Aid to the Church in Need: CHARITY HELPS WAR-STRICKEN IRAQI CHRISTIANS

CHARITY HELPS WAR-STRICKEN IRAQI CHRISTIANS

Posted by Press Release on 21/3/2003, 11:16 am
Board Administrator

CHARITY HELPS WAR-STRICKEN IRAQI CHRISTIANS
By John Pontifex, Head of Press and Information for Aid to the Church in Need
CATHOLIC charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has announced a vital relief mission for people in Iraq devastated by war.
Hours after the first shots of the war were fired, the charity devoted to helping beleaguered Christians responded to the Iraqi people’s plight by unveiling a $110,000 programme of urgent aid.
In their announcement, on Thursday 20/3/2003, ACN heads stressed that the money was sure to reach the most needy thanks to the charity’s close links with the country's 700,000 Christians, including key contacts especially the Papal Nuncio in Iraq, Archbishop Fernando Filoni.
In a major boost to ACN’s plans, the archbishop has announced he will stay in Iraq despite the war. His role will be vital as clergy and other Christians connected with ACN distribute the aid where it is most wanted.
ACN’s statement includes plans to provide long-term help for the Christians – about 70 percent of whom are Catholic - so they can re-build their lives after the war.
In agreeing the aid payments, the charity is appealing to Catholics at home to give generously so ACN can boost its support for suffering Christians including those in Iraq.
The charity has also increased its efforts to get extra support to Dominican novices and sisters devoted to social and pastoral work in the country.
In February, ACN approved an aid package for seminarians in the Iraqi capital and others from the stricken country studying for the priesthood in the Lebanon.
This support comes on top of on-going help for Iraq's Christian population, a majority of whom are from Baghdad. Since 1998, the charity has given about $2.1 million for social and pastoral work in Iraq.
The charity's funds have gone towards providing transport helping people to get to Mass and other money has gone to support priests. The charity has also been helping Christians in towns and cities such as Mosul, the modern-day Biblical town of Nineveh.
Only last month, a bishop from Iraq visited ACN's international project headquarters to stress his gratitude to the charity for providing critical help to his people and to beg for prayers that they will be spared the worst.
To make a donation to Aid to the Church in Need, contact the Australian office
on Ph/Fax:02 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or send your donation to PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148

This message is locked.

Responses are not allowed!

Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org