More Christians Killed in Iraq

Renewed attacks on the Christian community in Iraq have left more than 40 people dead or injured.

BAGHDAD (ACN) - Shortly after 7 pm Sunday night, July 12th, a car bomb exploded in front of the gates of St. Mary's Chaldean Church in Palestine Street in Baghdad.

The explosion occurred as churchgoers left Mass. According to initial reports from Iraq, seven have been killed and around 30 were injured, with 18 requiring hospital treatment.

The explosion follows reports of bombs going off at three other churches in Baghdad at around 4.30 pm Sunday afternoon. Reports stated eight people had been wounded.

Two of the churches attacked are named as St. George's Church in the Al-Ghadier section of Baghdad and St. Joseph's Church in the Al-Shurta section. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) received the reports of the bombings from a priest working in the city.

Persecution and violence in the last six years have forced more than 200,000 Christians to flee to nearby countries including Jordan, Syria and Turkey, while upwards of 50,000 have sought refuge in the north of Iraq.

ACN has provided food and medical aid for Iraqi refugees in other Middle Eastern countries. The charity has also supported religious Sisters distributing basic food parcels to displaced families in the north of Iraq, who were living in poverty.

Continued emigration from Iraq means disaster for the Christian community which has dwindled from about one million in 2003 to fewer than 400,000 today.

Speaking to ACN in 2008, Archbishop Jean Sleiman of Baghdad said that "very real persecution" remains a huge threat for Christians in some areas.

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Aid to the Church in Need" is an international pastoral aid organization of the Catholic Church, which yearly offers financial support to between 5,000 and 6,000 projects worldwide. ACN helps the poor and persecuted churches with prayer, pastoral relief and material assistance.Following a 1984 decree of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, "Aid to the Church in Need" is recognized by the Catholic Church as a "universal public association of faithful".