Iraq and the Abrahamic Religions of the Book

What is now called Iraq was the site and source of the Abrahamic tradition which is claimed by the world’s three major religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Until very recent times adherents of these three faiths conducted their religious observances and worshiped peacefully in Iraq.

For example one of the oldest Christian churches began in Iraq and remains there to this day. It dates back to the time of Christ and is called the Chaldean church. That religious denomination still uses Aramaic which is the language that Jesus spoke. The Chaldean church in the early 20th century became affiliated with Rome but maintains its own identity. Other Christian denominations have benefitted Iraq in building and maintaining educational and health institutions which serve the entire population. Traditionally, the foremost university in Iraq was founded by the Jesuits. Its graduates have provided leadership in all sectors of Iraqi society.

Terrorists, under the guise of Islam are now seeking to drive out all Christians from Iraq. A most recent example, extremists using force, including murder, disrupted worship on October 31st in a Chaldean cathedral in Baghdad. Several worshipers were killed including two of the priests conducting the service.
Whatever the excuse used by the terrorists for this outrage it must be condemned by representatives of all faiths.
It must be noted that many Mosques and Islamic worshippers have suffered similar destruction and murder during worship by terrorists mis-using Islam.
All violence must be condemned especially when it is used to drive people from their homeland.
The AAIC (Akron Area Inter Faith Council) condemns this pseudo religio-ethnic purification in Iraq. We call upon people of faith to condemn the perpetrators of this violence.These terrorists must be seen and labeled as violators of the religion of Islam.
We must not allow the image of the religion of Peace to be soiled by political fanatics of death.