1,000 Catholics Massacred in Ivory Coast

American Papist ^ | 4/4/11 | Thomas Peters

[marshmallow]

Please pray for these victims. It’s an underreported story that took place over the weekend. This from Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit:

At least 1,000 Christians were slaughtered this week in at the Salesian Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus mission in Duekou, Ivory Coast by Muslim troops loyal to Alassane Ouattara. The state-run media has been slow to report the facts.

The conflict in Ivory Coast began in 2002. The country is divided between the Muslim north and Christian south. This is a conflict that has been brewing for years.

Troops loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the Muslim opposition leader, moved south this past week. They slaughtered 1,000 civilians in Duekoue last week. The victims were mostly men who were shot as they fled the city.

And many tens of thousands of Catholics are in desperate need:

International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy told a news briefing in Geneva that “some 20,000 Ivorians and West Africans migrants (in Duekoue) had found refuge in an overcrowded Catholic mission with little or no access to shelter, food, water and health facilities.”

The UN report of more civilians killed adds to a tally of 462 confirmed deaths since the crisis begin.

The world body is also investigating allegations that 200 African nationals were killed near Guiglo, southwest of Duekoue. (National Post)

More from the UK Telegraph here.

I am unfamiliar with how we might lend aid to this region of the world, though Caritas International (which has condemned the massacre) may be a good place to start looking.

[antceecee]

Very sad but true. Prayers for those poor slaughtered souls.

[rhinohunter]

The country is divided between the Muslim north and Christian south.

Is it safe to assume then that O-bow-ma will be supporting the north?

[Chiltepe]

Is it safe to assume then that O-bow-ma will be supporting the north?

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! Obama has already thrown his full-throated support behind the Muslim-elect, going on camera to do so on Monday even as reports of the massacres of Christians were making their way out.

[Cronos]

Where is the Obama protection force? Where is the UN?

[Cronos]

First we need to remove the Myths about the Crusades -- the Crusades were for defense. We need another one, but this time ALL of Christendom -- Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Orthodox, Pentecostals, Copts, Armenians, Assyrians etc. to fight the common enemy.

[bboop]

Caritas is very good.