Terror Against Christians in Iraq During Ramadan! Another Catholic Church Bombed

Since the start of the Muslim holy month, attacks have been on the rise. Tuesday morning, a car bomb exploded near the Holy Family Syro-Catholic Church at about 5:30 am wounding 15 people. Some 30 homes were also damaged. A second bomb was also found.Sadly, the plight of our brethren, the Christians in Iraq, continues to deteriorate as this war drags on. However, at least this time, the media is covering it. This is evil and it must be exposed and opposed. Pray for the Christians of Iraq!  

P>WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - We were among the first online sources to report on the evil actions of extremist Muslims which were committed against the innocent Catholic faithful of Iraq while attending Holy Mass on Ocotber 31, 2010. I wrote an article entitled, Catholics Killed at Mass in Iraq: Extremist Muslims invade Church, Murder Priests .

Of course, the reaction from the Holy See was immediate. Pope Benedict XVI expressed his profound sorrow and solidarity. On the Feast of All Saints he called for an end to the "heinous episodes of violence that continue to ravage the people of the Middle East." He addressed the "grave attack on the Syrian Catholic cathedral of Baghdad, (where) dozens of people were killed and injured, among them two priests and a group of faithful gathered for Sunday Mass."

The Pope called the faithful around the world to prayer saying, " I pray for the victims of this absurd violence, which is even more savage because it struck defenseless people, gathered in God's house, which is a house of love and reconciliation.... May everyone unite their efforts so as to end all violence."

We received an extraordinary number of letters in response to that article on the massacre against Catholic Christians in Iraq by extremist Muslims. Many of our readers asked why this evil act of terror and violence was not covered by the mainstream media and Major Press sources. It took a while, but it finally was.

As the news came out, Catholics, other Christians, other people of faith and all people of good will uniformly expressed outrage, deep sorrow and shock at the barbaric act. The sacrifice of their lives must not be forgotten. It points to the growing persecution against Catholics and other Christians in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. This is another front in a war ravaged Nation which must be reported on. However, even more importantly, it must become a concern for our leaders as they determine National Policy and negotiate for the future.

Sadly, the plight of our brethren, the Christians in Iraq, continues to deteriorate as this war drags on. However, at least this time, the media is covering it. The horror of the intentional attacks against Christians by Islamic militants during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan should be condemned by all governments. It should also should draw all of us who bear the name Christian to our knees in intercessory prayer. This is evil and it must be exposed and opposed.  

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Asia News, in an article entitled "Christians "sad and in shock," Mgr Sako says after car bomb explodes at Kirkuk church, wounding 15" reported on the events of August 2, 2011: "Iraq's Christians are "sad and in shock" because attackers targeted a "sacred place" and "innocent people", said Mgr Louis Sako. The archbishop of Kirkuk, a city in northern Iraq, spoke to AsiaNews about the latest outrage against the country's Christian community two days into Ramadan.

"Since the start of the Muslim holy month, attacks have been on the rise. This morning, a car bomb exploded near the Holy Family Syro-Catholic Church at about 5:30 am (0230 GMT), wounding 15 people. Some 30 homes were also damaged. A second bomb was also found.

"According to local sources, Mati Shaba, a Christian man, is among the wounded, and is in serious conditions. Fr Imad Yelda, one of the church's clergymen, was slightly injured. A 20-day-old baby and residents from the predominantly Christian and Turkmen neighbourhood of Shaterlo in northern Kirkuk were also hurt. Fr Imad Hanna, who was also injured in the attack, said, "It is the first time that this church is the object of a terrorist attack." The blast damaged the doors and inside the building (pictured), as well as cars and other buildings around the area.

"Tuesday morning, Mgr Louis Sako, the archbishop of Kirkuk, visited the wounded in hospital. Many of them have already been released and gone home. Speaking to AsiaNews, the prelate said that "Christians are sad and in shock" because "a sacred place" and "innocent people" were targeted.

"Many cars caught fire" and there was widespread damage in the area, he added.According to the archbishop, the attack has caused a great deal of sorrow because it occurred "at a holy time of fasting and prayer, [a time] of conversion."

"We are shocked," he explained, "because Christians play no role in the political games" of the city, its centres of power and economic interests. "We are always for what is good, for dialogue, and we have good relations with everyone."

"With a population of 900,000, Kirkuk is at the centre of an ethnic-political struggle between Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds. The latter would like to see the city annexed to Kurdistan, whilst Arabs and Turkmen want it to remain linked to Iraq's central government.

"Local sources said that a second bomb was found in a car parked near a Presbyterian Evangelical church at al Mass, in central Kirkuk. The bomb was ready to explode but was defused. Tuesday's bombs come a month after the opening of the first church built since the US invasion of 2003."

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We ask our readers and viewers around the world to pray for the Christians in Iraq. We also ask for prayers for the conversion of all who perpetrate such evil while profanely claiming to do so on behalf of their God. These are acts of evil which must be exposed, opposed and brought to an end.

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