Abducted Archbishop Found Dead

Body Of Kidnapped Catholic Clergyman Buried In Shallow Grave in Northern Iraq

(AP)  The body of a kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop was found in a shallow grave in northern Iraq Thursday, one of the most dramatic attacks on the nation's small Christian community.

In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI said the act offends the dignity of humankind.

Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho was seized by unknown gunmen on Feb. 29, just minutes after he delivered a mass in Mosul, considered the last urban stronghold of al Qaeda in Iraq.

After two weeks of prayers and searching, officials at the archbishop's church received a phone call from the kidnappers on Wednesday, informing them that he had died and where he was buried, Monsignor Shlemon Warduni, the auxiliary bishop of Baghdad, told The Associated Press.

It was not immediately clear if Rahho was killed by the assailants or if he died of an illness. Shortly after his abduction, church officials said they were especially worried because the archbishop was suffering from unnamed infirmities.

A Mosul morgue official, speaking on condition of anonymity for security concerns, said Rahho's body had no bullet holes. The official also said the body was in an early stage of decomposition, suggesting he died a few days ago, and that it was found buried under a thin layer of dirt.

No one has claimed responsibility for the archbishop's killing.

It was the latest violence in what church members call a series of attacks against Iraq's small Christian community.

Last year's International Religious Freedom Report from the U.S. State Department noted that Chaldean Catholics comprise a tiny minority of the Iraqi population, but are the largest group among the less than 1 million Christians in mostly Muslim Iraq.

Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, Iraqi Christians have been targeted by Islamic extremists who label them "crusaders" loyal to U.S. troops. Churches, priests and businesses owned by Christians have been attacked by Islamic militants, and many have fled the country.

Benedict deplored the death, calling it an "inhuman act of violence that offends the dignity of the human being and harms the peaceful coexistence of the dear Iraqi people."

In a telegram of condolence sent to the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, Benedict said he hoped that the "tragic event" would at least help build a peaceful future for the country.

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged last fall to protect and support the Christian minority. On Thursday, the prime minister said in a statement that "we condemn and denounce this ugly crime and consider it as an aggression that aims to igniting strife among ... the Iraqi people."

In an interview in November with AsiaNews, a Vatican-affiliated missionary news agency, Rahho said the situation in Mosul was not improving and "religious persecution is more noticeable than elsewhere because the city is split along religious lines."

"Everyone is suffering from this war irrespective of religious affiliation, but in Mosul Christians face starker choices," he told the news agency at the time.

The Chaldean church is an Eastern-rite denomination that recognizes the authority of the pope and is aligned with the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican said at the time of the kidnapping the fact that the gunmen knew Rahho had been celebrating a religious rite indicated the kidnapping was premeditated.

[libsrweak]

I wonder if peace loving anti-war liberals gets upset when liberal aid groups gets kidnapped and killed in middle east?

[excoachken]

libsweak: What is your point. If you are critical of people who are against war and love peace, what does that make you? I think all my friends who are "liberals" are bothered by any senseless killing, anywhere, and I appreciate their empathy. I am troubled by anyone who lacks that ability and advertises the fact, like you just did.

[joyous88]

i read that this guy was a conservative shill for GW Bush,

which would mean he was killed for spying

[antoniof123]

libsrweak, I think we all get upset when someone is killed but of course neo cons like you who have never served a day in battle have no problem sending others to their deaths.

I guess that is what makes you a neo con you spout off the party line.

[rudy654-2009]

I wonder if peace loving anti-war liberals gets upset when liberal aid groups gets kidnapped and killed in middle east? Posted by libsrweak at 04:17 PM

I wonder why you don''t get upset when your government introduces chaos in another country where now conditions are worse than before. Freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, these things do not exist in Iraq. If they didn''t exist before, they most certainly don''t now. And all you can do is act like an Limbaugh ditto head.

[gaye5]

If this had of happened to one of their clerics, imagine the outrage from Muslims.. But we do nothing, say nothing WHY, are we that pathetic, and as usual there is no outrage from the moderate muslims at their own disgracing their religion by killing a Bishop..
We went in there and stopped a madman killing millions of his own people every year and yes it hasnt turned out good but at least we tried to help..

[gaye5]

rudy654, the media paints a deverstating picture over there, but remember that this is the medias aim in everything..
I have just had a friend come back from his turn in Iraq, and he has a different picture, and I believe that many other soldiers say the same.. A few papers report impovement, eg
From The Sunday Times..
March 18, 2007

Iraqis: life is getting betterMarie Colvin
MOST Iraqis believe life is better for them now than it was under Saddam Hussein, according to a British opinion poll published today.

The survey of more than 5,000 Iraqis found the majority optimistic despite their suffering in sectarian violence since the American-led invasion four years ago this week.

One in four Iraqis has had a family member murdered, says the poll by Opinion Research Business. In Baghdad, the capital, one in four has had a relative kidnapped and one in three said members of their family had fled abroad. But when asked whether they preferred life under Saddam, the dictator who was executed last December, or under Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, most replied that things were better for them today.

Only 27% think there is a civil war in Iraq, compared with 61% who do not, according to the survey carried out last month.

[dogsoul]

"I wonder if peace loving anti-war liberals gets upset when liberal aid groups gets kidnapped and killed in middle east? "

They just blame Bush & excuse their Islamic terrorist allies...

This is Islam in all its glory

[gaye5]

and yet another report says...
2005, 63 percent of Iraqis felt very safe in their neighborhoods. Today just 26 percent say
the same.
so as the media likes to paint every thing black perhaps all we can go by is the returned soldiers..

[missingamerica]

They just blame Bush & excuse their Islamic terrorist allies...

This is Islam in all its glory

Posted by dogsoul at 05:40 PM : Mar 13, 2008

Why are neocon posters always so willing to forget history - even recent history?

Before we invaded, Iraq had a thriving Christian community that was not persecuted under Saddam''s rule.

Now? Well, most have fled Iraq and, as this story points out, those that remain are in danger of losing their lives.

Ironic, isn''t it?

Christianity''s biggest enemy in Iraq turned out to be the "Christians" in this country who fell for their own "destroy Islam" and "protect the Holy Land" propaganda but were too cheap - too devoted to their worship of Mammon - to send a big enough force to do it right.

[caliengineer]

Why do people insist on being ignorant about the Catholic system? It is NOT a christian organization. Those who belong to Christ leave this pagan corporation when they begin to read the Bible.

Praying to the dead (old "gods" repackaged as "saints"
Observing pagan holidays: Christmas (winter solstice), easter (resurrection of the mother of Tammuz), lent (40 days fasting to give food for Tammuz in the afterlife), Fish on Fridays to honor Dagon the fish god.

Catholic is the latin word for "universal" and integrated ALL the religions into one. Read the Bible and pray, people.

Pray or be defeated.

[downsteamjim]

The religion of peace at work again. And the idea that other religions were thriving before the Iraq war is hard to figure. Find some numbers on the % of nonMuslims in this region in 1945 & compare them to now.

[downsteamjim]

To Veteran71: You mention reasoning and questioning. Apply this to you childish tirade.

[soldat44]

i read that this guy was a conservative shill for GW Bush,

which would mean he was killed for spying.

Posted by joyous88 at 04:42 PM : Mar 13, 2008

Speaking of shills, step away from the keyboard and go take your meds.

[jerr11]

When Satan told Bush to invade Iraq, he knew this was going to happen. That was the plan.

To decimate the Christians in Iraq and drive them out of the country.

Heckuva job, G W Bush - Son of Satan.

Damned for all time.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by Gaye5 at 05:34 PM : Mar 13, 2008

Look back at your message. These are the blanket statements you give:

"MOST Iraqis believe life is better for them now"

Really? According to an opinion poll? Whose opinion? Or do I just take the media''s word for it?

Then there is this beauty:

In Baghdad, the capital, one in four has had a relative kidnapped and one in three said members of their family had fled abroad. But when asked whether they preferred life under Saddam, the dictator who was executed last December, or under Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, most replied that things were better for them today.

Incredible that somehow despite all the murder as a result of the invasion, they claim it is better now. Do the people have clean water yet? Electricity, yet? Is it better now than before when they did have those things? Let''s get real.

[jeffstersf]

The pope said the act offends the dignity of humankind? The entire WAR offends the dignity of humankind, and catholicism is just as much an ahorent pack of lies as all christian, muslim and jewish cults. Lower cases intended. With no religion, there would be no more war. If only!

[noirceur]

Thank-You middlecrank,smartest post I''ve read on here in along time.

[doesitend]

Is there no compassion here for the lives lost due to this war or any war for whatever the reason? Many of the sentiments posted here express the same vitriol that fostered the abduction of the archbishop and contribute to the continuance of the violence from both sides. He did not deserve to be abducted as any victim of a war does not deserve to die.

[doesitend]

Is there no compassion here for the lives lost due to this war or any war for whatever the reason? Many of the sentiments posted here express the same vitriol that fostered the abduction of the archbishop and contribute to the continuance of the violence from both sides. He did not deserve to be abducted as any victim of a war does not deserve to die.

[stn_sage]

Pope Benedict XVI said, "the act offends the dignity of humankind", when referring to the death of his Archbishop Rahho, at the hands of his kidnappers and murderers.

But, I hope it isn''t lost on him that the death of hundred of thousands of civilian Iraqis, Iraqi soldiers, coalition soldiers, news media personnel, civilian contract personnel, relief workers,and U.S. military personnel is EQUALLY---if not more---offensive to the dignity of humankind!

I believes he knows this, it just would have been nice if he had said so---that''s all!

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by middlecrank at 08:27 PM : Mar 13, 2008



No GOD means the people would be godless, (no rules) could you survive in a world of anarchy, murder, rape the biggest get the most. I doubt it.War is ''not a religious thing, War is simply one group of people wanting something another group has, they try to ''justify'' it by making a religious thing, but when all facts are in, its just greed......

[missingamerica]

Incredible that somehow despite all the murder as a result of the invasion, they claim it is better now.

Posted by rudy654 at 07:36 PM : Mar 13, 2008

lollll..there is a pretty obvious explanation for that.

Iraq STILL isn''t a place where you can feel safe in saying "Well, actually the people with the power in this country are putting the shaft to me.".

Not if you want to avoid being planted in a shallow grave, anyway.

[drinuk]

"Offends the Dignity of Mankind" He should know, his church or should I say Mafia are experts in offending mankind''s dignity. The rape and pillage of Central and South America, the doctrination of poor Africans in preventing the use of Contraception, the inquisition and finally the abuse for generations of young children by their clergy.

The historical record of the Catholic Church has been a wonderful example to the current tribe of rabid religious Nuts worldwide.

Middlecrank is quite correct, all these gangs of religious crooks and villians have distorted the creators intentions from day ONE. If Satan exsists, it is them.

[drinuk]

AND Toolmangler. You have described wonderfully well the World as we see it today. Please tell us if you are aware of any Corporate Companies in America for instance who abide by the rules. Do you honestly feel that the guy WE put in the White House abides by the rules or do Big Pharma have rules on Genocide.

The World is just as you state.

[grammawhamma]

"In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI said the act offends the dignity of humankind."

Look at the pot calling the kettle black!

[ioweign]

Pope Benedict XVI said, "the act offends the dignity of humankind", when referring to the death of his Archbishop Rahho, at the hands of his kidnappers and murderers.

But, I hope it isn''''t lost on him that the death of hundred of thousands of civilian Iraqis, Iraqi soldiers, coalition soldiers, news media personnel, civilian contract personnel, relief workers,and U.S. military personnel is EQUALLY---if not more---offensive to the dignity of humankind!

I believes he knows this, it just would have been nice if he had said so---that''''s all!

Posted by stn_sage at 09:53 PM : Mar 13, 2008



Do you think maybe this should be told to the nitwit at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C., 20500-0001

[libsrweak]

HANGING FA GGOTS KILLING LEADERS OF OTHER RELIGIONS..BUT YET THEY DEFEND THE ACTS..THEY DIVERT THE FACTS..

QUESTION..do you think these radical islamic muslims would respect people who follows such a weak ideology such as liberalism????