Posted by ACN News on 16/5/2012, 11:59 am
Board Administrator

ACN News: Wednesday 9th of May 2012 – SYRIA “We are afraid of a scenario like Iraq” Syrian-orthodox archbishops speak out the dramatic situation of the Christians in Homs By Dr Karl-Georg Michel During a visit to the Munich office of the Catholic charity “Aid to the church in Need”, two Syrian-orthodox archbishops spoke out in favour of promoting dialogue to encourage a peaceful future for Syria. “We are afraid of a scenario like in Iraq, where many Christians are threatened or killed, are fleeing or afraid to go out on the streets”, reported the archbishop of Homs and Hama, Silvanus Petros Al-nemeh. According to him 50,000 Christians have already left the city - many of them living with relatives in the surrounding areas around Homs. The archbishop himself, for security reasons has also decided to temporarily move away from the city. The people of Homs are naturally concerned as to when they can return to their houses and hometown. An important role for the development of the peace process could come via the intervention of the Church. “The church stands for justice and peace – and not for corruption by the government or violence in the name of Allah”, said Archbishop Eustathius Matta Roham of Jazirah and Euphrates. He believed that only dialogue could bring a peace that would allow the return of the displaced residents, adding: “What has happened in Homs, could also happen in other cities”. Concerning the complex conflict situation in Syria the archbishop advised listening to the opinion of both sides, the rebels as well as the government. Peace between both parties could be reached if the Russian and American government would take together the initiative of sponsoring the dialogue, emphasized the archbishop. Both bishops ask for prayers and the support for the people in Syria. The situation is more catastrophic than you can imagine, they said. Editor’s Notes Directly under the Holy See, Aid to the Church in Need supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. ACN is a Catholic charity – helping to bring Christ to the world through prayer, information and action. The charity undertakes thousands of projects every year including providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since the initiative’s launch in 1979, Aid to the Church in Need’s Child’s Bible – God Speaks to his Children has been translated into 162 languages and 48 million copies have been distributed all over the world. While ACN gives full permission for the media to freely make use of the charity’s press releases, please acknowledge ACN as the source of stories when using the material. For more information or to make a donation to help the work of Aid to the Church in Need, please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. On Line donations can be made at www.aidtochurch.org