Peace-making: Save Iraqi Christians and CSI

Persecution of Iraqi Christians




After writing about the plight of Christians in Iraq I received an e-mail from Save Iraqi Christians. This is a compelling site. It describes the situation in Iraq but also identifies supporters of the Iraqi Christian community around the world. These are supporters of many faiths. Faced with a situation that is heartbreaking and should be of interest to all people of faith the site offers hope. If you believe that “with God all things are possible” and you have faith like a mustard seed, then the site gives you the “what”. The “what” is what to do besides feeling depressed. The “what” is what the world can do, the nation can do, what you and I can do to save this historically important community, a member of our Christian family, from imminent extinction.

So, please take time to visit the site, explore it and then if you feel so moved, at the very least sign the petition.

The site also introduced me to CSI (no, not the television show!). CSI or Christian Solidarity International is a Christian human rights organization for religious liberty helping victims of religious repression, victimized children and victims of disaster. The organization was founded in 1977 in Switzerland. According to the site, CSI's primary objective is worldwide respect for the God-given right of every human being to choose his or her faith and to practice it, as stipulated in Art. 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The organization offers Christians ample opportunities to help our brothers and sisters in need. Petitions addressing Sudanese Slavery and then support for newly freed slaves may be found on the site. Egyptian persecution of Christians and of course the plight of Iraqi Christians may also be found by visiting their website.

So, if you are looking for tangible, concrete ways to support our modern martyrs, guidance for addressing our leaders or projects and prayer lists for your local communities to participate in visit Save Iraqi Christians or CSI.

Peace and all good,
Carl

The (Ignored) Extermination of Iraqi Christians

Iraqi Christians Need Our Help Now

What will we say when we meet St. Thomas the Apostle? What will we tell him about his legacy, the Eastern Churches of Iraq? For 2000 years the Christians of this nation survived persecution, changing empires, Islamic Dynasties and Western Colonialism. And now, in a matter of seven years they face extinction, extinction.

These are the Chaldean (Catholic) Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church, and the Assyrian Church of the East. Their liturgies are in Aramaic, the language of Jesus. Twenty years ago there were 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. After the Gulf War their numbers dropped to 800,000. Today there are perhaps 400,000 left in the nation. The exodus of refugees is estimated to be 2,000 a day.

Iraq is a nation of modern martyrs. Persecution against the Christian minority is pronounced and effective. Baghdad will soon be empty of Christians, this was a center of Iraqi Christians. Where the Christians go, to Nineveh, Mosul, Kurd territories they are caught in the middle of conflict. In a nation of competing interests and forces they are a people without a militia and without powerful allies. Of the Western nations only Germany has publicly spoke of the plight of these ancient Christians and only the Pope has called out for an end to the violence against these people.

It is time to demand our leaders take responsibility for this situation thy helped create. It time we called for financial support, prayer support and material support for these people. They need their own police force, they need infrastructure, health care, educational systems. They need so much of what has been taken from them over the last 20 years and especially the last seven years. Without such assistance this culture is doomed to extinction in a very short period of time.

So, what will we say to St. Thomas when we meet him?

Iraqi Christians Assyrian Chaldean Syrian

Mugabe, the "Election" and the Church

The election and then run-off election for President of Zimbabwe has been a sad affair. The fact that “President” Mugabe had his opponent arrested illustrates how this election is pure folly. His opponent was released but says he was beaten and he dropped out of the race. The result, an unopposed Mugabe, who clearly lost the initial election, is now declared the winner. The nation still faces economic disaster. Fear and oppression are still the pillars of governance and a nation continues to suffer.

Mugabe counts himself a faithful Catholic. The church/es of Zimbabwe have a complicated relationship with this regime. He was initially supported by many in faith communities because they wanted an end to the repressive and racist Smith Regime. However, over the years Mugabe’s government has become increasingly divisive, oppressive and blatantly violates the human rights of its citizens. Today his support in the faith communities of the nation is not solid.

Traditional leaders have voiced their support of his call for dialog and congratulated him on his re-election. One wonders what will happen to these Traditional Leaders who have failed to lead when their people needed them most. This regime is doomed. Mugabe is an old man. He will either die in the next few years or the leaders of his party will recognize they have lost the support of the nation and they will desert him. Either way the government and policies these “Leaders” support will only be around for a limited time and the people will remember how the Traditional Leaders failed them.

Church leaders are calling for reconciliation and the support of the world. Priests have been attacked and are afraid to travel. One Catholic Church has been burnt. The Bishop of South Africa has called on all African Nations to reject Mugabe as the elected leader of Zimbabwe.

