Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Chaldean archbishop kidnapped in Iraq found dead: church
Yahoo News ^ | March 13, 2008

Posted on 03/13/2008 5:56:58 AM PDT by NYer

A Chaldean Catholic archbishop kidnapped last month in northern Iraq has been found dead, the information service of the Italian Catholic Church said Thursday.

The body of Paulos Faraj Rahho, the archbishop of Mosul, was found near the northern city, the Church said, quoting the auxiliary archbishop of Baghdad, Shlemon Warduni.

"We recovered his body near Mosul," Warduni said, according to the Church's news agency SIR. "The kidnappers had buried him."

Rahho was kidnapped on February 29 in Mosul after a deadly shootout in which three of his companions were killed.

Iraqi forces in Mosul had fanned out to search for Rahho, whose abduction was branded as "atrocious" by Pope Benedict XVI.

Rahho was the latest in a long line of Chaldean clerics to be abducted in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003. Two priests were kidnapped in the city in October, and last June a priest and three deacons were attacked in front of their church.

Iraq's Christians, with the Chaldean sect by far the largest community, were said to number as many as 800,000 before the 2003 invasion.

Associated with the "Crusader" invaders and regarded as well-off, they are now victims of sectarian cleansing, killings and kidnappings at the hands of both Sunni and Shiite Islamists, as well as criminal gangs.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Philosophy; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: archbishop; catholic; chaldean; iraq; iraqichristians; kidnapping; mosul
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-228 next last
To: cake_crumb
I really wish people would learn to separate international diplomacy from actual belief. It gets so tiresome.

How, really, can you separate the two? I watched a BBC story on the Danish Cartoons last week and the BBC reporter could not even ask a Turkish government official if Turkey had any complicity in the anti-cartoon violence, and his defense was Islam. In a very real sense, you can't "negotiate," you can't engage in "diplomacy" with people who have a spiritual world view that justifies deception in order to advance their faith.
61 posted on 03/13/2008 7:13:23 AM PDT by farmer18th (Iraqi Nation Building GWB-Style: "No law that contradicts.. Islam may be established")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: gracesdad
You know that even though you’re over there and know a lot more about it than almost anybody on FR, you’re not going to convince a fair number of Freepers? I’m constantly amazed at the posters who are absolutely convinced that every Muslim in the world is a radical and is under orders to slaughter all non-Muslims.

I know. They all come crawling out of the woodwork on threads like this, displaying their bravado and self-righteous indignation.

I thank God I got to experience all of this so that I could see how it really is instead of being filled with irrational, wide-brush hate.

Oh, wait...isn't that exactly what these people are accusing every single Muslim of...?

;-)

62 posted on 03/13/2008 7:13:37 AM PDT by Allegra (Posting without being logged on since 2001)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: catfish1957

Second it. Since 9/11 this is not only a world war but also a clash of civilizations.


63 posted on 03/13/2008 7:14:18 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Ironic this Christian’s martyrdom comes a little less then a week before Holy Week.


64 posted on 03/13/2008 7:15:32 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nathan Zachary
Nor study it appears.

Well, you're wrong.

But people who make baseless assumptions usually are.

65 posted on 03/13/2008 7:16:02 AM PDT by Allegra (Posting without being logged on since 2001)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: farmer18th; Allegra

No, it’s true. Most Iraqis are firmly on our side. During the Saddam regime, there was actually a group of Marsh Arabs who had a little cult thing going where they believed their deliverance from evil would come from a star in the west. They called it “ ‘Merica.”


66 posted on 03/13/2008 7:16:31 AM PDT by cake_crumb (I will criticize Obama as much and as often as I want.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT

..................

67 posted on 03/13/2008 7:18:42 AM PDT by SJackson (Never talk when you can nod, never nod when you can wink, never write an e-mail, E. Spitzer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marshmallow

So true, as the saying goes, the blood of Christian martyrs is the seed for new Christians.


68 posted on 03/13/2008 7:19:28 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: farmer18th
"(Iraqi Nation Building GWB-Style: "No law thatcontradicts.. Islam may be established")"

It also guarantees freedom of religion, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom to own private property and a host of other things. You don't get it. We are NOT nation building. Writing their constitution FOR them is nation building. Iraqis are FREE. That was the POINT. One of the points.

69 posted on 03/13/2008 7:19:35 AM PDT by cake_crumb (I will criticize Obama as much and as often as I want.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: farmer18th

There is a reason, because both Muslims and Secularists Humanists are purly ENVIOUS of anyone who does better then they.


70 posted on 03/13/2008 7:21:46 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: gracesdad; Allegra
I’m constantly amazed at the posters who are absolutely convinced that every Muslim in the world is a radical and is under orders to slaughter all non-Muslims.

I appreciate your perspective, but it's naive. Here's an analogy... in any war, only about 10-20% of soldiers are actually on the front lines shooting. The rest are in a support role.

