{"id":1010,"date":"2012-09-07T10:01:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-07T10:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/iraqi-archbishop-make-christian-survival-focus-of-papal-meeting\/"},"modified":"2012-09-07T10:01:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-07T10:01:00","slug":"iraqi-archbishop-make-christian-survival-focus-of-papal-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/09\/iraqi-archbishop-make-christian-survival-focus-of-papal-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Iraqi archbishop: make Christian survival focus of papal meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Kirkuk, Iraq, Sep 7, 2012 \/ 04:01 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Iraqi Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk has asked the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East to speak with Pope Benedict XVI about their fears that the survival of Christianity in the region is at risk.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe patriarchs and the bishops should go beyond the formalities to speak directly and openly with him about their fears and concerns. We should make clear our worries and the challenges ahead,\u201d the archbishop told Aid to the Church in Need on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n

\tChristian leaders will meet with the Pope in Lebanon during his Sept. 14-16 visit.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe rise of political Islam is a matter of worry,\u201d he said. \u201cWe Christians are a minority and there is no prospect of us gaining equal citizenship in the concrete reality of day-to-day life and there is no vision of a better future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cEveryone is speaking of democracy and freedom but the reality on the ground is different,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\tThe archbishop said \u201csectarianism\u201d is rising and the majority population is not caring for minority groups.<\/p>\n

\tThere are \u201creal fears\u201d that more Christians will leave, he reported. The Christian exodus shows no signs of stopping in Iraq, where more than half of the Christian population has left. The trend of Christians leaving their homes has spread to other countries in the Middle East like Syria.<\/p>\n

\tThe archbishop recounted the violence against Christians in Iraq, which peaked after the U.S. overthrow of President Saddam Hussein\u2019s government in 2003. Dozens of churches have been bombed in the country, while Christians have been targeted for kidnapping and murder.<\/p>\n

\tHe said it is difficult for him to encourage the faithful in his diocese to stay. There are \u201cfew\u201d families left.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI am doing my best to keep them, defend them and encourage them. That has limited the problem but it is sad to see them leaving for good,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAs a pastor, I feel bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe said the policy of the Iraqi state is \u201cbased on Islam,\u201d which means Christians \u201cfeel they are second-class citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAs for the Catholic hierarchy in the country, it has \u201cbecome tired\u201d and is \u201csometimes divided.\u201d There are \u201cno reforms or dynamism\u201d inside the churches.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe good news of Jesus Christ should have a dynamic dimension. So where are the reasons for hope, the reasons for joy as given in our teaching?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\tThe archbishop called for a development of a \u201cChristian Arab theology\u201d that can proclaim God\u2019s word to Arab Christians and to those who are not Christians. This would help Arabs discover \u201cGod\u2019s love and paternal presence\u201d in a way that enhances dialogue.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kirkuk, Iraq, Sep 7, 2012 \/ 04:01 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Iraqi Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk has asked the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East to speak with Pope Benedict XVI about their fears that the survival of Christianity in the reg…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-middle-east-africa"],"yoast_head":"\nIraqi archbishop: make Christian survival focus of papal meeting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Kirkuk, Iraq, Sep 7, 2012 \/ 04:01 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Iraqi Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk has asked the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East to speak with Pope Benedict XVI about their fears that the survival of Christianity in the reg...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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