Mar 1, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Months after abandoning churches and places of worship fearing more bombings, Andraos Abouna, Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad of the Chaldeans happily reported recently that Catholics are finally returning to Mass.
"The faithful are attending the masses as before - they are not afraid at all", he said.
In a recent message to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Bishop, a long-time optimist about the country’s future, reported on a renewal of confidence among Iraq's Christian community.
Abouna described what he sees as a dramatic improvement since the January 30th elections in Iraq. He said that, "The situation in Baghdad is much better, because the Iraqi Army control the whole area and every day they capture more and more terrorists."
He also noted the excitement of Iraqis over becoming the “first country in the Middle East with democracy”, and expressed hope for a reduction in fuel prices and increased security around the country.
The Bishop likewise sees a drastic reduction of Christians seeking asylum in other countries. He said that, "Many families are coming back to Baghdad from Syria, and I think many more people will be back to Iraq in the future."
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA