Two churches bombed at Christmastime

Iraq: December 29, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Two days before Christmas, two churches were bombed in Mosul, Iraq, on December 23, Voice of the Martyrs reports.

At 11:00 a.m., a bomb was detonated near the Syrian Orthodox church of St. Thomas. On the same day, a bomb exploded in a cart of vegetables near the Chaldean church of St. George. The latter bomb killed three people, including one Christian and two Muslims.

Many Christians have fled Mosul, which is the primary target for a series of attacks against believers in recent months. Earlier this month, a baby girl died and many others were injured when attackers threw hand grenades at a Christian school. However, some Christians are determined to stay and proclaim the Gospel despite persecution.

"The message of peace and hope announced by angels remains our best wishes for Christmas for the entire country," said Louis Sako, the archbishop of Kirkuk. "We want to work together to build peace and hope in the hearts of all men and women of Iraq."

While the Iraqi constitution adopted in October 2005 states that religious freedom should be respected, it also says that no proposed legislation can in any way violate the "universally-agreed-upon tenets of Islam." Only 3.3 percent of the population is Christian. Pray for protection for Iraqi believers, comfort for the bereaved, and wisdom to respond biblically to persecution. 

News source: www.mnnonline.org