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Kidnappers of Iraqi archbishop may want money - U.S. general fears cleric won't be released alive
Reuters ^ | March 5, 2008

Posted on 03/06/2008 6:03:38 AM PST by NYer

TIKRIT, Iraq, March 5 (Reuters) - A top U.S. general in Iraq said on Wednesday he believed the Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Mosul, kidnapped last week, was being held for ransom, but was not confident he would be freed alive.

"No. He could easily be killed, and that would be really unfortunate," said Major-General Mark Hertling, commander of U.S. forces in northern Iraq.

Paulos Faraj Rahho, was seized last Friday after gunmen attacked his car in eastern Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, killing his driver and two guards.

Pope Benedict condemned the kidnapping and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has ordered the Interior Ministry to make finding him a top priority.

Iraqi special forces and U.S. troops are now hunting for the archbishop, said Hertling, speaking on the sidelines of a conference in the Iraqi city of Tikrit.

He said it was not clear who was behind the kidnapping, but he did not rule out al Qaeda in Iraq, which has regrouped in Mosul and other areas of Nineveh province after being pushed out of Baghdad and western Anbar province.

"It could either be a criminal act for money or a terrorist act to raise money because they're running low on funds," he told Reuters and one other agency in an interview.

"I think it's an act that is sectarian in nature by an organisation that's trying to raise money."

Chaldeans belong to a branch of the Roman Catholic Church that practises an ancient Eastern rite. Most of its members are in Iraq and Syria and they form the biggest Christian community in Iraq.

Christians make up about 3 percent of Iraq's 27 million, mostly Muslim, population and have come under attack on a number of occasions since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: catholic; chaldean; iraq

1 posted on 03/06/2008 6:03:44 AM PST by NYer
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To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...

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2 posted on 03/06/2008 6:06:31 AM PST by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: NYer

Those tolerant, peaceful Muslims are at it again.


3 posted on 03/06/2008 6:08:21 AM PST by Slapshot68
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To: NYer

Anyone know what the President of the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, has to say about kidnapping this bishop?


4 posted on 03/06/2008 6:11:07 AM PST by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah
Anyone know what the President of the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, has to say about kidnapping this bishop?

This is not an area that falls under the Catholic League.

5 posted on 03/06/2008 6:42:41 AM PST by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: NYer

Lord, bring your faithful servant safely home. Let his escape from his captors serve as a witness to Your glory and mercy. Let the hands of those who deny you be restrained from harming your children. May the light and truth of Your Son, our Savior,Jesus Christ ever guide and sustain us in time of strife. Amen.


6 posted on 03/06/2008 7:38:02 AM PST by lastchance (Hug your babies.)
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To: NYer
It's not? Hmmmm ~ someone's feeling is hurt because a preacher in a small denomination criticizes the Pope and this Donohue guy is all over the place, yet a bishop whose ecclesiastical loyalty is to the same Catholic church as Donohue can be kidnapped by Islamofascist terrorists and there's no comment.

Don't want to say Donohue is a hypocrite or anything ~ 'cause I don't do that ~ but he sure doesn't seem to have Catholic interests at heart.

Bet he's a Romney backer.

7 posted on 03/06/2008 10:15:36 AM PST by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah
someone's feeling is hurt because a preacher in a small denomination criticizes the Pope and this Donohue guy is all over the place, yet a bishop whose ecclesiastical loyalty is to the same Catholic church as Donohue can be kidnapped by Islamofascist terrorists and there's no comment.

I'm not following you. What does Donohue have to do with the Archbishop? The Pope speaks for the Catholic Church.

8 posted on 03/06/2008 10:30:39 AM PST by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: NYer
Donohue and his association speak out for Catholics ~ you should read the homepage for their website. That would certainly include Catholic bishops in territory under American occupation.

Just waiting for Donohue to figure out that when you make a far-reaching claim of jurisdiction somebody might ask you about why you skipped over a part of your claim.

And sure, the Pope is concerned. I think several articles have noted the Pope's interest.

Just waiting on Donohue!

9 posted on 03/06/2008 10:41:14 AM PST by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

Donohue does not hesitate for a second to speak out on any issue about religious civil rights, defamation, etc. In this case, I imagine he knows that the situation is quite delicate and would not want to disrupt processes going on at a higher level by issuing a statement. The Catholic League cannot do anything about this, it’s not exactly their usual arena. Yes, I’m sure Donohue is following it, but why cause commotion when the Vatican and the military and international groups are already involved.