It is a dangerous time to live in Zimbabwe. A people that have known too much suffering continues to try to survive under the heel of this dictator and his sham election. The question is, will the neighboring nations have the moral fortitude to call for Mugabe to step down? At the very least our prayers are required.


Zimbabwe Vote Rigging

Moral Theology, Flooding, Fires and Festivals: I'm Back

When a Creek Becomes a river: Flooding in Indiana

Well it has been over a month since my last blog. I don’t usually take such long breaks. Usually my breaks are in terms of hours or most a few days. However, it has been a challenging summer. I was teaching a course two nights a week. I had not taught that course before so there was prep time. The bigger challenge is the other two nights a week I was taking Moral Theology.

Now that was a challenge. We read about Pauline Moral Theology, about the Patristic view of Moral Theology, St. Thomas Aquinas and the Scholastics, the Nomalists, Trent, Casuistry and Vatican I and II. All of this while each student was responsible for leading two discussions and completing and presenting a term project.

My final project was on the Catholic position on torture. I will write about that in the coming weeks.

Now I know all you other students are thinking, “Oh, poor baby had to read and do some homework!” I’m just saying I didn’t blog because I had to DO my homework. Well, the term is over and I’m back.

I don’t even know where I will focus in the coming days. So much has occurred while I was tending to my own garden. The disaster situations in China and Burma are still just that. Kenya struggles with healing. Zimbabwe is an insult to the democratic process, the world tries to support the opposition but it is not easy.

I have been called by the American Red Cross to respond to numerous disasters but cannot at this time. Tornadoes and flooding have ravaged the center of the nation while the West is dealing with non-stop Wildfires.

Back home in Indiana we have had Greek Fest, German Fest (of which the Catholic community plays a significant role), Fiesta, more activities at the Old Fort and we are preparing for the Three Rivers Festival. The center of the state is under water from flooding, our neighbors to the West are dealing with flooding from the Mississippi River.

Even closer to home, our fraternity of the Secular Franciscans is adjusting to change. We have had elections. Our past leaders look rested and happy, our new leaders look excited. I am in the enviable position of being a newbie so I don’t have to worry about being responsible for anything, just taking it all in and say “thank you”, so “thank you”.

So, yep there is plenty to write about. The challenge for now is to focus, focus. So I will do the only sane thing, I will go walk my dog by one of our rivers.

The Flood of 08: Columbus Indiana

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Rev. Moss, Trinity and Thanksgiving

Obama Pastor Otis Moss: Don't Let Enemy Tell You How To Act

I find myself watching video clips on the Internet of Trinity United Church of Christ and of Rev. Moss and I am getting angry. I am getting angry at the less than subtle racism used to diminish this church and the one dimensional thinking used to understand or describe this church.

Is this a church that courts controversy? Of course it is. Are Christians to be complacent and accept things as is? Of course not. We are called upon to love our enemies, forgive, forgive and then forgive some more. We are called upon to turn the other check. So while I support Israel 100% I don’t assume that others who support talking with Hamas are supporting terrorism. It means talking with the enemy. It does not imply giving in to an enemy.


Fact Check: Reverend Otis Moss on Obama's Faith

Louis Farrakhan was honored in this church. I would not do that but I do not assume it means the church is honoring his past racists and anti-Semitic remarks. I assume they are honoring his compassionate works and his change of heart. Are we to accept that African-Americans can forgive and embrace George Wallace but they cannot believe that a Black leader can change? Or are we saying we cannot believe a Black leader can change? Even if their decision to honor this man is wrong it was done through the principles of love, reconciliation and acceptance. We need more of that, even if the world says it is naive.


Pastors Wright & Otis Moss III: The Enemy of Obama's Church

I watch commentators and bloggers refer to the church as “Gangster’s Paradise” or as “Obama’s Crackpot Church”. It is reduced to being described as pro Hamas, anti Israel, as an “outrageous church”, outside the norm and “that joke of a church”. I suspect this is all by people who believe they are practicing Christian Charity.


United Church of Christ

Now I don’t believe this is a perfect church without problems. Many of Rev. Wright’s comments were outrageous and divisive. I believe they were the exception to the rule but they were still a problem. Rev. Pfleiger looked as if he was seduced by the feedback from an audience. I can see that happening to me, getting lost in the moment and the feelings and reactions becoming more important than the message only to realize it too late. So, it is agreed, it is a church full of humans. But it is a church of Christians who combine faith and works.

What do they do besides preach and worship? Well, ministries include:

Senior Services, Adopt a Student, Africa Ministry, Athletes for Christ,
Can-Cer-Vive, Career Development, Caribbean Connection: This ministry is our Afrocentric congregation's attempt to educate our North American members about the many aspects of the Caribbean culture..
Church in Society: continually seeks ways and opportunities to educate, inform and empower the congregation and community to understand, identify and to be effective advocates for social justice policies that better our lives and our world.

