WORLD CHURCH GROUPING WARNS ON ‘FLIGHT OF CHRISTIANS’ FROM IRAQ

Ecumenical News International, Switzerland
Oct 2 2007

Geneva (ENI). The World Council of Churches has warned of an "exodus"
by the small Christian community of Iraq and said the country’s
leaders and foreign governments need to install the rule of law and
restore a multi-cultural balance in society.

"The flight of Christians from Iraq is a sign of the failure of
policies that were purported to bring stability and peace to Iraq
and even the region," said the WCC, which opposed the US-led military
action that brought down Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"Intolerance between social groups has grown markedly as an outcome
of the conflict there," the Geneva-based church grouping said in
a statement issued on 1 October after a meeting in Armenia of its
executive committee. "Although Christians represent only four percent
of Iraq’s population, they make up 40 percent of its refugees,"
the church grouping stated.

The WCC praised Muslim clerics who are using their influence to
contain violence in Iraq, and said joint Christian-Muslim advocacy
outside Iraq for tolerance would send a signal to those of all faiths
inside the country.

"The continuing presence of Christians in Iraq is a witness to the
ethnic, cultural and religious diversity that are an essential part
of Middle East," the WCC said, noting that members of all religious
communities in Iraq have been displaced or have fled the country.

"The fate of Christians must not be seen in isolation from the fate
of Muslims, or of other minorities such as the Yazidees and Mandeans,
or used to worsen relations with Muslims or other groups," said the
WCC, which gathers 347 churches, predominately Protestant, Anglican
and Orthodox.

In a separate statement the church grouping warned against settling
the dispute of Iran’s nuclear programme by force.

"This international church position against attacking Iran seeks
protection for all the populations involved, including the US and
Israeli publics," the WCC stated. "Years of unilateralist military
incursions in the Middle East have compromised human security and
national well-being across the region and left many people vulnerable."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress