Members of the Australian Catholics Bishop Conference this week presented a report on the plight of Arab Christians.
The report, submitted by Archbishops Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, and Robert Rabbat, who are, respectively, heads of the Maronite and Melkite Eparchies of Australia and New Zealand, marks five months since a group of Orthodox, Catholic and Assyrian bishops visited suffering Christians in the Middle East, as part of a ‘Solidarity Mission.’
This bishops visited communities in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
“What happened to the Christians of Iraq under ISIS was totally unexpected. We need to keep our attention on them, their voices cry out. They look to us for mercy and support.” said Archbishop Tarabey.
The Bishop outlined the varied challenges of different Christian communities of the region.
Of Iraqi Christians, he explained, “Being displaced from towns like Irbil and Mosul to Kurdistan, and the borders of Iraq, means they don’t know what’s in store for them, or what will happen next. They don’t know what will happen tomorrow. “
Christians in Syria face a different set of challenges, “Christians are caught in the middle of a fight between the Alawite regime and the rebel fighters, most of whom are Sunni Muslims.”
The fundamental employment challenges that have fuelled the membership of militant Islamist groups was also cited as a problem.
“We’re talking 52% unemployment in Lebanon at the moment, young people who finish University and have no job.”
“When you’re left with nothing in way of employment, young people take other options. They take the worst option, an evil option, to join Islamic State or Hezbollah, and to fight.”
For the bishops involved, the pursuit of peace begins at home.
“The first thing is that we need to be peacemakers here in Australia, among each other, helping Middle Eastern communities, Muslims and Christians, to live in harmony and peace with one another.”
“Secondly, we have to support refugees and the displaced. We will launch an appeal, once a year, to continue to support them and the presence of the church in the Middle East.”
Interested in supporting the plight of Arab Christians? Donate through Caritas Australia now.
Image: Iraqi Christians in prayer via ibtimes.co.uk
