WASHINGTON (February 3, 2006)—In a letter to the Patriarch of the Chaldean
Catholic Church, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB) expressed concern at the recent targeting of Christian
churches in Baghdad and Kirkuk and the bombing near the Vatican Nunciature.
“We are greatly saddened by the deaths and injuries of the innocent
victims of these heinous acts,” said Bishop William S. Skylstad in a
letter to His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly. “We wish to assure you of our
solidarity with the Church in Iraq at this difficult time. Our prayers are
with the deceased, the survivors and their families.”
“We condemn all of the violent attacks against innocent people in Iraq
without regard to the religion or political identity of the victims,”
Bishop Skylstad stated. “It is particularly reprehensible when terrorists
attack religious communities at times of worship or religious events. This
contempt for God and for human life must yield to genuine religious
freedom and respect for the life and dignity of all. We hope that these
recent attack are not a new sign of a pattern of attacks against
Christians, who are not only an ancient presence within Iraqi society, but
who are also essential participants in creating a truly democratic future
for Iraq.”
“We assure you of our continuing solidarity and pray for all of the people
of Iraq,” Bishop Skylstad said. “We pray in a special way for our sisters
and brothers in the faith that you may have freedom, security and peace.”
Below is the full text of Bishop Skylstad’s letter to the Patriarch.
February 2, 2006
His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly
Patriarch of Caldei
P.O. Box 35130
Hay Al-Wahda
Mahallat 904
Rue 8 Imm. 44
12906 Baghdad, Iraq
Your Beatitude:
Our Conference of Catholic Bishops was alarmed by the apparently
systematic targeting of Christian churches in Baghdad and Kirkuk on
January 29 at a time of worship and the bombing near the Vatican’s
Nunciature. We are greatly saddened by the deaths and injuries of the
innocent victims of these heinous acts. We wish to assure you of our
solidarity with the Church in Iraq at this difficult time. Our prayers are
with the deceased, the survivors and their families.
We condemn all of the violent attacks against innocent people in Iraq
without regard to the religion or political identity of the victims. It is
particularly reprehensible when terrorists attack religious communities at
times of worship or religious events. This contempt for God and for human
life must yield to genuine religious freedom and respect for the life and
dignity of all. We hope that these recent attacks are not a new sign of a
pattern of attacks against Christians, who are not only an ancient
presence within Iraqi society, but who are also essential participants in
creating a truly democratic future for Iraq.
We assure you of our continuing solidarity and pray for all of the people
of Iraq. We pray in a special way for our sisters and brothers in the
faith that you may have freedom, security and peace.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend William S. Skylstad
Bishop of Spokane
President