Canadian Bishops and CCCB respond to Iraq crisis
Following the appeal by Pope Francis on August 7, 2014, and his Angelus message of July 20, the Holy See's Secretariat of State has transmitted an urgent message to the world's Catholic Bishops. In a letter received on August 8 by the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the Bishops of Canada and their local Churches were invited "to unite with the Holy Father in steadfast prayer to invoke the gift of peace from the Holy Spirit."
In a letter sent earlier on August 8, CCCB President Archbishop Durocher had already
invited the Bishops of Canada to encourage their clergy, consecrated persons and all
the faithful in their diocese to make an unceasing prayer for peace in Gaza, Iraq,
and Syria, as well as throughout the Middle East. The President's request cited the
appeal to all the Church by Pope Francis on August 7 to "raise up with one voice a
ceaseless prayer, imploring the Holy Spirit to send the gift of peace." Also yesterday,
His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, issued a statement on
the persecution of Iraqi Christians which the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, has described as a "crime against humanity".
Catholic dioceses across Canada are already asking their parishes to include the Middle
East situation in the Prayers of the Faithful. This is a solemn moment during the
Eucharistic celebration when the needs of the Church and the world are recalled, and
prayers offered for the sick and suffering as well as for Church and social leaders.
In addition, some dioceses are inviting Catholics collaborate with other Canadians
in urging members of Parliament to make the Middle East a priority for the Government
of Canada. These priorities include doing more to provide Canadian emergency and reconstruction
assistance, making it easier for Canadian communities to accept refugees, Canadian
participation in international efforts to foster justice and peace in the region,
and insisting that the world's governments and societies respect freedom of conscience
and religion as well as the rights of minorities.
In his statement, Cardinal Collins urged the Canadian government "to expand available
spaces for Iraqi Christians seeking refuge in our country, and to remove any bureaucratic
impediments to their reception." In an invitation to the federal government and to
all Canadians to "accelerate the process at once," Cardinal Collins noted that the
Archdiocese of Toronto is "the largest Canadian private sponsor of refugees from the
region." He said the Archdiocese stands "ready to welcome more, with parishes mobilized
to facilitate sponsorship and settlement at a moment's notice." Following the Cardinal's
statement, the archdiocesan website invited Toronto-area Catholics to join "in prayer
and advocacy efforts," including a peaceful protest in the city's downtown that is
being organized by Catholic, Orthodox and Assyrian churches on Sunday, August 10,
and to participate in an interfaith "Prayer for Peace" service with Cardinal Collins
on Sunday, September 7, at Toronto's St. Paul's Basilica.
The CCCB and Canadian dioceses are also encouraging Catholics to support assistance
and development agencies which are collecting funds for the suffering people of Iraq,
Gaza and Syria. Three national Catholic agencies are supporting special projects in
the region for emergency assistance and reconstruction: the Canadian Catholic Organization
for Development and Peace, CNEWA Canada, and Aid to the Church in Need. In addition
to providing dioceses with a list of the special projects these Canadian agencies
are sponsoring in the Middle East, the CCCB is also encouraging dioceses and Catholic
organizations to use and share the information on the Middle East that is regularly
provided by Caritas Internationalis. This international network of over 160 national
Catholic charities serves the poor and needy of all faiths throughout the world. It
also provides up-to-date reports on the Middle East on its website. These are available
in English at http://www.caritas.org/where-we-are/middle-east-north-africa/, and in
French at http://www.caritas.org/fr/ou-nous-trouver/mona/.
Other dioceses throughout Canada have also announced projects focusing on the urgent
needs of the Middle East. These include:
- An evening prayer vigil in Vancouver on Sunday, August 3, at Sts. Peter and Paul
Parish, to which Catholics, Protestants and non-Christians are welcome to pray for
peace in Iraq, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and elsewhere in the Middle East, as well
as in Ukraine and Russia. The Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, C.S.B., Archbishop
of Vancouver, and the Iraqi community in the Archdiocese, are also asking Catholics
to fast and pray for peace in Iraq.
- A special Mass in solidarity with Iraq's Christians, which will be celebrated on
Sunday, August 17, at Saint-Sacrement Church, Quebec City. This church is the Sanctuary
for Peace of the Archdiocese of Québec. There will be prayer for the Middle East as
well as all areas of the world which are living through violence and war.
- The Diocese of Hamilton is organizing a special Mass on October 4, the feast of
Saint Francis of Assisi
| All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©. |