Iraqi Christians - the world must act

Asia News reports that the Archbishop of Mosul, Mgr George Basile Casmoussahas (right) warned of a change of strategy in the attacks on Christians by Iraqi muslims. In response to the question whether there was a surge in attacks against the Christian minority in Iraq, he said:

Yes and a new, dangerous growth: the novelty is that the terrorists are attacking people directly in their homes. There is a change in strategy.

Two days ago in Mosul, Iraqi Christians Nabil Ghanem and Nashwan Khoder were murdered by terrorists who broke into their homes and gunned them down with automatic weapons. This is in accord with the statement of Al Qaeda that Christians are "legitimate targets".

The Archbishop also made an appeal to the United Nations:

We are asking the United Nations to seriously discuss the issue of Iraqi Christians. To send a real commission for an inquiry. To put pressure on the Iraqi government to ensure attention and the highest security to churches and Christian villages. And to pursue the murderers, to the very end.

It was good to see the following announcement today from the Vatican Press Office:

COMMUNIQUÉ: Eucharistic Celebration in memory of victims of the tragedy in the Cathedral of Baghdad

On Thursday, November 25, 2010, at 5pm, at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica, at the initiative of the Office of the Syrian Catholic Church of Rome, Holy Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, for the souls of the priests and faithful who were victims of the massacre on 31 October in the Cathedral of Baghdad.

The invitation is extended to the celebration of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.

The attacks directed against Iraqi Christians are an outrage and should indeed be condemned by the civilised world. The Christians in Iraq live peaceably and wish to maintain the ancient tradition of their rites and their presence in the land where Abraham wandered.