Dominicans
Mourn and Decry Violence
Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul
Found Dead
MOSUL,
IRAQ- March 17, 2008- The body of Archbishop Faraj Rahho,
65, Chaldean prelate of Mosul was found buried
on the outskirts of the city Thursday, March 13. He was abducted
February 29 by armed men, while on his
way home from celebrating the Stations of the Cross at
Holy Spirit Church. Three of his assistants were killed in the
attack. Rahho was the highest-ranking Christian cleric to be
targeted by armed groups since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq
five years ago.
Pope Benedict
XVI called the kidnapping
and death of Archbishop Rahho "an act of inhuman
violence that offends the dignity of the human being and seriously
harms the ... coexistence among the beloved Iraqi people."
According
to news sources, Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, vowed
that "the perpetrators of this horrible crime will not escape
the long arm of justice." The Iraqi leader blamed Al Qaida
terrorists, who maintain a stronghold in Mosul.
The Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel III
Delly presided at the Friday funeral for Archbishop Raho. Under
heavy security, Christian mourners carried the archbishop's
coffin to a grave outside Mosul.
Speaking on behalf of the Dominican Order, Olivier
Poquillon, OP, Permanent Delegate to the United Nations in Geneva said,
"The Dominican Order strongly
condemns the kidnapping and murder of Monsignor. Faraj Rahho, man
of God dedicated to peace, and dialogue in the service of his people." (read
complete statement)
NGO Representative
at the UN in New York, Eileen Gannon, OP,
said, "Archbishop Rahho’s kidnapping
and murder is an offense against God and the values held dear in
Christianity and Islam. We extend our sincerest condolences to all
the Christians of Iraq in this difficult and painful time and promise
them our prayers and solidarity." (read complete statement)
Dominicans across the Order and here in the US are
deeply saddened and decried the tragedy that comes just
as the fifth year of war in Iraq ends and another year of violence
begins. On March 19th US Dominicans are asked to mark the
end of five years of war with prayer using
the Rosary.
The vulnerability of Christians in Iraq has been of concern
to Dominicans for a long time. The International Dominican
Justice Promoters have advocated
for action in their international
alerts. US
Justice Promoters and other advocates have tried to bring their
plight to the world's attention as well.
Last year, Master of the Order, Carlos
Azpiroz Costa, OP, asked the
pope to intercede directly with President Bush on behalf
of those threatened with violence and who are being killed,
kidnapped and terrorized.
Dusty
Farnan, OP, (Adrian) said, that the North American Dominican
Iraq/Middle East Committeee was
"stunned at the news of the death of Archbishp Rahho." Farnan
is the North American Co-Promoter of Justice and Peace.
"We join in solidarity with all who mourn his passing
both in Iraq and around the world, especially with religious
leaders of the world, Islamic and Christian. We affirm Pope
Benedict's statement calling his death an 'inhuman violence'.
He has died a martyr on behalf of all Iraqis and we can
now pray through his intercession for an end to violence
in Iraq and around the world."
A funeral was held on March 14th in Mosul.
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Pope
Benedict XVI Mourns Death of Kidnapped Iraqi Prelate MORE
Cardinal Delly at Archbishop's Funeral
Urges Peace MORE
World Leaders Join in Condemning Death of Kidnapped
Prelate MORE
Olivier Poquillon,
OP, Permanent Delegate
to the United Nations in Geneva, Responds to Death
of Archbishop Rahho MORE
Eileen Gannon, OP, NGO Re-resentative to the UN in New
York calls the Death of Rahho
"an offense
against God and the values held dear in Christianity and Islam." MORE
AsiaNews Service Reports
NPR Report
Archbishop's Slaying Rocks Iraq's Christian Minority
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