Do not encourage Christians to leave the Middle East, patriarch pleads
September 18, 2015
Calling upon European nations not to give preference to Christian refugees, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako warned in a recent interview that “there is a very real risk now of the Middle East, Iraq, Syria losing all its Christians.”
Free eBook:
Free eBook: Liturgical Year 2023-2024, Vol. 1 |
“European countries must give shelter to those who really need it, regardless of religion,” the prelate told La Stampa’s Vatican Insider. “I can confirm that it is not just displaced people who are fleeing.”
“Priests tell me that there are also people who aren’t too badly off financially, people who work at banks, for example, who are leaving,” he added. “People who don’t really need to leave. They feel that a window of opportunity has opened up, and they fear this window will soon close, so they take advantage of it.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: nix898049 -
Sep. 21, 2015 3:36 PM ET USA
This is indeed a peculiar situation. Many people here are watching this flood of people and asking why now, when the turmoil has been going on for so long. I think Patriarch Sako may have a clearer view of what's really behind it. We need to listen to him.