10 posted on 03/06/2008 11:52:11 AM PST by baa39 (Defend our troops! see my profile page)
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To: NYer

NYer, can you answer a question for me? Do the Maronite and Chaldean rites say mass in the vernacular? Thanks.


11 posted on 03/06/2008 11:53:30 AM PST by baa39 (Defend our troops! see my profile page)
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To: NYer

Father let your spirit be with me and hold my hand. Help me to be content in prayer and offering up of my sufferings for your use. Help me to do your will... not mine.


12 posted on 03/06/2008 1:23:31 PM PST by AliVeritas (DEUS VULT - 0311)
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To: baa39
Do the Maronite and Chaldean rites say mass in the vernacular?

Speaking on behalf of the Maronite Catholic Church - yes, with the exception of the Consecration which is in Aramaic, the 'liturgical' language of both Churches. In those Maronite parishes with a large number of immigrants in the congregation, the priest may offer two Masses - one in English, the other in Arabic. Both will retain Aramaic for the Consecration. Our parish has a small number of immigrants. To accomodate them, the readings are given in both English and Arabic.

13 posted on 03/06/2008 1:51:54 PM PST by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: muawiyah
That would certainly include Catholic bishops in territory under American occupation.

No ... no it wouldn't. If that were the case, he would have to cover the Chinese bishops in camps and those in Africa as well. Donohue's primary focus is on misrepresentation of the Catholic Church by the media.

14 posted on 03/06/2008 1:55:37 PM PST by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: baa39
Do the Maronite and Chaldean rites say mass in the vernacular?

Here is the web site for St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Diocese for the Chaldeans and Assyrians in the US. It seems they also offer the liturgy in English with the readings in Chaldean and English.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE

15 posted on 03/06/2008 1:59:16 PM PST by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: NYer
"Misrepresentation by the media" ~ no doubt that'd keep him busy day and night these days (noting that Hagee isn't "the media", just a guy on TV, and not currently kidnapping even a priest to say nothing of a bishop).

I think Donohue should speak up on this and say at least "In conformance with our claims made on the front page of our website we support efforts to free the bishop" ~ you know, just to let everybody know he's with the good guys this time.

16 posted on 03/06/2008 2:16:27 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: NYer

BW, I hadn’t noticed that the bishops in China are being held in camps occupied by the US Army, but if you say so who am I to argue with you.


17 posted on 03/06/2008 2:17:09 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: NYer

Very very fascinating, especially keeping the liturgical language for Consecration. Thanks also for that other link, very interesting to read about their recent Mass reform.

Well, now you’ve got me so curious, I wonder if you can answer this, if you happen to know? In the Maronite Rite, are the words of the consecration, regardless of the language, the same words as the Roman Rite? Basically it’s right from the words or the last supper in scripture, so I’m guessing essentially the same, but wondering if there are any striking additions or deletions in the Maronite consecration?


18 posted on 03/06/2008 7:31:12 PM PST by baa39 (Defend our troops! see my profile page)
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To: baa39
In the Maronite Rite, are the words of the consecration, regardless of the language, the same words as the Roman Rite?

The Maronite Church in its liturgy is fortunate in being the heir of at least two rich traditions, those of Edessa and Antioch. The Church of Edessa traces its origins to the preaching of the liturgical contributors included St. Ephrem and James of Saroug. The first Christian converts to the Church of Edessa included the earliest Jewish-Christians. Therefore, its liturgy is strongly influenced by the world-view of the Bible. As one of the oldest established churches, it developed its prayer forms before being influenced by Greek thought. Our Maronite liturgy today still has many hymns and prayers from St. Ephrem and James of Saroug. The Anaphora of the Apostles (also known as III Peter and by the Syriac word Sharrar), which the Maronite Church shares in common with the Church of Edessa, is the oldest Anaphora in the Catholic Church, and is still found in adapted form as the Anaphora of the Signing of the Chalice on Good Friday.

The service of the Eucharist is a re-enactment of the Last Supper. It was Christ himself who called upon His disciples to "Do this in My memory until I return". At the Last Supper Christ had shown His total self-giving to the will of the Father by declaring that the bread and wine were indeed His Body being broken and His Blood shed for our redemption.

Fulfilling the divine mandate to remember and to witness, we gather about the altar as the celebrant repeats the Last Supper narrative. Just as Christ was willing to lay down His life for others, we are called to dedicate ourselves to that same ideal. In imitation of the Sacrifice of Christ, we commit ourselves to unconditional discipleship, and the willingness to pay its price, even to the point of suffering and death.

I have the actual words in Aramaic + English translation on my home computer and will post them later tonight, if you are interested. In the meantime, you can learn more about the Maronite Mass at this link .

