WCC NEWS: Iraq: WCC condemns attack on church

From WCC media <[email protected]>
Date Mon, 1 Nov 2010 15:42:45 +0100

>World Council of Churches - News

>WCC CONDEMNS ATTACK ON CHURCH IN IRAQ

>For immediate release: 01 November 2010

The World Council of Churches general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse
Tveit, has condemned the "criminal act of terror" Sunday in Baghdad, 
Iraq,
when gunmen took hostages in the Sayidat al-Nejat church. The death 
toll
from the hostage standoff rose to some 58 people on Monday, including
priests, women and children and Iraqi security forces who conducted a 
raid
to end the siege.

"The World Council of Churches strongly condemns the criminal act of 
terror
that took place on Sunday in the Sayyidat al-Najat Church in Baghdad 
and
expresses its deep sympathy and solidarity with those who lost their 
loved
ones and pray for a speedy recovery for the injured.

The fellowship of the World Council of Churches is deeply troubled by 
the
continuous suffering of Christians in Iraq and continues to stand in
solidarity with all churches as they pass through turbulent and
challenging times and witness to the love and peace of God in Jesus 
Christ
even amidst hatred and aggression.

This is not the first time that such attacks have targeted Christian
communities in Iraq. All those responsible need to be brought to 
justice,
and governmental authorities should take their responsibility to bring
safety and security to all citizens and particularly to those in
vulnerable situation."

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, 
witness 
and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship 
of 
churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 
Protestant, 
Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 
million 
Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the 
Roman 
Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse 
Tveit, 
from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, 
Switzerland.

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