“Violence does not resolve the tensions” Pope Benedict XVI

by Mike

The kidnapping of two Catholic priests in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul by an unknown group is obviously shocking news. Even more so by the fact that the kidnappers have withdraw an agreement for their release, which will cast further doubt into the safety of the priests.

Father Pius Affas and Father Mazen Ishoa, both Iraqis, were kidnapped in Mosul on Saturday and despite the calls by Pope Benedict XVI for their captors to release them, there seems to be no end in sight right now and a larger ransom has been demanded.

Any kind of physical attack on a priest seems like a cheap way to gain publicity and it would appear to the case in this situation. However the group that have committed this act have not yet come forward, which I think is surprising. In an age where it can take one or two words to gain notoriety, I would have thought taking credit for something like this would be an almost immediate reaction.

Middle East concern has revealed that the two priests had received a letter two months ago warning them that the church would be attacked if they did not leave. This is a dangerous part of the world and is subject to violence every day, which can be hard to deal with.

What must be especially hard for both Father Affas (who has been a priest for over 40 years) and Father Ishoa is that they are in a small minority where the Christian way is not considered the rule. To stay and do their work for as long as they have in the face of adversity is definitely an act of bravery.

One can only hope this is resolved peacefully.

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions, Views on News.