN !

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Terry Morgan, Cincinnati, Ohio — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:25:03 GMT

I know it will seem like a tiny gesture, but I memorized the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic and pray it each day as part of my own prayer rule. May God watch over his people in Iraq.

Priest hopes for return of Christians to Iraq

Michael Raybeck MD, Chattanooga, TN — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:27:01 GMT

Christ Himself told us that we would be persecuted in His name. Even the US Supreme Court can take credit for that persecution as one of the vehicles that fosters the Cross not to be seen in Public Square. Europe is no better now with the EU. I guess they've copied a page from the US in this regard. Actually, they are even worse. They have no hatred toward the Church. They just don't care. And that's even worse.