Please pray for the safety of the two priests
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Two Catholic priests kidnapped in northern Iraq
By staff writers
15 Oct 2007
The Pope and human rights groups have joined calls for the release of two Catholic priests who were kidnapped in Mosul, northern Iraq, on Friday 12 October 2007, Syrian Catholic Church head Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa has briefed reporters.
Father Pius Affas a 60 year-old Syrian priest from Mosul and Father Mazen Ishoa, aged 35, a recently ordained, were on their way toa service in a church in the suburbs, when they were snatched.
Reports say that the forcible siezure took place at around 16:00 local time. Both militants and armed criminal groups are reularly involved in kidnappings in Iraq, effecting thousands of indigenous people and a number of foreigners.
A Chaldean priest kidnapped earlier this years was released on 15 August. A bishop was kidnapped and released two years ago. Local Christian communities have been hard pressed and have diminished significantly through exile since 2003.
Pope Benedict XVI, head of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, appealed for the men's safe return following the recitation of the Angelus (a traditional prayer of devotion to the Virgin Mary) at St Peter's Rome on Saturday.
The two priests were travelling to the church of Our Lady of Fatima in al-Faisaliya district when they were taken. There have been no claims of responsibility yet
Fr Affas is a biblical studies professor at the seminary. He is a past editor of the respected Arab language magazine 'Christian thought'. Fr Mazen Ishoa was ordained a few months ago following completion of a degree.
"I learned today that two priests from the archdiocese of Mosul were kidnapped and threatened with death," the Pope declared. "I call on the abductors to rapidly liberate the two clerics and I reiterate that violence does not resolve the tensions."
"I pray to the Lord for their freedom, for peace and for all those who suffer from violence," he added. -
Lord have mercy.
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As of one hour ago, they are still in the hands of the captors.
Photos of the victims can be found in this link http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10561&size=A -
May God help them.
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may a hero rise and save them
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Kidnapped Catholic priests freed in Iraq
Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:32pm IST
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two Catholic priests kidnapped in Iraq have been freed and are in good health, a cleric at the residence of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly in Baghdad said on Sunday.
"I talked to the hostages. They are well. They say they were treated like guests," said the cleric, who asked not to be identified.
He said the priests were celebrating their release with a service at a church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, where they were taken hostage amid reports they were being held for a $1 million ransom.
A Vatican spokesman confirmed their release.
Last week Pope Benedict appealed for the priests to be freed, using his weekly Angelus blessing to send the message that "violence cannot bring relief to this tense situation".
Christians form a small minority in Iraq. A recent U.S. State Department report on religious freedom estimated the country has about 1 million Christians, down from 1.4 million in 1987.
Most belong to the Chaldean rite, one of the ancient rites of the Catholic Church.
clap clap clap clap
Thanks be to God. -
I tot Chaldean rite is closer to Greek Orthodoxy?Originally posted by Honeybunz:Kidnapped Catholic priests freed in Iraq
Sun Oct 21, 2007 5:32pm IST
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Two Catholic priests kidnapped in Iraq have been freed and are in good health, a cleric at the residence of Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly in Baghdad said on Sunday.
"I talked to the hostages. They are well. They say they were treated like guests," said the cleric, who asked not to be identified.
He said the priests were celebrating their release with a service at a church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, where they were taken hostage amid reports they were being held for a $1 million ransom.
A Vatican spokesman confirmed their release.
Last week Pope Benedict appealed for the priests to be freed, using his weekly Angelus blessing to send the message that "violence cannot bring relief to this tense situation".
Christians form a small minority in Iraq. A recent U.S. State Department report on religious freedom estimated the country has about 1 million Christians, down from 1.4 million in 1987.
Most belong to the Chaldean rite, one of the ancient rites of the Catholic Church.
clap clap clap clap
Thanks be to God. -
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Eastern Catholics pledge fealty to Rome.Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:I tot Chaldean rite is closer to Greek Orthodoxy?