Archbishop Kidnapped in Iraq Found Dead

[sabra]

Source: ABC News/AP


Archbishop Kidnapped in Iraq Found Dead in Northern City


The body of a Chaldean Catholic archbishop kidnapped in Iraq last month was found just outside the northern city of Mosul, officials said Thursday.

Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho was seized by gunmen in Mosul soon after he left Mass on Feb. 29. Three of his companions were killed, the latest in what church members called a series of attacks against Iraq's small Christian community.

Monsignor Shlemon Warduni, the auxiliary bishop of Baghdad, said the church in Mosul had received a phone call from the kidnappers on Wednesday telling them the archbishop was dead. They also told church officials where they could find the body.

"We are hurt by this painful incident," Warduni told The Associated Press.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=4443475

[Ian David]

1. Can't we counter with our Rook?

[CBHagman]

6. A man is dead.

I don't want to see anyone die in that fashion, archbishop or shopkeeper or cameraman.

God rest his soul.

[Ian David]

7. You're right.

My condolences to his children.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. Appalling and frightening...

We don't need another excuse to turn our presence in the Middle East into a holy war. :(

[MrScorpio]

3. I can tell you that there are lot of people upset in Detroit about this

World's largest Chaldean community outside of the Middle East

[Robbien]

4. It is not just Christians being targeted. Christians are just one of many being targeted

Everyone is at risk in Iraq.

[KeepItReal]

5. It's messed up how Christians in Iraq were safer with *Saddam* running the place

They now don't want U.S. forces protection (they'd be seen as collaborators by fellow Iraqis) and are a minority and easy target for militant extremists.

:-(

[eissa]

8. Chaldean bishop blames US for the murder

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0801432.htm

Chaldean bishop says U.S. accountable for death of Iraqi archbishop

By Joe Kohn
Catholic News Service

DETROIT (CNS) -- A Chaldean Catholic bishop said the United States must be held accountable for the death of Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul, Iraq.

Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim of the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, based in Southfield, Mich., said that particularly the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush is responsible for the terrorism and killing of Christians in Iraq. He said the administration is ignoring the problem.

"No one is defending us," he said March 13, the day the archbishop's body was recovered after kidnappers said where they had buried him. "They are killing Christians because they are Christians."

Bishop Ibrahim said the Feb. 29 kidnapping and subsequent death of the archbishop threw into question the destiny of Christians in Iraq. Three of the archbishop's companions were killed in the kidnapping.

"We know that before the invasion of the Americans in Iraq, (terrorism) was no such a thing," Bishop Ibrahim said. "Christians and Muslims were living together, exactly like brothers and sisters, and that's it. But since the invasion, everything changes."

"Somebody has to be responsible," the bishop said. "Since the Americans are occupying Iraq, they have the responsibility of the security of every Iraqi, and in the first place minorities. I am not saying the Christians only -- but they are doing nothing for them."

[saigon68]

9. Yes, The AWOL CHIMPANZEE has this blood on his hands