Just so in Islam. Whether they are moderate or extremist, they still have the same goal. They seek to turn Dar Al Harb (the world at war--the world that hasn't yet submitted) into Dar Al Islam (the world at peace--the world that has submitted). The extremists represent those who are fighting on the front lines while the moderates are those who work toward the same goals, albeit in a different, "peaceful" fashion. Islam's borders around the world wouldn't be so bloody without the cooperation of more than a small group of radicals.

One of the five pillars of Islam is charity. However, the only charity that qualifies is charity to Muslims. Since it has been shown that as many as 90% of Muslim charities are complicit in funding terrorism, it isn't a huge stretch to point out that even the moderates are fueling the beast... and they are not ignorant of the purpose their charity supports.

A moderate Muslim who truly seeks peace with his neighbors is one who is ignorant of his religion or one who is practiciing "taqqiya"... lying to the stupid infidels in order to hide their true intentions.

Sorry. Islam is a cancer and there is no "good" cancer.

71 posted on 03/13/2008 7:21:51 AM PDT by pgyanke ("Huntered"--The act of being ignored by media and party to prevent name recognition)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cake_crumb
No, it’s true. Most Iraqis are firmly on our side.

Not enough on our side to demand a Constitution that doesn't give cover to terrorists. A friend of mine had a son who was asked to go to an Iraqi City council meeting earlier this year. A particularly devout Muslim kept shaking his hand--and would not let go--in a way that made him nervous. He ordered all of his men out--just on instinct. The hand-shaker was the suicide bomber and one of his soldiers was killed. (My friend's son lost half of his hearing and will have to undergo very long rehab to start walking again.)

Point is: before the meeting they were all just friendly moderate Iraqi Muslims--and then BOOM.

You cannot trust Muslims. Period. If they renounce their faith, fine, but otherwise...
72 posted on 03/13/2008 7:22:33 AM PDT by farmer18th (Iraqi Nation Building GWB-Style: "No law that contradicts.. Islam may be established")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: agere_contra

Jihad is crusade. Crusade is a valid word, not just several historical events.


73 posted on 03/13/2008 7:23:15 AM PDT by cake_crumb (I will criticize Obama as much and as often as I want.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Amen brother.


74 posted on 03/13/2008 7:23:55 AM PDT by Biggirl (A biggirl with a big heart for God's animal creation, with 4 cats in my life as proof. =^..^=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: cake_crumb
It also reads as though the author is blaming coalition forces

The author is MSM. In the author's mind, USA = EVIL.

75 posted on 03/13/2008 7:24:19 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: NYer

The Archbishop has a kind face, this is so sad. He is in the arms of The Lord now and we on earth should try to remember compassion and good will towards others is what Jesus preached.


76 posted on 03/13/2008 7:24:35 AM PDT by RicocheT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: farmer18th

Fox News is right now talking about the kidnapping and death of the archbishop, and about how Christians are under siege. Saying that Christians will not talk to reporters, for fear of being identified, kidnapped, or killed.

Ransom of 2 million demanded, but speculation is that he was already very ill or deceased.

Thanks, Fox News, for reporting on this.


77 posted on 03/13/2008 7:25:13 AM PDT by Judith Anne (I have no idea what to put here. Not a clue.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: cake_crumb
It also guarantees freedom of religion, freedom of peaceful assembly,

The PRINCIPAL reality is stated at the very top of their constitution "No law that contradicts.. Islam may be established."

If an Iraqi judge finds that Iraqi constitutional rights are in conflict, what do you think this establishing clause will do to freedom of assembly and religion?

It was a SHAMEFUL moment in American diplomacy to allow that phrase to be written. In fact, you really have to call it what it is: a sell out to radical Muslims.
78 posted on 03/13/2008 7:25:59 AM PDT by farmer18th (Iraqi Nation Building GWB-Style: "No law that contradicts.. Islam may be established")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

I think it’s true that most Iraqis do not want these things to happen in their country. I do think there’s a fundamental structural weakness in the US approved constitution that unfortunately undermines the moderates, and that was the enshrinement of Islam and sharia.

Since Islam is both a political and religious system, this means that the radical nuts among the respective Islamic groups feel that they actually do have some hope of ending up in charge, because after all, Islam is already part of their constitution.

I’m sure the decent Iraqis are suffering as much as anybody else from these lunatics, but I think the union between the religious and political/legal system that is an essential part of Islam makes it a very difficult problem to solve even for people with the best will in the world. I think we should have insisted on a purely secular constitution, not merely a toleration clause, but something that was aimed at avoiding the theocratic potential from the start.

But hindsight is wonderful.


79 posted on 03/13/2008 7:26:14 AM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Allegra
That being said, most of the Iraqis hate all of that extremist stuff, have no desire to have an "Islamic Republic" (they tell me "we don't want to be another Iran") and even the ones who practice (in the minority) don't follow the hatred doctrine.

It is a crime that our MSM refuses to acknowledge that fact. Stay safe Allegra!

80 posted on 03/13/2008 7:26:35 AM PDT by tiredoflaundry (Skittles are the enemy!..........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 221-228 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson