Radical Muslims attack two churches Iraq: demand catholics post condemnation of pope's words

Asia News ^ | September 25, 2006

[NYer]

Muslim militias have forced Christians to pin up posters condemning the words of Benedict XVI in Regensburg. But religious leaders, including al Sistani, have expressed their friendship with the Apostolic Nunciature. And the representative of the Iraqi Shiite leader would like to meet the pope.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) – The start of the month of Ramadan in Iraq was marked by violence but also by significant openness by al Sistani towards the Vatican. Yesterday, two churches, one in Baghdad and another in Mosul, were struck. Recently, the country has seen an escalation of attacks against Christians, thought by some to be the reaction of radical Muslims to the speech of the pope in Regensburg. However, religious leaders, among them al Sistani, have shown solidarity and understanding towards the Vatican. Moreover, the representative of the highest religious exponent of Iraqi Shiites has expressed the desire to be able to visit the Pope.

Yesterday morning at 11.15am local time, armed men attacked the Chaldean Church of the Holy Spirit in Mosul, firing at least 80 shots on the building. “Thank God there was no Mass at the time,” one member of the community told AsiaNews, “so no one was killed or injured, there was just some damage done to the eastern part of the building and a few broken windows.”

The atmosphere in the city is very tense. Recently, Muslim militias threatened the Catholic bishop and priests that unless they publicly condemned the address of the pope at the University of Regensburg within 72 hours, Christians would be killed and churches burned down. In recent years, some churches, shrines and even the bishop’s house were the target of terrorist attacks. For fear of further attacks, the bishop had posters put up to say that “neither Iraqi Christians nor the pope want to destroy ties with Muslims”.

Defying the prevailing atmosphere of terror, last night, Chaldean Catholics left their homes to participate in Vespers Mass in the very church that had been attacked. “Our faith is a challenge to violence. The militias fear us because our faith is stronger than their bullets,” a Christian told AsiaNews.

Yesterday morning in Baghdad, two bombs went off outside the Assyrian Orthodox Church of St Mary in the central neighbourhood of Karrada. The attackers put a bomb under the parish priest’s car. The blast, that took place at 9.30am, drew many people, including some from the parish. Immediately afterwards another bomb went off close by, injuring many people and killing a watchman of the church.

Some think these bombs targeted Christians in the wake of the controversy surrounding the pope’s speech in Regensburg. But in recent days, Orthodox communities distanced themselves from the words of the pope, putting up posters outside their churches expressing their disagreement with him. Some Catholic figures said the attack on St Mary’s Church was much more likely a vendetta based on ethnic-religious motives: the Assyrian Orthodox Patriarch recently visited communities in Kurdistan and probably the bombs were meant to be a threat by Sunni or Shiite militias against such ties with Kurds.

The lecture of Benedict XVI in Regensburg was misunderstood by the media as being an attack on Islam. Although the pope explained the true meaning of his words several times over, bitter and threatening criticisms continue to come from many sectors of Islam. In Iraq, it is fundamentalist and political Muslim splinter groups that are reacting violently to the pope’s address. Recently, the Secretary of the Nunciature in Baghdad, Mgr Thomas Halim Abib, met religious representatives of Islam and offered them an Arabic translation of the words of the pope, so Muslim leaders would be able to understand the true meaning of what was said. Muslim religious leaders undertake the task of informing their communities. Mgr Thomas told AsiaNews that in these days, the official representative of the Grand Ayatollah al Sistani, the undisputed leader of Shiite Islam in Iraq, visited the Vatican Nunciature twice to express friendship and solidarity. The representative of al Sistani accepted the explanations rendered by the Nunciature and spread them among all Iraqi Shiite communities, expressing respect for the Holy See “that has always been close to the Iraqi people”. The representative of the grand ayatollah also said he wished to go to Rome to visit Pope Benedict XVI.

[kosta50]

Kolokotronis has some information in his post above about that particular church, which I wasn't aware of

Thanks, I didn't see Kolo's post before I posted mine in #14, which is why I said "which" Orthodox church. But I guess he beat me to it. Not bad for an "old" Greek. :)

Apropos the article, what is there to "disagree" with the Pope on this? He merely quoted a Byznatine emperor who appraently knew the Muslims better than some of our politicians!

[TaxachusettsMan]

I read somewhere - perhaps on FR? - that the Turkish government (can this be correct?) - has legislated that no one can become Ecumenical Patriarch unless he was born in Turkey????

Is that true????

There was a situation decades ago in some Latin American countries where American missionary Fathers, members of Religious Orders (e.g. Carmelites) could not become Bishops of dioceses if they continued to hold American citizenship.

But it struck me that for a secular or Islamic government yo shackle a whole Church, like the Greek Orthodox Church, in the naming of its own Patriarch, would be like the Italian government forbidding the election of anyone as Pope who had not been born in Italy.

[Salvation]

And the persecutions continue:

‘Serious’ threats made against 31 churches in Indonesia[Catholics and Protestants
Saudi Arabia arrests Eastern-rite Catholic priest for celebrating Mass
Catholic Priest Arrested and Expelled from Riyadh
Ramallah: Islamic violence targets Christians
Moslem Terror Chasing Out 1,000 Christian Arabs a Year

INDIA: VIOLENCE SCARS EASTER WEEK (Pastors beaten, churches vandalized by Hindu extremists)
GFA Urges Prayer as Hindu Extremists Intensify Anti-Christian Persecution
Persecution of Catholics still alive, oppression’s face fanatic, traditional
The community of Arab Christians is dwindling in the Holy Land
Christian martyr in 'European' Turkey

(Irish) Teen Killed Just for Being Catholic, Says Priest
Vatican Unease Over Islamic Countries
Priest stabbed in Turkey in third recent assault against Catholic clergy
Mother Teresa’s Sisters Are Hostage to Fanatic Hinduists
Discriminating Against Religion

India's bishops condemn deadly blasts in Mumbai
Priest abducted in Baghdad threatened and tortured
Salesian Priest, 70, Stabbed in Germany (by a Turk)
Muslim Militants Attack Catholic School in Kashmir
Murdered Nun Asked Forgivness for (Ismaofacist Scum) Killers As She Lay Dying

Three men sentenced to death denied last Sacraments in Indonesia
Indonesia Executes 3 Catholics Over Muslim Deaths
Indonesia Government Executes Christians: Firing Squad
Radical Muslims attack two churches Iraq: demand catholics post condemnation of pope's words

[Kolokotronis]

"I read somewhere - perhaps on FR? - that the Turkish government (can this be correct?) - has legislated that no one can become Ecumenical Patriarch unless he was born in Turkey????"

As a practical matter, yes. The law now is that to be elected Patriarch, one must hold Turkish citizenship, but that's not something that just happens. +Athenagoras was the last non-Turkish born Patriarch. The EP has asked the Turkish government to allow any Orthodox clergyman to be elected and then give him Turkish citizenship as a dual citizen, but Turkey refuses.

[milford421]

Thanks for the ping Coleus.

To all posters:

Just an aside here...

I've noticed in many articles and must comment.

Catholic Church, should be capitalized.

Pope, should be capitalized.

I notice the words Muslim and Islam are always capitalized...I'd like the same respect shown.

[kosta50]

The EP has asked the Turkish government to allow any Orthodox clergyman to be elected and then give him Turkish citizenship as a dual citizen, but Turkey refuses

This is the same great friend of ours, Turkey, that does not allow Kurds to name their children with Kurdish names, and does not allow Kurdish language in schools, yet they just can't understand why European Union just doesn't let them in not yet but close)!

BTW, once Turkey is in, tthe Turks can settle anywhere in member countries without a visa or permit, open up business and bring their entire harem with them. Accepting Turkey into the EU will be undoing centuries of Christian work of keeping significant numbers of Mohammedans out of Europe.

Norway brought 500 Pakistani refugees from Bangladesh (when it was East Pakistan) and today they have thousands. Sweden now has Muslim-majority districts. Islam will win Europe without a single bullet (of their own). The Europeans will use their own on themselves.

[Petrosius]

To make matters worse, Turkey will not allow the Orthodox to reopen their seminary which the government closed in 1971:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/20/europe/EU_GEN_Turkey_Orthodox_School.php

There were violent protests two years ago at the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul where the the Patriarch was burned in effigy. It should be pointed out that the seminary would not even be in Istanbul but on an island.

[TaxachusettsMan]

No wonder Benedict XVI used RECIPROCAL once today and RECIPROCITY after that . . .

Europe has bent over backwards (and forwards) to offer Muslims freedom of religion.

And in return . . . . ??????????

[Coleus]

I hear ya..it's out of respect.. I think this was the topic of a previous thread. But if you read the Catechism, even the one posted of the Vatican, they seldom capitalize those words, not even his or him when referring to God and Jesus.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2.HTM

[kosta50]

make matters worse, Turkey will not allow the Orthodox to reopen their seminary which the government closed in 1971

The Koran teaches "Do not make friends with Christians and Jews..." How can a devout Muslim ignore this and try to have a "peaceful coexistence" with Christians and Jews? He would also be ignoring the fact that the Koran teaches that those who are not believers must be converted, one way or another.

Muslims are also encouraged and allowed to deceive the infidel. And they do.

The lines will be drawn eventually. The more we procrastinate, the worst it will be.

[Traianus]

YES...BUT FOR "THEM" when THEY'LL REALIZE THEY HAVE GONE TOO FAR....TO DEFUSE ALMIGHTY GOD'S WRATH!!

[Kolokotronis]

There's more to it,

http://www.hr-action.org/thr/GRTURK.html#RELIG

Of late, under the Islamist Turkish government it is getting worse.

[MissAmericanPie]

Those particular Christians must have missed the scripture "be faithful unto death".

[redgolum]

I agree.

We are setting up a fundamentalist islamic state where Saddam was. Hate to say it, but at this point our actions in Iraq are looking like a waste.

[redgolum]

The situation in many Latin American countries is that only locally born nationals can be priests or pastors. Long story in that.

[milford421]

I know you hear me. Thanks.

Wonder what's up with the writers? On purpose or just stupid?

[Coleus]

probably just stupid or just don't care.

[NYer]

Thank you all for the wealth of information on Turkey. I was not aware of how seriously the situation there had deteriorated. Given all that you have posted, I am going out on a limb here to suggest that perhaps the Pope's Regensburg address was intentional and in support of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Ratzinger is a clear headed theologian. He accepted the Patriarch's invitation to Turkey last year but was denied entry by the government. Once that had been settled, he continued with his plans to visit Turkey and celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew with the Patriarch, in Istanbul. Despite death threats, those plans have not been canceled and I would suggest that we ALL pray for his safe pilgrimage and journey to this holy land.

My heart goes out to the Patriarch whose hands are tied by the Turkish gov't. Interestingly enough, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is seen as a long-standing supporter of European Union entry for Turkey. "Our country is a bridge between the East and the West," stated the patriarch. "We do not think the European Union should be only a club limited to Christians." Whereas, before becoming pope, Benedict had made known his opposition to Turkey joining the EU.

Your thoughts?

[Kolokotronis]

"Interestingly enough, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is seen as a long-standing supporter of European Union entry for Turkey. "Our country is a bridge between the East and the West," stated the patriarch. "We do not think the European Union should be only a club limited to Christians." Whereas, before becoming pope, Benedict had made known his opposition to Turkey joining the EU."

In many ways, its the EP's only hope for survival in Constantinople, NYer.

[NYer]

In many ways, its the EP's only hope for survival in Constantinople, NYer

I understand. And that is precisely my point! By lending his support to the Patriarch, their voices will resonate more loudly. JPII returned the relics of St. Gregory of Nazianzen, and St. John Chrysostom. What better gift can BXVI bring than his support for the Patriarch, even at the personal risk of his life.