Tag Archives: christians

India’s Catholic Bishops call for a stop to anti-Christian violence, say Christians are not second-class citizens

  By Friends of Iraq | February 12, 2015 - 12:30 am |
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by Nirmala Carvalho During the plenary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), the bishops spoke of “various untoward incidents affecting the Christian community in different parts of the country.” The Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion (art. 25) and equality (art. 14). The silence on the part of government institutions and law enforcement vis-à-vis such attacks is “baffling”. . Mumbai (AsiaNews) – In view of recent attacks against churches in New Delhi as well as ordinary Christians and Christian institutions elsewhere in India, the Catholic bishops … Continue reading →

Missionary: Boko Haram behind attacks on churches, religious in Niger

  By Friends of Iraq | February 7, 2015 - 12:14 am |
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Niamey, Niger, Jan 30, 2015 / 04:01 am (Aid to the Church in Need).- Boko Haram is determined to take its jihadist campaign beyond Nigeria. Its next targets include Niger, where, as reported in an email message from a woman religious working as a missionary in the country, the group has proclaimed that “Christians must die.” Currently in hiding along with her fellow missionaries in private homes in Niger’s capital of Niamey, the sister wrote to international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Last week’s violent protests in … Continue reading →

Holy See to UN: stop ignoring attacks on Christian women, girls

  By Friends of Iraq | February 4, 2015 - 9:41 pm |
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New York City, N.Y., Feb 3, 2015 / 04:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy See’s delegation to the United Nations has warned that Christians face “extinction” in some regions of armed conflict, with Christian women and girls particularly vulnerable. Monsignor Janusz Urbanczyk, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, voiced concern about the “continued lack of attention” given to protecting women and girls who are “targeted and attacked purely because of the faith they profess.” “The lack of focus and priority for protecting … Continue reading →

VIDEO – Islamic Extremist group-Boko Haram, forces tens of thousands to flee from Nigeria

  By Friends of Iraq | January 31, 2015 - 4:30 am |
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These Nigerians aren’t fishing. Rather, they are fleeing their hometown, escaping the violence Boko Haram is raging against them. The radical Islamic group, has forced thousands of people to flee from Nigeria into neighboring countries like Chad, Cameroun and Niger. HUSSENNA MAHAMD Nigerian Refugee “We managed to escape and we ran towards the lake. We took a boat and started rowing. The men from Boko Haram were shooting at us the entire time. They even took a boat and followed us.” The recent wave of violence comes from fighting between … Continue reading →

Catholic refugee relief opens hearts in Syria

  By Friends of Iraq | December 29, 2014 - 11:56 am |
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By Kevin J. Jones Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 26, 2014 / 06:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic participation in refugee and humanitarian relief in the Syrian civil war is strengthening a foundation for future peace despite the great difficulties of the region, says an official of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. “The Church is a very big player in the humanitarian efforts,” said Monsignor Giampietro Dal Toso, the pontifical council’s secretary. “The fact that we are helping the whole population without regard to religion, creeds or race … this is a very … Continue reading →

A Christmas message from Aleppo’s bishop: hope for joy, peace

  By Friends of Iraq | December 29, 2014 - 11:43 am |
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Aleppo, Syria, Dec 22, 2014 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- As Christmas approaches, the Melkite Catholic bishop of Aleppo has written a letter to his diocese looking forward to the feast of hope, urging his people to practice charity to the less fortunate, much like in diocese around the world. But Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart’s letter also voices profound hope that peace will return to their country in the next year. “Christians all over the world are preparing the beautiful feast of Christmas with its humble and heavenly scenes bringing joy, … Continue reading →

Il Pimpa Has Arrived

  By Friends of Iraq | December 29, 2014 - 11:31 am |
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More than one year ago we told you about the apostolate of Marco Rodari, the Clown, a young Italian guy who comes every year to perform as a magician-clown,draw smileson children faces and make everybody laugh with his tricks, jokes, and games. In our post “Making people smile (and laugh!): a Great Act of Charity”, we explained the importance of what he does. A superficial point of view could consider his work insignificant, but for us, who witness so much suffering, Marco “the Magician Clown” is a blessing for our … Continue reading →

A Mass with the Displaced

  By Friends of Iraq | December 17, 2014 - 7:05 am |
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There’s a school on our block that belongs to the Carmelites fathers where dozens of refugee families found shelter after they were displaced from theirhouses by ISIS in the north of the country.Most of them come only to do their official papers and then go back to the north to a refugee’s camp or to relative’s house, if they have any that may host them. Many of them while escaping couldn’t bring their IDs’, passports, etc. Some of their official papers were taken by the same terrorists who displaced them. … Continue reading →

Pope Francis decries persecution of Iraqi Christians in video message

  By Friends of Iraq | December 8, 2014 - 12:17 pm |
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By Ann Schneible Vatican City, Dec 6, 2014 / 09:36 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In a video message delivered to the displaced Iraqi Christians on Saturday, Pope Francis decried the suffering experienced by those persecuted for their faith, while expressing his gratitude for their witness. (To see the video click the image) “I thank you for the witness you give,” he said Dec. 6. “There is great suffering in your witness. Thank you!” Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon brought the video message to Erbil, where tens of thousands of Christians displaced … Continue reading →