Catholics Murdered by Muslims in Baghdad
In an attack on Syrian Catholics worshiping at Mass on Sunday (Oct 31, 2010), 58 people were killed, including 2 priests and 75 people were injured. The attack was conducted by Muslim extremists.
When will the world wake up and realize that Islam is NOT a peaceful religion?!?! This story makes my blood churn. This sort of injustice and attack against humanity must be stopped. Here’s the story from Catholic Online.
‘The October 31 attack on the Syrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad that killed 58 and wounded 75 has shocked and horrified the Catholic community and all people of goodwill. We join Pope Benedict XVI in expressing our profound sorrow at this savage violence and offer our heartfelt prayers for the victims, their families, and the Church and people of Iraq.’
More Destinations
WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) – We were among the first online sources to report on the evil actions of extremist Muslims which were committed against the innocent Catholic faithful of Iraq while attending Holy Mass. I wrote an article entitled, Catholics Killed at Mass in Iraq: Extremist Muslims invade Church, Murder Priests .
Of course, the reaction from the Holy See was immediate. Pope Benedict XVI expressed his profound sorrow and solidarity. On the Feast of All Saints he called for an end to the “heinous episodes of violence that continue to ravage the people of the Middle East.” He addressed the “grave attack on the Syrian Catholic cathedral of Baghdad, (where) dozens of people were killed and injured, among them two priests and a group of faithful gathered for Sunday Mass.”
The Pope called the faithful around the world to prayer, ” I pray for the victims of this absurd violence, which is even more savage because it struck defenseless people, gathered in God’s house, which is a house of love and reconciliation…. May everyone unite their efforts so as to end all violence.”
We received an extraordinary number of letters in response to that article on the massacre against Catholic Christians in Iraq by extremists Muslims. Many of our readers asked why this evil act of terror and violence was not covered by the mainstream media and Major Press sources. It took a while, but it finally was. As the news came out, Catholics, other Christians, other people of faith and all people of good will uniformly expressed outrage, deep sorrow and shock at the barbaric act. The sacrifice of their lives must not be forgotten. It points to the growing persecution against catholics and other Christians in Iraq and throughout the Middle East.
We present below the full official statement released by Francis Cardinal George, the President of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops on November 1, 2010. This great Churchman is equally strong in his remarks referring to this “most recent murderous attack”. He placed it within the context of the ongoing persecution of Christians in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. Once again, we invite our readers around the world to pray for those who were killed while attending Holy Mass, for their families and for all our brethren in Iraq who are in deep mourning over this evil act.
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Statement on the Attack on the Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad, Francis Cardinal George, OMI
The October 31 attack on the Syrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad that killed 58 and wounded 75 has shocked and horrified the Catholic community and all people of goodwill. We join Pope Benedict XVI in expressing our profound sorrow at this savage violence and offer our heartfelt prayers for the victims, their families, and the Church and people of Iraq.
In the recent Synod on the Middle East, the bishops from Iraq spoke of the perilous situation facing Christians and other minorities in that country. They recalled: kidnappings for ransom; bombings of churches, schools, and other property occupied by Christians; threats to Christian-run businesses and livelihoods; and the death of Archbishop Rahho and other priests following kidnappings.
Together with this most recent murderous attack, this pattern points to an appalling lack of basic security. Many Christians have been forced to leave their homes or have fled abroad in search of safety. Many have little hope of return to Iraq in the near future. The Synod called on the international community to help Iraq “put an end to the consequences of a deadly war and re-establish security, something which will protect all its citizens .”
The United States bears responsibility for working effectively with the Iraqi government to stem the violence. Our Conference of Bishops raised grave moral questions prior to the United States military intervention in Iraq and then called for a “responsible transition.”
While we welcomed the end of U.S.-led combat in Iraq, we share the Iraqi bishops’ concern that the United States failed to help Iraqis in finding the political will and concrete ways needed to protect the lives of all citizens, especially Christians and other vulnerable minorities, and to ensure that refugees and displaced persons are able to return to their homes safely. Having invaded Iraq, the U.S. government has a moral obligation not to abandon those Iraqis who cannot defend themselves.
At the conclusion of the Synod, the pope said, “Peace is possible. Peace is urgent. Peace is the indispensable condition for a life of dignity for individuals and society.”
We offer our prayers and solidarity with the suffering Christians of Iraq at this terrible time of loss and horrific violence. We stand with the bishops, Church and people of Iraq in their urgent search for greater security, freedom and protection. We call upon the United States to take additional steps to help Iraq protect its citizens, especially the most vulnerable. “
Here are just a few pictures you can find while doing an internet search of Islam. Seems like the opposite of peaceful to me.
Absolutely Ridiculous.
I don’t want to sound obtuse, or provide any excuse for these terrorists in any way possible, but we gained 58 martyrs in this. While I share your anger and grief, perhaps we should ask these new martyrs of our faith to pray for those who practice this hideous extremism. My fear is that they’ve won simply by inspiring anger and fear in any of us.
Dave,
While these acts are indeed heinous and violent, I believe it is rash to assign the label “violent” to an entire religion because of the actions of a few who claim membership.
Unfortunately, there are always people in the world who are going to misrepresent the true nature of their professed religions, and Muslims happen to have a particularly high occurrence of this. Does this mean that the world needs to “wake up and realize that Islam is NOT a peaceful religion” as a whole? I hardly think so. The world needs to realize there are are some violent individuals in the muslim faith, as there are in every faith. And what we need to realize even more is that we are called to love all, despite their violent nature.
