Syrian Catholic Archbishop Yohanna Mouche called on governments to step up efforts in Iraq to stop the Islamic State so that Christians can return to their homes. His impassioned plea to “people who have the responsibility,” to remove ISIS, were made to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, on the first anniversary of the fall of Mosul and Nineveh to the Islamic State.
Mouche insisted that the “best solution” for some 120,000 displaced Christians from the region is to force out the Islamic State by military action. “We ask everyone to put pressure on the people who have the responsibility to free the [towns and villages] as soon as possible so the people can come back and live in peace in their… homes and continue their lives there… This is the best solution.”
The Archbishop’s comments reflect the frustration of senior Middle East clergy with the reluctance of the West to full-scale military intervention against ISIS. He also called on the international community to open up to refugees so they can migrate elsewhere.
The Islamic State celebrated its anniversary by converting the Syrian Catholic church of St Ephraim into a mosque, according to Catholic sources.
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.” Matthew 24:6
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