Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Suspends 10 Priests, Including 1 From El Cajon

ABC News Channel 10 San Diego ^ | 10/23/14 | Preston Phillips

[marshmallow]

Patriarch says moves to the US were never approved

SAN DIEGO - The head of the Chaldean Catholic Church has suspended 10 priests, including one from El Cajon.

Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako issued a decree a month ago, demanding the priests return to Iraq or be suspended. Wednesday was the deadline.

The priests, though, are refusing to leave and are now waiting on Pope Francis to tell them what to do next.

Dozens of devout Chaldean Catholics attended an emergency mass Wednesday at St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Church in Rancho San Diego, to pray for the 10 priests who have now been suspended by Sako.

He claims Father Noel Gorgis of El Cajon and other priests who he demanded return never had their moves to the United States approved when most of them fled Iraq around the time of the Gulf War to start churches and now must return to correct their status.

"To tell me go back to Iraq … it really is to make to tell me go and have suicide," said Gorgis.

It is because of the presence of ISIS militants. Right now, no Christian or American is safe.

[Alex Murphy]

He claims Father Noel Gorgis of El Cajon and other priests who he demanded return never had their moves to the United States approved when most of them fled Iraq around the time of the Gulf War to start churches and now must return to correct their status. "To tell me go back to Iraq … it really is to make to tell me go and have suicide," said Gorgis. It is because of the presence of ISIS militants. Right now, no Christian or American is safe.

PFL

[Biggirl]

Stay put, for your safety sake.

[omega4412]

See www.kaldu.org for the point of view of the Chaldeans in CA. They’re not copping out — in August their Knights of Columbus council raised about a half-million dollars for relief of Iraqi Christians.