You said the story makes your blood churn because of the injustice and attack against humanity… I am hoping that any story of senseless murder would make you feel this way, not just when such an act is perpetrated against Catholics.
I know that you are not promoting hatred towards muslims, but as a man who is being emulated by other men as an example of True Catholic Manhood, I encourage you to be even still less harsh in your words. Instead of rallying anger and boiling blood, rally to the need for prayer and for more efforts towards peace in our world. Your boiling blood will accomplish little.
For a True Man example: http://www.catholicnews.com/jpii/stories/story04.htm
Most sincerely,
A woman seeking to support True Men everywhere
Meghann,
Thanks for keeping the perspective of holiness and sainthood. Yes, we gained some saints in Heaven because of this, and hopefully their prayers for the souls on earth will be many.
Allison,
Thank you for your comment. You are correct in some aspects, but I want to point out a few things. Catholics are not called to simply be bullied around, or taken advantage of, or scorned, or murdered or whatever and brush it off simply because we love Jesus. We are encouraged to be virtuous, in all things. Some situations call for RIGHTEOUS ANGER and actions to be taken in light of that RIGHTEOUS ANGER. These acts make me angry, and it’s not anger like I want to go kill every Muslim in the world, but anger like this sort of injustice must be stopped. Simply sitting back and using calm words and/or taking it on the chin is not what we are called to do. Yes, we are called to the greatest virtue, CHARITY, but CHARITY does not mean being wimps.
As for your comment about all Muslims vs. a few radicals… I agree with you to some extent. But, this is different than when a misinformed, uncatechised Catholic spouts out pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, pro-divorce, etc. statements. The Muslim faith, found in the Quran, is not peaceful towards dissidents or those who mock, or those who disagree, or those who… the list goes on and on. The Quran is not a book that the Muslim people (ALL Muslim people) take lightly, like some Catholics and Protestants do with the Bible. It would be good for all of us to read the Quran and know what it says so that we can honestly defend and protect against it.
And as for the article about JPII: he was a great man of peace and tried (and keeps praying for this in Heaven!) to get people of all faiths to be peaceful. The Muslims, in general, do not want peace. JPII wanted to give the world a heavy dose of TRUTH. They have to accept TRUTH, but many aren’t.
“When will the world wake up and realize that Islam is NOT a peaceful religion?!?!”
The Crusades weren’t so peaceful either, buddy.
Why? – your scope of world history is sorely lacking. The Crusades were wars… wars are not peaceful. Wars are not terrorism. And, as you may recall, the Crusades were against, ummm… hhmmm… that’s right, the Muslims!
When I write something like this, I don’t expect everyone to agree or to understand. I do, however, expect people to educate themselves. We should all expect that from each other. When someone reads my website and critiques me, I’m okay with that, except when the author of the critique hides behind a fake name and a fake email address. If you want to have an adult conversation about an issue that is VERY IMPORTANT, then let’s do that. If you want to cower as an online phony, then don’t comment on my blog. Please.
It is time that we all wake up and see what is taking place in our world. The same things that have crumbled empires in the past are quickly going to crumble the USA, unless those of us that have a backbone and are worried about morality stand up and do something.
Which side of the issue are you on? You cannot waiver in the middle. Pick a side and get to work.
If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything. The truth is that a lot of Catholics and Christians are “watered down” in their beliefs and are too swayed by the mainstream. The media trys to hide acts of hatred that Muslim communities bring upon the world and exposes any anti-muslim actions. As long as we allow ourselves to ignore what the muslim followers are doing, we are allowing this monster to grow stronger and stronger. If this was a Christians vs. Muslim attack, you know that the Muslims would retaliate. I think its time for us to pick up and protect our cross.
What I really don’t understand is why mainstream “peace loving” Muslims haven’t spoken out against radical Islam. That is what really makes me mad. When I look at radical Islam, it saddens me. I get mad too, but I wonder, “How could this have happened? Why have humans sunk to this level of wanting to slaughter millions?” It really bothers me sometimes. One i=other thing is that the people who believe this are cowards. They’re too scared to read the rest of the Koran because it will tell them what they are doing is wrong and against the wishes of Allah.
One other thing. Dave, I agree with your assertion that Islam is a violent religion up to a certain extent. I don’t believe that they are all ordered to kill all the infidels, but they are still violent. They are not true men. The Prophet actually encourages husbands to beat their wives if they don’t listen to them, although some translations will throw in the word “lightly” as if that makes it any better. AND Mohammed had a six year old wife. Yes, as in 6.
The problem that i see with ‘peaceful’ muslims is that, while they may be peaceful now, if their fellow muslims ask them to fight or die which side will they be on? Of course they will side with their fellow muslims against all other religions, but especially Catholicism. I have a few friends that come from muslim countries (Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq) and they will say the same thing.
We as Catholic men must have more of an appreciation and pride in our Faith and our fellow Catholics. We as men are sometimes called to fight for our own. For example, if someone was to break into my house and try to murder my family they would have to do so over my dead body! It is the same with our Faith, while we must always have love for all human life and be charitable to all, WE ARE NOT CALLED TO BE WIMPS AND LET THE WORLD STEP ALL OVER US! Jesus Himself had to clear out a Temple with holy anger, He showed us that when injustices are being done against the innocent it is the right and duty of a real man to step up and it is ok to get angry.
And the comment on the Crusades, basically calling Catholics ‘violent’ could not be more ill-informed. Look into the EWTN show called Military Orders and the Crusades.