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Syrian Christians Targeted by Outsiders, Says Bishop
The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 9/20/13 | Judith Sudilovsky

Posted on 09/21/2013 6:16:58 AM PDT by marshmallow

Christians in Syria are continuing to be targeted by outside fundamentalist groups who have joined the country’s long civil war, the head of the Syriac Catholic Church in Jerusalem has said.

Bishop Boutros Melki, Syriac Catholic patriarchal vicar, said Christians feared the situation in Syria will become like that in Iraq, where half the Christian population has fled since the American-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

In an interview with the American Catholic News Service, the bishop said the historic city of Maaloula, with its ancient churches and monasteries, became the site of fighting between rebel and government forces. Attacks against churches and Christian homes occurred and Christian icons and crosses were destroyed and defamed, he said.

“We can’t accuse anybody, but when we know about such actions we ask ourselves what does all this mean and why?” he said. “We always remember what happened in Iraq. Unfortunately, Iraq is still in a bloody nightmare.”

Several priests as well as bishops have been kidnapped over the past six months and have not been heard from since, he said. At least one priest has been confirmed killed. Christian civilians are also being targeted for kidnappings and shot by militias, he said

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Islam; Orthodox Christian
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; maaloula; maalulu; putinsbuttboys; syria

1 posted on 09/21/2013 6:16:58 AM PDT by marshmallow
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

Yeah, they’re called Iranians and Hizbollah.


2 posted on 09/21/2013 6:37:26 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (It's no coincidence that some "conservatives" echo the hard left.)
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To: marshmallow

Prayers up for these poor people.


3 posted on 09/21/2013 6:55:12 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Let me hear what God the LORD will speak. -Ps85)
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To: marshmallow

Arm the priests as they did in Mexico 80 years ago.
Give`em guns and RPG`s.


4 posted on 09/21/2013 8:56:56 AM PDT by bunkerhill7 (("The Second Amendment has no limits on firepower"-NY State Senator Kathleen A. Marchione.))
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