Iraqi prelate laments ‘political Islam,’ calls for Christian Arab theology

CWN
The Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Kirkuk has told Aid to the Church in Need that “everyone is speaking of democracy and freedom [in Iraq], but the reality on the ground is different.”

“The rise of political Islam is a matter of worry,” said Archbishop Louis Sako. “We Christians are a minority and there is no prospect of us gaining equal citizenship in the concrete reality of day-to-day life, and there is no vision of a better future.”

“The sectarianism is gaining ground and the majority are not taking care of minority groups,” he added. “I think there are real fears of more Christians leaving.”

Archbishop Sako said that “it is necessary today to develop a Christian Arab theology able to announce the word of God to Arab Christians, and those who are not Christians, and help them to discover God’s love and paternal presence, enhancing dialogue and strengthening coexistence.”

“This theology does not mean isolation from the theology of the Universal Church but rather one which interacts with events and hence assists the Oriental Church with its mission,” he added.
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