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Church in the WorldBaghdad pledges to protect ChristiansIraq Abigail Frymann - 2 June 2007The Iraqi Government has pledged to protect its beleaguered Christian community, in a statement that has been welcomed by Iraqi Christians in the country and abroad. A government spokesman issued a statement saying: "[the] Iraqi Cabinet addressed the issue of threats and expulsions of Christian families in Baghdad by terrorist groups. The Cabinet expressed its full support to provide all necessary assistance needed to protect them, and provide any assistance to face this threat." The statement went on to say that the persecution was "rejected by our orthodox Islamic religion and the forgiving Iraqi society". However the statement did not mention any concrete steps to limit the campaign of persecution directed at the Christian community in the capital and in Mosul, the two cities most affected by the violence and abuse, which includes seizure of property and forcible conversion to Islam. Expressing solidarity with Christians, unarmed secular groups of Muslims in Baghdad are organising protection for persecuted Christian families and giving them refuge in their own homes, AsiaNews reported. In addition a leading Sunni, the secretary general to the grand mufti of Iraq, Sheikh Jamal Abd Al-Kareem Al-Dabban, condemned the bloodshed, writing in a signed message: "We hear with sadness and distress about what is happening to our Christian brothers in Iraq." |
 In this week’s issueMaking markets moral Iron and velvet Love in a Catholic climate Someone to talk to A good Lent takes planning South American surprise Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools? Christopher Lamb Goodwin the scapegoat Elena Curti The pain of being a coeliac Catholic Sr M, guest contributor Why the Benedictine family will survive Christopher Lamb The Church's moral obligation to victims of clerical sexual abuse Speeches from this week's conference in Rome This week in Rome bishops and religious superiors met at the first Vatican-backed symposium devoted to forging a global response to the crisis of clerical sexual abuse that has disgraced ... Archbishop voices 'shame and sorrow' after priest's abuse trial Longley to visit parishes 'damaged' by Walsh Today, Tuesday 7 February, Bede Walsh, who served as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, has been convicted by a jury, following a 10-day trial at Stoke-on-Trent ...
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