Basically it’s right from the words or the last supper in scripture, so I’m guessing essentially the same, but wondering if there are any striking additions or deletions in the Maronite consecration?

The Consecration is chanted in Aramaic! With the exception of a few young children, the congretation is in total silence. To hear the priest chanting these words in the language of Christ is like being at the Last Supper. It is a powerful experience.

One interesting distinction occurs during the Consecration of the Cup. Towards the end of the prayer, the priest tips the Chalice in the four directions of the earth to signify that Christ shed His blood for all mankind.

19 posted on 03/07/2008 7:31:25 AM PST by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: NYer
Vultus Christi

March 13, 2008

"They Have Killed Our Shepherd"

rahho_6.jpg

At the end of Holy Mass today at the Monastery of the Glorious, we sang the antiphons In Paradisum and Chorus Angelorum for the repose of the soul of His Grace, Archbishop Paulos Fraj Rahho.

Adapted from the official Chaldean Community Website:

Mosul, IRAQ – The Chaldean community around the world stands numb and in disbelief at news of the death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul.

Outcry from world leaders held no sway as fanatical terrorists proved once more that women, children, medical providers, and now spiritual leaders are not safe from their killing spree. “These are innocent people that want to help bring peace. They kill them, because they are filled with hate. These barbarians have no faith in anything, but their own rise to power,” said Omar Touma, a recent refugee and Chaldean parishioner of the Good Shepherd Chaldean Church in Canada.

Mournful cries and prayers spread quickly as e-mail and phone messaging communicated the sorrowful news. "Our Bishop is dead," said one message, accompanied by images of weeping families huddled together, comforting one another.

Church official say that the kidnappers had been demanding a heavy ransom. When requests were made to speak to the Archbishop, the kidnappers replied that the Archbishop was dead and gave instructions on how the Archbishop's body could be recovered.

The Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul had been dead for at least five days before his body was found this morning by members of the Church, following information provided by the kidnappers themselves. This timeline was provided by the autopsy conducted on the body of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. The Archbishop's body was found in an abandoned area outside of the city, which is in part used as a trash dump.

Archbishop Rahho was seized outside the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Mosul after conducting a Stations of the Cross service on Friday, February 29th. Three parishioners were killed by the gunmen who abducted the archbishop.

In the days after the kidnapping, Church leaders pleaded in vain for some clear evidence that Archbishop Rahho was alive and well. The Archbishop, who was 69, suffered from a serious heart condition and needed daily medication.

The identity of the kidnappers remains unknown. Although Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki had ordered an all-out effort to locate the archbishop and secure his release, troops were unsuccessful in their search around Mosul, a city dominated by insurgents and terrorists.

While the kidnappers did ask for a large money ransom, they were evidently not motivated solely by the desire for financial gain. Church spokesmen said that their demands included political conditions: an indication that the Archbishop's abduction was arranged by a terrorist group rather than simply a criminal gang.

Mosul is the most dangerous city for the Christian community, the presence of which has dropped by over 75% since 2003. Christians remain the soft target for insurgents, terrorists, and criminal gangs looking to raise money and fund their ongoing operations.

After the Iraqi government and coalition forces systematically began turning off funding sources for these militant and criminal groups, their focus turned towards Christians. Iraqi Christians tend to be educated professionals and considered wealthy. A pro-Islamic police force pursue crimes against Christians less aggressively since the victims have a dhimmi status under Islamic law.

The attacks have created a brain-drain in Iraq as Christian professionals flee the country in large numbers. Professors, doctors, scientists, and engineers have fled into neighboring regions or across the ocean seeking a haven of safety.

After Father Ragheed Ganni was murdered on 3 June 2007, intelligence revealed that the terrorists were politically motivated to drive Christians out of Iraq. The latest wave of violence against the Church occurred on 6-17 January 2008, when a series of explosions struck the Chaldean Church of Mary Immaculate, the Chaldean Church of St Paul, which was almost destroyed, the entryway to the orphanage run by the Chaldean Sisters in al Nour, a Nestorian church, and the convent of the Dominican sisters of Mosul Jadida.

“Our faith is in Jesus who died for the sins of humanity. He will find favour in our Chaldean Martyr who offered nothing but peace, hope, and love,” says Chaldean Catholic Omar Touma. “May Archbishop Raho rest in the arms of Our Lord and may God show mercy on those who continue to hate. They will not scatter the Chaldean flock because they have killed our shepherd. Our faith will now grow even stronger.”


20 posted on 03/13/2008 7:26:45 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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