Conflict in Iraq, Syria and Gaza has led to the greatest humanitarian crisis the world has seen since World War II, a senior cardinal says. Caritas Internationalis president Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga told a Rome conference on Monday that there are 13 million Syrians in desperate need. More than four million Iraqis and Syrians are Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Iraq’
Malta parishes asked to host persecuted Christian families
Friday, September 12th, 2014A bishop in Malta has asked every parish in his diocese to host at least one refugee family from Iraq or Syria. Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo in Malta made the call during a homily on the feast of Our Lady of Victories. “I have in my heart all those who are victims of atrocity, Read more
The Catholic case for military strikes in Iraq
Friday, August 29th, 2014
The moral authority of pontiffs has long been used to cajole world leaders into peace and reconciliation. Earlier this year, for instance, Pope Francis tried to restart talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with a prayer service that included Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas. That tradition of papal peace-making lends even more weight to Read more
How Isis came to be
Friday, August 29th, 2014
Three years ago, the Islamic State (Isis) did not exist; now it controls vast swathes of Syria and Iraq. Showing off its handiwork daily via Twitter and YouTube, Isis has repeatedly demonstrated that it is much more than a transnational terrorist organisation – rather, it is an entity with sophisticated command, control, propaganda and logistical Read more
Aucklanders to march in support of minorities in Iraq
Friday, August 29th, 2014
Hundreds of people are expected at a march this weekend in Auckland’s Queen St, calling for solidarity with persecuted minorities in Iraq. Christian groups and those supporting other religious groups who have been brutally attacked by the Islamic State, are calling on the Iraqi community in New Zealand and others to take part in the Read more
Pope phones murdered US journalist’s parents
Tuesday, August 26th, 2014
Pope Francis has personally consoled the family of James Foley, the US journalist beheaded by Islamist militants in Iraq. Last week, Mr Foley’s parents John and Diane Foley told media of their gratitude for the Pope’s concern, expressed during a long phone call on August 21. “Pope Francis was so dear because he is grieving Read more
ISIS, the English parliament and the Irish
Tuesday, August 26th, 2014
Convert, leave, or die. That’s the trio of awful options ISIS is giving to Christians in Iraq. Sadly, there’s an all-too-familiar ring to this ultimatum. These were the exact options given to all Catholic clergy in Ireland when England instituted the penal laws against Catholics several hundred years ago. When William of Orange defeated his Read more
Pope says Islamist militants in Iraq must be stopped
Friday, August 22nd, 2014
Pope Francis says the international community would be justified in stopping Islamist militants in Iraq, but no single nation should decide how to do this. On his plane flying back from Korea, the Pope had an hour long conversation with journalists. Francis was asked if he approved of US strikes against ISIS insurgents who have recently Read more
Caritas NZ pledges $10,000 for displaced families in Iraq
Friday, August 22nd, 2014Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged an initial $10,000 to help thousands of families affected by war and sectarian violence in Iraq. The funds will support the work of Caritas in Iraq to provide humanitarian aid to these families. Caritas is among the first organisations to supply food, water, bedding and essential living supplies, and Read more
Vatican officials back US airstrikes in Iraq
Friday, August 15th, 2014
Vatican officials and diplomats have expressed support for US airstrikes in Iraq amid fears of genocide against religious minorities. Islamic forces have swept northern Iraq in recent weeks, killing or expelling Christians and religious minorities like the Yazidis in a campaign that some consider tantamount to genocide. The Vatican’s nuncio in Iraq, Archbishop Giorgio Lingua Read more