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In connection with this story I was reading at Rorate Caeli about the EU’s denial of special visa preference to Christians desirous of leaving Iraq, I thought that these comments from our regular correspondent in Turkey were interesting:
Last Sunday at Mass, I met another Iraqi family traveling through Turkey - this time on their way to the USA. I’ve met and had occasion to talk to a few dozen now. Each time I feel slightly awkward - especially when I’m inevitably asked what my profession is — wondering if they harbor any resentment. I’ve yet to come across one family with any resentment or anger toward the USA. And I don’t think they are just being polite. This particular family from last Sunday were on their way to either California or Michigan (not surprising since those are where most of the Chaldean churches are within the USA). I’ve not thought it appropriate in these situations to talk politics or inquire about their feelings. But this is a region where people have an opinion on everything and aren’t shy to share it with you. So it’s my estimation that even given all that’s happened to their communities, they don’t blame America. As the EU continues to play the politically correct game of not showing any special preference to the plight of Christian refugees over Muslim refugees, I’m glad to see the US State Department continue to expand their visa program for the Christians (predominantly Catholics) feeling Iraq.
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort,
Pope St. Pius X,
St. Joseph,
St. Ambrose of Milan,
St. Thomas Aquinas,
St. Francis (and St. Clare),
St. Catherine of Siena,
St. Alphonsus Ligouri,
St. John Chrysostom,
So many things will change if the Dems win the White House — expect the State Dept. to discontinue giving Christian refugees special treatment, and expect our foreign aid to again start including billions of dollars of population control measures.
Yes, it is good that we are granting asylum to Iraq’s fleeing Christians. I found the following bit of information on the website of Mar Emmanuel III, the current Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans and primate of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Last October he was created a Cardinal and is know also as Cardinal Delly.
“As of the first quarter of 2008 the status of Christians in Iraq remains unchanged and grim. Under Saddam Hussein the Christians in Iraq , Chaldean and Assyrian, remnants of the ancient Churches of Mesopotamia going back to the Apostles, were protected by the Baathist state and not harmed. Accordingly they were allowed to live, work and practice their religion free of official harassment subject only to the same constraints imposed by law on all Iraqis. All that changed with the unprovoked American attack on and invasion and occupation of Iraq , the destruction of the Baathist state and the subsequent empowerment of the Muslims, Sunni and Shia, to attack, kill, expel, and kidnap for ransom the powerless Christians. The churches, businesses, homes and persons of Iraqi Christians were randomly attacked and many people were scattered about in exile throughout the Middle East and elsewhere. Threats to convert to Islam or suffer death could not be taken lightly and were often enforced by violence. Consequently the Christian population of Iraq is down to about a fourth of what it was before the American invasion.” http://www.byzantines.net/epiphany/chaldean.htm