Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Christians fearing attacks in Syrian violence

byStaff writers
5 August 2012
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SYRIA (ACN News): Christians in Damascus and Aleppo are terrified of being targeted and driven away, a senior bishop said.

Chaldean Bishop Antoine Audo SJ of Aleppo said the Church was frightened of a repeat of the recent catastrophe in Homs when the Christian quarter came under fire, forcing a mass exodus of almost all of the faithful – more than 120,000.

The bishop reported that as conflict deepened in Aleppo and Damascus, people were turning to him, desperate for help after leaving their homes and all their belongings and fleeing for safer towns and villages.

Speaking from Aleppo on July 23 in an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Audo said: “What we are afraid of is that in this situation of anarchy, armed people will come into Christian areas as they did in Homs.

“If they come in around our churches and round our bishopric, just as they did in Homs, it will be disastrous for us.”

Bishop Audo reported that at his Sunday Mass in Aleppo on July 22, the church was half empty because people were too afraid to come.

The bishop described the reasons for the threat against Christians as “very complicated”, adding: “I am not able to give clear reasons why the fighters would attack Christians.

“But what we can say is that if they went into the Christian areas, it would be very bad.

“The fear of Christians is particularly strong. We are a minority. Always we are threatened.”

Stressing safety fears, the bishop said: “What can we do to protect the people? We do not have any possibility to do that.

Related Stories

Life ‘is always sacred and inviolable’, Pope Francis says

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

“Not only are Christians in this very dangerous situation but there are some Muslims too – those who are seen as sympathisers with the government.”

The bishop thanked people – including ACN supporters – for providing food, medical aid and shelter to more than 1000 families who had fled Homs for smaller towns and villages outside the city.

“It is very difficult, especially for people from Homs, who have left everything behind. The poor people have nothing,” Bishop Audo said.

“They lost everything so they very much appreciate ACN’s help.”

But he went on to call for more help: “We have to be able to help more and more people – especially in two areas: food and medical care.

“I have people coming to me asking for help with nothing more than the clothes they are standing up in.”

The bishop spoke of being put under pressure to declare support for the regime or the rebels.

“When I am asked which side do I support, I always answer, I am on the side of my country. I am doing whatever I can to save Syria, this lovely country of ours,” he said.

“What we need is your prayers for all of us. This is a very dangerous time. People are very fearful.”

 

ShareTweet
Previous Post

The best Batman film to date

Next Post

Rallying to help save marriage

Staff writers

Related Posts

Life ‘is always sacred and inviolable’, Pope Francis says
Vatican

Life ‘is always sacred and inviolable’, Pope Francis says

23 May 2022
News

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

23 May 2022
Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Next Post

Rallying to help save marriage

Workers urged to focus on Jesus' mission

Retirement far from Rocky bishop's mind

Popular News

  • From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr Liam receives bravery medal after shark attack rescue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What is lust?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Life ‘is always sacred and inviolable’, Pope Francis says
Vatican

Life ‘is always sacred and inviolable’, Pope Francis says

by Guest Contributor
23 May 2022
0

POPE Francis praised a pro-life event in Rome and offered comments defending the dignity of life on...

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

23 May 2022
Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping