Bombs Strike Christian Targets in Iraq

AP ^ | January 29, 2006 | PAUL GARWOOD

[jmc1969]

Car bombs exploded in quick succession Sunday near four Christian churches and the office of the Vatican envoy, killing three people and raising new concerns about sectarian tensions. At least 17 other people were killed in other violence around the country.

No group claimed responsibility for the bombings, which occurred within a half hour near two churches in Baghdad and two in Kirkuk, 180 miles to the north. The fifth bomb exploded about 50 yards from the Vatican mission in the capital.

Suspicion fell on Islamic extremists such as al-Qaida in Iraq - led by Jordanian-born terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - that have been responsible for massive car bombings and suicide attacks against Iraqi Shiite civilians.

[TheCrusader]

"Bombs strike Christian targets in Iraq"

The homicidal/suicidal islamic bastar-s are doing whatever bloody deeds they can to draw the world into a conflagration. Personally I don't think their bloody terrorism is fueled by a sincere belief they can eventually take over the world. It's the rivers of spilled blood that turns them on.

[Descendant]

Meh...no one seems to care about arab christians.

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[Nihil Obstat]

more here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4660104.stm

It's interesting that of the three churches attacked, one church is Orthodox, one is Anglican, and one is Catholic.

[groovejedi]

So if it is Al-Zarqawi, then he is not only boming the Shiites and the Sunnis, but Christinas as well? Sounds like he is trying to incite a holy war? That's really obious I guess though.

[groovejedi]

ok spell check is my friend I know... sorry for all those spelling errors above...

[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

[NYer]

An Iraqi woman prays at the Virgin Mary Church for victims in Sunday's church bombings, Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq. Car bombs exploded in a coordinated spree of attacks Sunday outside the Vatican mission and at four churches in Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk as people gathered for afternoon Mass, killing at least three Iraqis and wounding nine, police said. The Virgin Mary Church was not in Sunday's bombings (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

The mother of Fadi Raad, 13,mourns during his funeral after being killed in a bomb attack during Sunday's church services, Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, in Kirkuk, 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq. Three civilians were killed and one wounded in the attack on the Church of the Virgin in central Kirkuk. Car bombs exploded in a coordinated spree of attacks Sunday outside the Vatican mission and at four churches in Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk as people gathered for afternoon Mass, killing at least three Iraqis and wounding nine, police said. (AP Photo/Yahya Ahmed)

Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[NYer]

An Iraqi woman comes to the Virgin Mary Church to pray for victims in Sunday's church bombings, Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq. Car bombs exploded in a coordinated spree of attacks Sunday outside the Vatican mission and at four churches in Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk as people gathered for afternoon Mass, killing at least three Iraqis and wounding nine, police said. The Virgin Mary Church was not in Sunday's bombings (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

[marshmallow]

This where the rubber meets the road. These people are martyrs.

How many Americans, I wonder, would cruise in air-conditioned luxury to Sunday Mass to hear Fr. Bob's anecdotes and jokes if they thought death was a possible outcome?

This is where the true Christians show themselves.

Remember these brave people in prayer.

[MILESJESU]

Dear All,

Although, I am an Indian Catholic Christian and not an Arab Christian or an Arab Catholic I am extremely concerned about the safety of all Christians in the Middle East specially, The Iraqi Chaldean Catholic Christians but now more importantly I am very concerned about the safety of Palestinian Catholics and Christians as well as the Coptic Christians.

I say this because, of the recent victory of Hamas in Gaza and other places in Palestine and because of the immense gains made by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

I am appalled as a South Asian Christian and Catholic at the indifference being expressed by various Western Governments for quite some time. It seems that they do not care a damn for Christians in the Middle East or frankly anywhere else including countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh where Christians and Catholics are persecuted for their faith as much as Christians in the Middle East are.

I hate to say this on this Forum and I know that some American Freepers might kill me for this but I frankly believe that the "Chaldean Catholic Christians" were safer under Saddam Hussein than they are right now or have been in the last two years since the invasion of Iraq.

At least, under Saddam Hussein their Churches were not bombed and they could attend Mass without the fear that they might be killed once Mass got over. Now, there is no security at all and Christians are being decimated by all kinds of insurgent groups as well as islamist groups in Iraq.

It seems to me quite clearly that the Bush Administration does not seem to be concerned with regard to the welfare of any Christian Group in Iraq; all that they care about is their "Precious Shiites".

I really wonder what purpose the invasion of Iraq served at all? Anarchy and all kinds of Lawlessness is rampant and widespread in Iraq and it seems to me that Iraq could soon become an Islamic Republic specially because of the victory of the Islamic Shiite Parties.

Don't get me wrong. I am totally convinced that Saddam was a Dictator and had to go but not at the cost of hundreds of lives of Iraqis and American Marines. So, many Americans have lost their lives in Iraq and for what?

Families have lost Fathers, Brothers, Uncles, and Nephews and yet the Terrorists are getting stronger and stronger. Bin Laden is still alive and Al Qaeda is now getting stronger in Europe and beyond Europe too.

Saddam was not involved in 9/11. I am totally convinced it is and it was the Saudis and some Fundamentalist Pakistanis associated with the Pakistani Army who were involved in the planning and orchestration of 9/11. It is and was the Pakistani Army that spawned the Taliban and supported them financially for many years.

I believe that Saddam should have been taken out by an elite commando group or through a sophisticated missile strike rather than through a full blown invasion of Iraq.


Every American should remember this. For many, many, years Terrorist Training Camps have existed in Pakistan and are still going strong but yet no American President has acted against Pakistan or against Pakistan's major ally and financier namely, Saudi Arabia.

7/7 in London, made it clear to the Western World that the Terrorists were trained in Pakistan. i pray and hope that all Western Governments will wake up from their slumber and realize the threat that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia pose to Western Civilization as well as to the whole world.

I also pray that some Western Countries and their Governments will reach out to Persecuted Christians and Catholics not only in the Middle East but also in South Asia. We have no one to stand up for us and i am speaking for all Christians in the middle east and south asia.

In Jesus and Mary,

[GovGirl]

Just and FYI, the Christian Chaldeans and not-exactly Christian Yezidis (a good majority of them live in the region near Tal Afar) have always been persecuted by their Muslim neighbors. Sadaam didn't just systematically kill a majority of them, he also took whatever land the survivors claimed, gave it to the Sunnis, and dumped them in the desert.

Both groups tended to root for occupying forces over those who ruled Iraq at the time. When the British originally had control, they sided with the occupiers. When the British left, they were slaughtered. They overwhelmingly support the current occupation.

The Sunnis (and to a point the Shi'ites) are scared to death of the Yezidis because they believe them to be a Satanic cult (they're not, but their story of the Fall is a little different from the rest of Christianity's). However, their seclusion and traditions have always made them targets.

When the Coalition forces came, (specifically the US Army and Marines) these groups in Tal Afar thought that it was a sign from God that their suffering was over. These groups are adamant Coalition supporters.

So, I know Christians in the Middle East get the shaft, but at least in this small area in Iraq, there is change taking place.

And, just on a side note, you'd think that Muslims would know better than to screw with the Catholic Church.

[MILESJESU]

Dear GovGirl,

Thanks for your message. I agree with most of what you say and thanks for filling me in with some other information.

However, the fact remains that Saddam was a terrible tyrant and dictator who systematically gassed and killed hundreds and thousands of Iraqis but could you please tell me if Chaldean Catholic Churches were bombed during their services when Saddam was in charge as they are bombed now by Islamist Groups.

In anycase, All we can do as Christians is to pray for the security and welfare of all Iraqi Christians and hope sincerely that the situation might improve there.

[Nathan Zachary]

" It's the rivers of spilled blood that turns them on."

Without question. But that's what drives them to take over the world, the continous joy of bloodletting.

[Nathan Zachary]

" It's the rivers of spilled blood that turns them on."

The koran says "until all is for Allah, OR until the last day."

[Allegra]

Some distant thumping noises going on right now...wonder if something's going on in another part of town...

[Allegra]

I work with several Iraqi Christians.

They'll see the little cross around my neck and come to me, put their hands on their hearts and proudly tell me "I am Christian." Some of them keep crosses around their necks hidden inside their clothes.

We always hug in fellowship (Iraqis tend to hug a lot, regardless of their religion) and I always tell them to be careful "out there" and may God bless and protect them.

They never demonstrate any fear and they are in my daily prayers. They're brave and they're very warm, kind people.

[Cvengr]

IMHO, you are correct.

Saddam had a responsibility in his power and authority to provide an environment where every person is able to worship God without impediment.

When Saddam took actions and policies which threatened the stability of national governance of other nations, his authority as a national leader became illegitimate. The US had justifiable grounds to effect his removal from power. The mechanics of that removal implied a void in the governing leadership within Iraq upon his removal.

As the US became involved in the slection of Iraq's leadership, the US also had a responibility to provide an environment where the Iraqis could worship God rather than promote false religion.

Rather than basing US policy upon faith in God, many policy makers placed more faith in human good independent of God. When they perceived various religions they chose to not discern between those religions, but to give preference to the majority selection of religion to arbitrate the governance of the Iraqi people.

The US has aided and abetted a nation to follow a false religion rather than provide an environment where the one and only true God might be worshipped by His protocol. Should the US fail to implement sufficient power to insure the authority over the people of Iraq provides a safe environment for their worship of God, the US will become liable for their fallen nature.

The significant issue isn't how unbelievers or those who fail to obey God's will might think, decide, or act. Unbelievers are condemned already. The significant issue is for believers to remain obedient to Him in all things and continue to grow through His grace.

Believers in this nation, even those without authority, have the responsibility to remain faithful in Him. As a client nation we have the responsibility to provide an environment in Iraq where they may also remian obedient to God through faith in Him.

If, by our lack of faith in Him, we tolerate or condone systems of governance and authority within Iraq that attempts to persecute worship of God through faith in Christ, we will have performed a good for nothingness.

The consequences of evil must be solved in time. One consequence of evil is a hatred for righteousness. Another consequence of evil is arrogance. Even if we return Iraq to its people, if we fail to establish a safe environment there for the safe worship of God, we will aid and abet an enemy that will always oppose the US whereever it perceives we might worship God through faith in Him.

Responsible behavior of the believer doesn't imply we are activists or apply force to require others believe in God righteously, but we are nonetheless accountable if we commit good or evil independent of God, which will be ultimately judged as good for nothingness. Until that judgment comes, our actions without faith in Him will also create more misery and invite divine discipline of believers.

[houeto]

Four churches, 40 mosques. They'd 'get it' quick enough.