Baghdad Patriarch Calls on Christians and Muslims to Pray for Peace Between May and Ramadan

AsiaNews ^ | 5/28/16 | Joseph Mahmoud

[marshmallow]

Baghdad’s Queen of the Rosary Church will host an interfaith prayer against violence and terrorism next Monday. The Chaldean Patriarch launched the initiative, reiterating there are no military options but prayer against conflicts affecting "innocent people". He also urged Muslims to think about renewing their way of thinking and culture.

Baghdad (AsiaNews) – Chaldean Patriarch Louis Mar Rapahel Sako has issued a prayer for peace in Iraq, Syria, and the entire Middle East that will be held next Monday (30 May).

For the prelate, prayers, not military options can "solve conflicts" in which “innocent people always” pay the highest price. Only a sincere prayer from the heart can trigger an "inner revolution" and "ensure peace."

The patriarch said that a lot of thought went into the wording of the prayer so that it may "help and bring comfort to everyone,” Christians and Muslims. The chosen date coincides with ceremonies “marking the end of the Marian month” and “proximity to Ramadan, the holy month of fasting" for Muslims.

In an official statement on the Patriarchate website, the Chaldean Church calls on Christians, Muslims, Sabians and Yazidis to pray together for peace in Iraq, which has suffered from more than a decade of war and sectarian and confessional violence.

The interfaith ceremony is scheduled for Monday afternoon, 30 May, in the church dedicated to the Queen of the Rosary in Baghdad. It will mark the end of the Marian month, and includes prayers, psalm reading, and hymn singing.

To boost the interfaith and peace-oriented character of the event, Chaldean Patriarch Mar Raphael Louis Sako will lead the interfaith prayers along with a Sunni and a Shia religious leader. Some members of the diplomatic corps will also join the high ranking clerical leaders and the faithful.

Politicians and government officials are not expected.......

[Pollster1]

In WWII we learned that sometimes the enemy is evil, and war is then better than the alternative. In Vietnam, we learned that war can be both bad and useless. Both lessons have value. The problem is that half of our country forgot the first lesson when they learned the second one.

[castlegreyskull]

I don’t believe there will ever been peace between Islam and the rest of the World. Therefore, it is a waste of time to pray for it. I only pray that all non-Muslims take a good look at what that religion teaches and what kind of country you will have if you accept it.

[Vaquero]

If Islam continues to follow the Koran as written. Islam must be destroyed before they destroy us.

[Aliska]

Are interfaith prayer gatherings a good idea? I see no precedents in the early church. From an earthly pov they may be a show of good will and intentions.

[txrefugee]

Or we could pray for a champion who will be sent by God to rescue His people from the satanic cruelty of the followers of Islam., someone in the mold of Charles Martel, who saved Europe in the time of the crusades.
Our children ought to learn of this courageous servant of the Triune God, but you will have to teach them, because it is forbidden in your child’s school to teach this medieval history. (Check out: “Charles “The Hammer” Martell: Defender of Christianity,” by Jefferson P. Webb, for a good summery.)
This history is always recurring history, because the war between Satan and the archangel Michael will not be over until Jesus returns to take His followers home to Heaven, while chaining Satan and his followers in Hell for eternity.

[mountn man]

Are interfaith prayer gatherings a good idea? I see no precedents in the early church. From an earthly pov they may be a show of good will and intentions.

Let's see what the Bible says about the first interfaith prayer meeting.

Que Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

Personally, I think an "interfaith" prayer meeting is useless (except to Satan).
God specifically says not to have any gods before him. Meeting with non-Christians to pray "with" them, IS putting other gods before the one true God. I don't think God listens to those prayers. Praying FOR them, against their God, while with them is different.

[Aliska]

Good answer. Thank you.

[Fiddlstix]

Winston Churchill on Islam

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.

No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."

Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899)

[castlegreyskull]

There will be another large genocide in Europe. It will either be the Muslims, or the Europeans. I suspect it will be the later.

[castlegreyskull]

The later will be subjected.

[Jeff Chandler]

There will be peace when moslems stop chopping people’s frigging heads off.

[cloudmountain]

This history is always recurring history, because the war between Satan and the archangel Michael will not be over until Jesus returns to take His followers home to Heaven, while chaining Satan and his followers in Hell for eternity.

Hell = eternity without God

[SIRTRIS]

Islamic peace is limited & not universal.. unless of course the world is dominated by islam. Islam just hates opposition & critical thinking.