Posted on 05/04/2015 6:29:13 PM PDT by bad company
NEW YORK (RNS) Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo is returning to the front line of the real war on Christians, which he calls home — that is, Aleppo in war-torn Syria, where his ancient church faces the threat of extinction.
I wrote here about Jeanbart, who was in the U.S. last week in an effort to raise awareness about the plight of Christians in Syria — they include his Eastern-rite Melkite Catholics as well or Eastern Orthodox and other churches — and to raise money for their survival.
The archbishop is a remarkable figure, facing the personal danger while trying to protect an entire community and tradition and way of life. He had controversial things to say (at least in the U.S. political context) about supporting Syrian president Assad; when faced with ISIS as the alternative, you understand his “devil-you-know” choice.
But Assad may be at risk of falling. Americans are not likely to shed a tear for him, and many have been pushing the administration to aid the Islamist rebels, who could wind up slaughtering what’s left of the Christians in Aleppo and elsewhere.
And American Christians know so little about their fellow believers in the region, or even that such Christians exist, that Middle East church leaders like Jeanbart face an uphill battle:
“We expect Christians in the West to help us. They do not,” as Jeanbart told Cardinal Timothy Dolan during the New York archbishop’s weekly radio show.
I couldn’t include all of the interview in the first version, so wanted to pick it up here with the question: What does Archbishop Jeanbart want?
In short, he thinks the West, led by the U.S., should work to stop the flow of arms into the country. He does not want Western military intervention in terms of boots on the ground – just a ceasefire so that Syrians themselves have a chance to work out their problems in a way that respects each community. That’s how it was for centuries, and he says that’s how it can be again.
Most immediately, he wants material support for Syrian Christians.
A chief problem, church officials say, is that Christians who are among the nearly 8 million internally displaced people in Syria are afraid to go to refugee camps that receive the bulk of international humanitarian aid because they would have to register to enter and could then be pegged as Christians – and would be targets all over again.
So Christians wind up trying to stay put in war zones, or seek refuge in churches, Catholic hospitals or schools, or the homes of relatives. (Aid to the Church in Need has pledged $2.8 in emergency aid for Christians in Syria.)
“The church will support us in a way, morally and spiritually. But the church has very little material means,” Jeanbart said. “It doesn’t have armies. It doesn’t have budgets to help. Nobody has ever taken care of us.”
“We expect Christians in the West to help us. They do not,” Jeanbart, his voice rising in frustration, told Cardinal Timothy Dolan during the New York archbishop’s weekly radio show.
Jeanbart said that on the other hand, his Muslim neighbors and religious leaders in the city have often offered him a place to live or hold services.
Jeanbart says the Vatican under Pope Francis has helped to put the Syrian crisis on the world’s radar, and he and the pontiff have spoken and corresponded.
The pope would like to visit, the archbishop said, and he would love to have him. But it’s impossible given the violence. “We do not want him to come now, no. We don’t want to expose him” to attacks.
Jeanbart is also at risk, but he is not about to leave Aleppo, or his job.
“I have no right to do that,” he said. “I feel the Lord is giving me strength.”
“I try to be very careful,” he added, when asked about the threat of assassination or kidnapping. “But sometimes it’s not too secure. I rely on the protection of the Lord.” - See more at: http://davidgibson.religionnews.com/2015/05/04/syrian-archbishop-we-expect-christians-in-the-west-to-help-us-they-do-not/#sthash.sVNZehvz.dpuf
Because we became self centered cowards interested in sex, food, gambling, and narcotics, all to the extreme.
We will be taken over from within.
Unless of course we survive till Cruz.
Even then, he will have some fight on his hands. I’l be there to help him.
Even then, what can we do. Send in more troops? Air support would help. I dont know...
Our president us supporting Islamic terrorist groups in Syria that not only attack Syrian troops but they burn Churches, kill Christians and support ISIS. Our President has turned his back on God and supports Islam
“We expect Christians in the West to help us. They do not,”
Unfortunately, we’ve got a president named barack Hussein Obama. I wouldn’t expect much help.
...endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life…
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
I think we should help them.
The West is doing a lot more for mussies than the mussies themselves.
If they would be more specific on what they need that would help
Yer own yer own...
and all mainline denominations are so wrapped up in matters pertaining to sexuality and other social justice issues they are disinterested in the serious issues outlined by the Syrian archbishop. Shame on us!
and all mainline denominations are so wrapped up in matters pertaining to sexuality and other social justice issues they are disinterested in the serious issues outlined by the Syrian archbishop. Shame on us!
So sad and so true.
#Pray hashtag campaign.
Prayer for Peace in Syria
God of Compassion,
Hear the cries of the people of Syria,
Bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
Bring comfort to those mourning the dead,
Strengthen Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees,
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
And protect those committed to peace.
God of Hope,
Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies,
Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria,
And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Light of the World,
Amen.
From Anonymous:
Father God, Our Savior and King,
We come to You in despair over the evil being done to our Middle East Christian brothers and sisters. We ask that You would put Your hand of protection upon them and that You would sustain them as You did the Israelites in the desert. Lord, cause our brothers and sisters to cry out to You for help and show them the peace that only You can give in answer to their needs. In their darkest moments, Lord, keep them, strengthen them, and comfort them. When they despair that no one is coming to help them, Lord, reveal Your glory and restore their souls.
We ask you these things in the blessed name of Your precious son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Every Sunday we hear these stories from the pulpit and from our fellow parishoners who have family over there. I spent last Saturday with Syrian Christians and you all can imagine what we talked about.
Fulminating against Obama, however much deserved, won’t put a morsel of food in some little child’s mouth, nor a roof over her head, nor a rebuilt church nor a book in her hand or shoes non her feet. International Orthodox Christian Charities is there on the ground with the Lutheran World Relief and the Latins and they ARE accomplishing these things under the worst of circumstances.
Here’s a link:
http://www.iocc.org/countries/countries_syria.aspx
Send them $50.00 or $100.00; get your men’s groups and Ladies’ Societies and youth groups involved and pray for those dear people who are in every sense of the word our family in Christ!
I agree with you, but I don’t think our President has turned his back on God. That would imply he was facing him at some point in his past.
Our President is a demonic unclean spirit and whether directly or indirectly supports the enemies of Christ at every possible opportunity,
Amen.
The article mentions Aid to the Church in Need ("a Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy Father) http://www.churchinneed.org/
Barnabas Fund. Interdenominational Protestant ("Channelling money from Christians through Christians to Christians") https://barnabasfund.org/
I split my contributions among these three. Multiple channels of aid for a messy situation. No need to distinguish among Christian denominations -- the jihadis don't.
Great! God Bless you!
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