Church School, Counseling, Alcohol and Drug Rehab, Literacy Training, Marriage Counseling, Domestic Violence Ministry, Dance Ministry, Grief and loss Ministry, Food Share, HIV/AIDS Ministry, ministry for young men and women coming of age and so, so much more.

All f this is Christ Centered.

So, maybe the podium is a place that allows for some easy sound bites for those who want to diminish this congregation for their own purposes. But wake up, how many of our churches provide this much love and contribution to our neighborhoods? This is a church that has grown to a membership of 6000. It rejects a silo mentality and works with others in the community. I find far more at this church worthy of honor and thanksgiving than to be critical of. Rev. Moss and Trinity will be in my prayers and they will be prayers of thanksgiving.


We Are Trinity United Church of Christ

Kenya and the Church Struggling to Heal Wounds

We have always known that Catholics and other Christians are never believers living outside of their time and culture. That is clear in Kenya. The Catholic Church is struggling to help heal a nation that had been ravaged by violent tribalism after the last election. The Catholic Church has been viewed as aligned with the ruling party. There is now a coalition/unity government. Many are calling for amnesty and the releasing of prisoners. The government refuses.

Muslims have been less involved in the ethnic rivalry that marked the post election crisis. All religious groups are searching for a way to move toward healing but events are still current and the pain is raw.

Bishop Walter Obare of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya says that religion is in crisis in Kenya because it has been so politicized. Cardinal John Njue has opposed amnesty for youth arrested for post election violence. The Church is now seen as a tool of the government. Many of the opposition members have accused religious leaders in Kenya of being morally bankrupt. Many point to the early days of Kenya independence when clergy were seen as the defenders of the people and willing to speak truth to power.

So what is being done? The Catholic Church in Kenya has called for a six month pastoral healing program for the nation. 48 Kenyans will lead a pilgrimage to Namugongo Shrine to begin the period of healing. The pilgrims will pass through refugee camps in Uganda. At each camp they will pray and preach peace-making.

1,500 peace flags will be distributed to the parishes in Kenya. The flags will then be displayed. 20,000 pamphlets will be distributed, each with the Prayer of St. Francis on it.

30 clergy will then climb Mount Kenya and plant both a Peace Flag and the Kenyan National Flag at the summit.

Additional activities include programs as sports stadiums, distributing books on Christian values, renaming streets, bridges and specific sites and dedicating the sites to peace.

This weekend there is a 3 day conference on peace and justice. This will be followed up by a year long on youth and civic responsibility.

The Church, the religious leaders of all denominations and even of other faiths, along with the citizen of Kenya have a difficult challenge in front of them. The church has developed a robust plan to promote healing. Let us pray that loving your neighbor becomes more important than loving your Party.



Amnesty: Gross human rights violation

Saying Goodbye to the Pilgrimage and Hello to the Journey

Vatican (St Peter's Basilica, Square and Church) Rome Italy

Well today is the last full day in Rome for our Franciscan pilgrims. Our school has participated in the AFCU and Franciscan Pilgrimage program for a number of years. We have sent pilgrims with the leadership program in the fall, the faculty and staff program in early summer and the student programs in the winter. This opportunity to walk and live where the saints walked and lived, to worship at Sacred sites including the Vatican and to share with one another has to be having a powerful effect on our ability to integrate our Franciscan Spiritual and Intellectual Traditions into the fabric of our campus life.

Today the pilgrims will join the crowd at St. Peter’s Square praying the Angelus with Pope Benedict XVI. I am excited for them.

When we were in Rome the Pope was in Poland on Wed., the day of his audiences. The rest of the week youth groups and religious from around the world streamed in and out of the Papal Apartments waving flags, playing musical instruments, singing and shouting “Viva Papa”! We never saw him but his influence was very real. At night we would walk through the square and his apartment light was on late into the night, he is a busy man!

Our pilgrims will also go to St. Paul outside the Walls. We never visited there either. I think the fact that so much of the pilgrimage each year is the same and yet there are significant difference helps us grow. We share our common experiences. However, out of curiosity we are compelled talk and share about the experiences that make each year different and unique. We just keep learning from one another. I cannot wait to hear about their last day experiences.

Our pilgrims have already said Farwell to Assisi. That is the hardest part of the trip. Tomorrow they will say farewell to Rome and Italy. They will be a little sad but oh so happy to have so much to share. I will say farewell to our pilgrims and their time in Italy and “welcome home”. Then pilgrims, when things calms down, download your photos, get on your computer, write up your favorite or most powerful experiences and share them on the blog with the rest of us.

Welcome home pilgrims.


Papal Audience