“The international community must take immediate and decisive action to tackle the problems which are threatening the continuing Christian presence in Iraq,” said Neville Kyrke-Smith, national director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK).
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, Archbishop Eamon Martin laments, “The harshest criticisms and mockery nowadays tends to come in social media - often from trolls, or people who have never met me.”
Martyred Iraqi priest, who had stayed at the Irish College in Rome, returned to his home country despite the dangers because he felt that "Without their pastor the flock would be lost".
“Nobody was disrespectful. Certainly there were people who were indifferent, people who did not know exactly what was going on, but there were people who stopped and blessed themselves and wanted a blessing,” Bishop Cullinan said.
“I call upon all parties to fan the flame of dialogue and self-control – and to banish the shadow of enmity,” said Pope Francis.
Christians in Iraq, who numbered 1.5 million before 2003, have declined by 90 per cent within a generation.
More than 245 million Christians live in a place where they experience high levels of persecution – IDOP.
Cardinal referred to pressing need to reconstruct destroyed towns and villages and rebuild trust.
In his traditional Christmas day Urbi et Orbi message, the Pontiff prayed that Syrians might “find fraternity after long years of war” and that Yemen’s recent truce would bring relief to its people and children “exhausted by war and famine”.
"Our job is primarily to support the Church in those places where it does not have the material resources to carry out its pastoral activities or where Christians are suffering from oppression, persecution and violence.”
"A Middle East without Christians would not be the Middle East."
“May beloved Syria at last recover respect for the dignity of every person through a shared commitment to rebuild the fabric of society, without regard for ethnic and religious membership.”
The report states that every single day Christians suffer persecution for their faith – many of them are left with no choice but to flee for their lives.
“Christian responses to persecution are almost always nonviolent and, with very few exceptions, do not involve acts of terrorism,” states recent report.
Many of these children have escaped war and conflict only to end up in camps many of them call ‘hell’, where they say they are made to feel more like animals than humans.
“We believe that by helping to resettle the most vulnerable, we are living out our Christian faith and ‘welcoming the stranger’ as Jesus has challenged us to do.”
“The world is watching as we abandon our commitments to American values. These actions ... lower our estimation in the eyes of the many peoples who want to know America as a defender of human rights and religious liberty”.
“Racism and xenophobia are garnering electoral power in many countries” – President Higgins.
“We cannot sit on the fence any more on this issue – we must stand up to this indiscriminate killing of people whether it is Russia or America that is responsible.”
“Over the past few weeks and months we have witnessed an unprecedented polarisation of attitudes on immigration and refugees, culminating in a dramatic and repugnant rise in race hate crime since the referendum.”
Fr Momika, who is from Qaraqosh, noted how 6 August marked the exact two-year anniversary since ISIS attacked his hometown, driving out inhabitants who didn’t meet their demands to convert to Islam, pay a hefty tax or face death.
“The attack on Christians has been immense. Pray for their safety in this chaotic situation” - Chaldean Archbishop Bashar M. Warda told the UK-based Release International.
“Today our witness to the distress of refugees should be a call to action.”
Bishops concerned that process of taking in refugees seems to have slipped onto the back-burner of Irish politics.
The crimes committed by ISIS include the rape of children, the killing by crucifixion of Christians and systematic violence against religious minorities.
Chaldean Catholic Bishop Antoine Audo of the Syrian city of Aleppo to speak at one of Rome's most famed tourist attractions about the plight of Christians.
The Easter message speaks especially to those seeking to escape from persecution and poverty.
Peace and security policies were at the centre of the debate of the spring plenary assembly of COMECE's bishops in Brussels.
"Our situation is hard, our future is gloomy, and people are tired. They are waiting for a solution whereby they can restore their dignity."
Joint declaration pleads on behalf of world's persecuted Christians especially in the Middle East where families, villages and cities are being exterminated.
