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New rash of bombings hits Iraqi Christian churches
Wednesday, 09 January 2008 06:26
Kirkuk, Jan. 9, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Three churches in Kirkuk, Iraq, were hit by car bombs on Wednesday afternoon, January 9, the AsiaNews service reports.
The bombings follow closely after a series of blasts at Catholic churches and Church-run institutions in Baghdad and Mosul on January 6. Following those Sunday attacks, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had issued a promise that the government would provide adequate protection for Christian institutions and would apprehend the Islamic terrorists who are presumed to be responsible for the intimidation campaign.
The attacks in Kirkuk came just one day after the prime minister offered that public guarantee. The bombs hit 2 Eastern Catholic churches; the third church struck by the car-bombing campaign has not yet been identified. The bombings were the first such attacks against Christians in Kirkuk, AsiaNews pointed out. The city's Christians had been living in peace, relatively unaffected by the threats of violence that have troubled the Christian minority elsewhere in Iraq.
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Long ago, the wily one cast his weapon and wounded Adam and killed him; Indeed, he completely destroyed the weak man. But now, even if he struck the bodies of the noble men, he did not destroy their spirits. He persuaded the first-created man to fall by words, but not even by deeds, the noble ones. Bewitching the former, he made promises; he made offers to the latter: For Adam, the making of a god; for the martyrs, honor. He offers what he does not have; he suggests bestowing things not in his authority. Therefore, saints, having shattered his scheme, You gained crowns. |