www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Iraqi Night w/Bishop Ibrahim and Dan Lauffer

Lawrence wrote on the Prayer Thread:
(which has been deleted and moved here for possible discussion)

Sounds like a pleasant evening - wish I had been there!

Fr. Serge

COOL!

Actually the event was held during the afternoon, and to my knowledge, from the Byzantine Forum, we had Dan, Father Loya and myself present.

Perhaps Dan has been very busy this week and unable to find the time to post, so I thought I'd do a bit of a recap of Bishop Ibrahim's speech at Nativity B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church in Palos Park.

I'm sure this will greatly offend some people, but Bishop Ibrahim stated that under the US occupation (he used that word several times) life for Christian Iraqis has become extremely dangerous. Christians are often suspected of being collaboraters with the US military, yet those very same troops refuse point blank to protect Christians or their institutions.

The Bishop also spoke of the behaviour of US soldiers in Iraq, which is often barbaric. A large Chaldean Rite seminary was taken over and occupied by US soldiers without permission, while Moslems spread word that the Christians had given the soldiers permission to use the building as a base. In addition, Bishop Ibrahim told us that for a single sniper, US forces often bomb an entire block killing innocent men, women and children by the score. An Iraqi man attending the dinner told me that under the US occupation, Iraq's national resources are being looted by foreign interests on a daily basis, with large oil smuggling operations being conducted.

Personally I fear this very same scenario is going to play out in Syria in the near future. A devestating US attack followed by Islamic radicals turning the populace against the Christian minority.

Lawrence,

Thanks for the tip that this discussion is going on here.

I knew some months ago that what we would hear from Christians on the scene would be uncomfortable for us (me) to hear. I do believe that much of America's motives in going into Iraq were noble. I also believe that is great danger to the West in simply doing nothing in face of Islamic terrorism. Yet I have been realizing that Christians have been leaving Iraq in droves and that those who remain are suffering greatly. I've come to believe that though America's goals were noble, for the most part, America was naive in going in and almost totally unprepared to protect Christians there.

Now I see that Catholics are in a very tough place. While Saddam was brutal he did protect the Catholics. Moreover, what Iraq has now is essentially an Iranian government, which seems rather ominous to say the least.

CDL

Carson,

Very well put.

To all: I leave in a few days for several weeks of travel in Sudan, Egypt, and Jordan. Please keep me in your prayers.

Best,
Robster

May you have a safe journey through those countries, especially in the Sudan.

Are you going to Darfur? Catholic Charities is deep into the crisis, giving aid and comfort to all who are suffering regardless of faith or political persuasion.

Our own Chicago Bull, Luol Deng, in a recently held charitable event here, was one of those appealing for help, any help at all, for his native Sudan. His family fled Wow, Sudan, and ended in England to escape from the raging conflict when he was still a small boy.

God bless you for your efforts.

My prayers go with you.

CDL

A note from our co-chair reminds us to listen to Fr, Loya's interview of Bsp. Ibrahim and other leaders of the event.

Hi gang!

Go check out byzantinecatholic.com this week. The Iraqi dinner we have been working on was October 21st. Bishop Ibrahim was interviewed as were myself and Carson Lauffer. check it out!! The broadcast from November 4th isn't up just yet, but keep checking!!

Heather Domanski