Persecuted Christians, Minorities Flee Iraq Faith Groups Ask UN to Act
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ANGLICAN JOURNAL Since 1875 vol. 140 no. 8 october 2014 Persecuted Christians, minorities flee Iraq Faith groups ask UN to act BY STAFF Faith leaders around the world have called on their govern- ments, the United Nations and the League of Arab States to address the “horrific” suffer- ing of Christians and other religious minorities who are being persecuted by a militant Jihadist group in the northern and western parts of Iraq. In August, Canon Andrew White, the vicar of Baghdad, secretly visited Qaraqosh, Iraq’s Christian capital, and found it “90 per cent empty” and desecrated. The self- proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Al-Sham), had com- mitted numerous atrocities, including the cutting in half of the five-year-old son of a REUTERS/RODI SAID founding member of Baghdad’s A woman and child from the minority Yazidi sect stop to rest as they make their make their way toward the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate. They were among those who fled brutal attacks in August by forces loyal to the Islamic State in Sinjar town in northwest Iraq. See IRAQ’S CHRISTIAN p. 10 Primate pays tribute to deacons Confusion, relief over court ruling LEIGH ANNE WILLIAMS process set up following the BY CYDNEY PROCTOR flavours for good. Thank you staff writer negotiation of the 2007 Indian for all you do,” he told about 55 Residential Schools Settle- Halifax—Archbishop Fred deacons from a dozen dioceses Some former students of Indian ment Agreement. The IAP was Hiltz, primate of the Anglican across Canada who gathered residential schools are con- intended to hear individual Church of Canada, recently to examine what their vocation cerned and confused about an claims and provide compensa- paid tribute to the ministry of means and to support each Aug. 7 Ontario Superior Court tion for abuse suffered in the deacons, saying they are “the other in their ministry. ruling that testimony about schools. Those who came feet, the hands, the heart, the In the Anglican Church of the abuse they suffered in the forward and spoke of their voice of Jesus.” Canada, there are about 340 schools should be destroyed experiences at the IAP were Addressing the 2014 confer- ordained vocational deacons after 15 years unless they agree promised that their testimony ence of the Association of who work in the parish context to provide their personal infor- was private and confidential. Anglican Deacons in Canada and do not draw a salary. In the mation to the National Centre The Rev. Andrew Wesley, (AADC), held August 14 to 16, ordination process, the bishop for Truth and Reconciliation. a former residential school Hiltz spoke passionately about sums up the role and duties of The ruling applies only student, now an Anglican priest what deacons are called to do, a deacon by saying that they to testimony given by about who works in urban native including to struggle against are called to “a special ministry 40,000 former students to ministry with the diocese of CYDNEY PROCTOR poverty and inequality. of servanthood.” the Independent Assessment Toronto, said that there has The Rev. Marjorie Saulnier “You are that salt that See DEACONS p. 3 Process (IAP), an out-of-court See SURVIVORS p. 3 PM# 40069670 God’s gift Compassion Great faith in 3 of land 8 is a verb 13 the game WORLD The rising tide of anti-Semitism its fundamental legitimacy and call for its destruction. Is Gaza an Archdeacon Bruce My- ers, the Anglican Church of impetus or an Canada’s co-ordinator for ecumenical and interfaith excuse? relations, echoes Yudin’s call to fight back against anti-Jewish DIANA SWIFT acts and utterances. “Anti- contributing writer Semitism is an insidious thing, and it needs to be challenged Berlin: “Jews to the gas!” at every turn,” he says. Paris: “Death to the Jews!” The church, in fact, Milan: “Nuremberg trial for categorically condemns all Israel!” expressions of anti-Semitism. Montreal: “The diaspora is scat- “We have consistently tered around the world where denounced acts of discrimi- they take economic control, REUTERS/VINCENT KESSLER VK/ACM nation or violence against provoke the hatred of local na- There was a noticeable spike in anti-Semitic acts, including the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, as the confict in the Jewish people, and have tions...They make Washington, Gaza raged during the summer, according to several Jewish organizations. sought through education and Paris and Ottawa submit.” dialogue to demonstrate how anti-Semitism is both a denial These are not comments We have consistently denounced acts of Yudin, these flare-ups are noth- of Christianity’s kinship with from the history books but ing new. “Every time there’s a Judaism and a violation of our examples this summer of an discrimination or violence against the Jewish conflict in the Middle East we baptismal vow to respect the ugly, Hydra-headed phenom- people… see these actions,” she says. dignity of every human being,” What concerns Yudin about says Myers. enon experiencing a dramatic “ —Archdeacon Bruce Myers surge since the most recent Anglican Church of Canada co-ordinator for ecumenical and interfaith relations the current spike is the new He notes General Synod’s Hamas-Israel conflict broke out climate of tolerance in Canada: 2013 passage of a motion on in June. A new wave of anti- “There’s a feeling that people peace and justice in Palestine Semitism is sweeping Europe. are free to express classic and Israel that specifically in- Its roots would seem to go far gogue and an imam in Berlin pro-Palestinian demonstration; anti-Semitic views without cluded a commitment “to reso- beyond—and beneath—the openly called for the destruc- a Jewish man was punched in being called on it. It goes lutely oppose anti-Semitism.” political passions stirred by the tion of every last Jew. the face outside a restaurant; unchallenged.” And in 1992, the church latest Gaza-Israel conflict. And Back in May, a U.S. Anti- a Jewish community building She referred to a recent expunged from the Book of it’s reaching Canadian shores. Defamation League poll of was invaded by anti-Israel Montreal talk radio show in Common Prayer a Good Friday In actions reminiscent of 53,000 people in 102 countries protesters. “They accused us of which a hateful email was collect that was pejorative 1930s Germany, comments reported that 26 per cent are complicity in massacre. They unapologetically read out on of Jews. “Our liturgy for that are complemented by actions. “deeply infected with anti- took political discourse to an air. In her view, there’s a new day now asks forgiveness for By August, British police had Semitic attitudes”—including inappropriate level,” says Eta comfort level with anti-Jewish the church’s complicity in its recorded more than 100 anti- 24 per cent of Christians and 14 Yudin, director of public affairs remarks not seen before. persecution and scapegoating Jewish hate crimes since the per cent of Canadians. and community relations It’s that complacency rather of the Jewish people through- Gaza conflict began, double the As the conflict in Gaza for the Centre for Israel and than individual comments out history,” adds Myers. usual number. These included dragged on this summer, Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Quebec. that Yudin finds more disturb- The church has been an attack on a rabbi and bricks Toronto pro-Palestinian If you thought such phe- ing. “It’s the responsibility of distressed to see the conflict lobbed through the windows protesters beat Jewish nomena died with the destruc- everyone to create a society between Israel and Hamas of a Belfast synagogue. In supporters at a rally. A tion of the camps at Auschwitz that fits with our democratic result in anti-Semitic acts in Wuppertal, Germany, Molotov Montreal woman carrying an and Dachau, you may find the values. This is not just a Jewish other parts of the world, says cocktails firebombed a syna- Israeli flag was trampled at a resurgence surprising. But for problem,” she says. She adds Myers. “We seek to be vigilant that it’s one thing to take issue in naming and condemning it with Israel’s Gaza operations [anti-Semitism] when it rears and quite another to question its head here in Canada.” New from Novalis! Executive Director Sorrento Centre, Anglican Church of Canada An opportunity exists for someone who is prepared for a unique career path in the management of a Christian-based conference and retreat centre. 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