“Churches closed down, car bombs, forced conversions, abductions: in Iraq Christians are dying, the Church is disappearing under the blows of persecutions, threats and abuse by the extremists who give no choice: either conversion or flight”. This is the cry that rose today during Mass in repose of Father Ragheed Aziz Ganni, the Chaldeian priest who was murdered on Sunday 3rd June in Mosul, Iraq, along with three of his deacons, celebrated by Father Philip Najim, Chaldeian procurator to the Holy See. In the Church of the Irish Papal College in Rome, where Father Ganni had studied for several years, full of students, devotees and Chaldeian and other priests, Father Najim recalled how "for some time the Christian community in Iraq has been stifled by abductions, blackmailing and threats, with no protection by now by either the government or the coalition forces. Confession-based attacks take place everywhere by now, and the Christians are hit as scapegoats, to be exploited or put down. They cannot freely profess their faith, women are forced to wear a veil, and crosses are removed from the schools”. (continued)” ” ” “
