Plight of the Assyrians in Iraq

In the wake of the death of Mar Paulos Faraj Rahho, a Chaldean Catholic Archbishop, I have added a link to the Assyrian International News Agency on the right, in "Blogs and other links".

The Assyrians, an ancient ethnic group going back to biblical times, are predominantly Christian, being divided between the Syriac Orthodox Church (in whose tradition my own Church is rooted), the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and several smaller Protestant groups. Since the rise of Islam, they have had a precarious existence, but perhaps never more so than now. It is estimated that 40% of those fleeing Iraq at this time are Assyrian Christians, even though they make up less than five percent of the Iraqi population. So let us read about them, pray for them, and, if so led, contact our government to advocate for them. It would seem entirely clear that U.S. policy in Iraq must take into account the wellbeing of the Assyrian people.