The Faith that Has Been in Iraq 2,000 Years 'Cannot Disappear so Easily'

Catholic News Agency ^ | 1/9/15 | Blanca Ruiz

[marshmallow]

Erbil, Iraq, Jan 9, 2015 / 12:00 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Archbishop Emil Nona is the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, the Iraqi city overrun by the Islamic State last summer. Since then, he has brought the voice of the Christians of Iraq to the West.

"For us the faith is everything. It is our life, our identity, our history and our way of life. We can't separate ourselves from our faith in any way," Archbishop Nona told CNA. "Our faith, which has been in this land for more than 2,000 years, cannot come to an end so easily."

He speaks with the clarity of someone who knows that without international help soon, more of the region will become territory of the Islamic State. Christians will have to abandon Iraq for good in order to save their lives and escape persecution and they will leave behind a land where Catholics have been present for more than 2,000 years.

The Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul said, “Most Christians plan to leave Iraq because they thought the crisis would be short-lived and after we would return to our homes, but this has not been the case. There have been no positive signs in the last six months that our land will be liberated. The Islamic State is becoming increasingly stronger."

No plans for liberation

Although shortages are widespread in Iraq, thanks to Aid to the Church in Need shelter is being provided for more than 120,000 displaced Christians in northern Iraq. There temperatures in the winter drop to single digits, and so large tents have been set up so families can come together and stay warm. Space is limited but the people are grateful not to be exposed to the elements.

In addition, help from Aid to the Church in Need made it possible for thousands.....

[Salvation]

God bless Archbishop Emil Nona in Mosul.

[NKP_Vet]

No one to blame but little george w. bush, who was told exactly what would happen to the Christians in Iraq if he went through with his boneheaded attack on a country that had nothing to do with 911. Saudi Arabia was the country he should have attacked, you know the country that supplied 95% of the hijackers and financed the attack? And we could have taken every oil field in the country and there ain’t a damn thing anyone could have done about it.