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Archbishop of Canterbury highlights plight of Middle East Christians Archbishop of Canterbury highlights plight of Middle East Christians
(about 1 hour later)
The archbishop of Canterbury has used his first Christmas Day sermon to highlight the plight of Christians in the Middle East who are being "attacked and massacred" and to urge British Anglicans to fight injustice and poverty at home.The archbishop of Canterbury has used his first Christmas Day sermon to highlight the plight of Christians in the Middle East who are being "attacked and massacred" and to urge British Anglicans to fight injustice and poverty at home.
Justin Welby told the congregation at Canterbury cathedral that it was an apt time to reflect on the continuing suffering of those in Palestine, Israel and South Sudan. His comments came as militants in Iraq targeted Christians in two separate bomb attacks in Baghdad, killing at least 22 people. Justin Welby told the congregation at Canterbury cathedral that it was an apt time to reflect on the continuing suffering of those in Palestine, Israel and South Sudan. His comments came as militants in Iraq targeted Christians in two bomb attacks in Baghdad, killing dozens.
In one attack, a car bomb went off near a church during Christmas mass in the capital's southern Dora neighbourhood, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 30, a police officer said.
A little earlier, a bomb ripped through an outdoor market in the nearby Christian section of Athorien, killing seven people and wounding 16.
"Today, singing of Bethlehem, we see injustices in Palestine and Israel, where land is taken or rockets are fired, and the innocent suffer," said the archbishop."Today, singing of Bethlehem, we see injustices in Palestine and Israel, where land is taken or rockets are fired, and the innocent suffer," said the archbishop.
"We see injustice in the ever more seriously threatened Christian communities of the Middle East."We see injustice in the ever more seriously threatened Christian communities of the Middle East.
"They are attacked and massacred, driven into exile from a region in which their presence has always been essential."They are attacked and massacred, driven into exile from a region in which their presence has always been essential.
"We see terrible news in South Sudan, where political ambitions have led towards ethnic conflict.""We see terrible news in South Sudan, where political ambitions have led towards ethnic conflict."
On Saturday, said Welby, he had spoken to a bishop under siege in a compound "full of the dying", adding: "God's passionate love for the vulnerable is found in the baby in a manger in a country at war. If that was his home, today it must be our care."On Saturday, said Welby, he had spoken to a bishop under siege in a compound "full of the dying", adding: "God's passionate love for the vulnerable is found in the baby in a manger in a country at war. If that was his home, today it must be our care."
But he also said that injustice was no respecter of borders and called on Christians to do all they could to tackle poverty and inequality in the UK.But he also said that injustice was no respecter of borders and called on Christians to do all they could to tackle poverty and inequality in the UK.
"Even in a recovering economy, Christians, the servants of a vulnerable and poor saviour, need to act to serve and love the poor; they need also to challenge the causes of poverty," he said."Even in a recovering economy, Christians, the servants of a vulnerable and poor saviour, need to act to serve and love the poor; they need also to challenge the causes of poverty," he said.
Welby – who launched a crusade against payday lenders earlier this year – referred to a poll in Prospect magazine that suggested the church was more trusted on politics than religion.Welby – who launched a crusade against payday lenders earlier this year – referred to a poll in Prospect magazine that suggested the church was more trusted on politics than religion.
"The two cannot be separated," he said. "Christ's birth is not politics, it is love expressed.""The two cannot be separated," he said. "Christ's birth is not politics, it is love expressed."
He said the church's response to the economic crisis was not a political one, but rather an example of "love delivered in hope".He said the church's response to the economic crisis was not a political one, but rather an example of "love delivered in hope".
The archbishop described the actions of churches over the past five years as extraordinary, adding that they were reaching out to people in ways not seen since 1945.The archbishop described the actions of churches over the past five years as extraordinary, adding that they were reaching out to people in ways not seen since 1945.
"No society can be content where misery and want exist, unless through our love collectively we also challenge the greed and selfishness behind it," he said."No society can be content where misery and want exist, unless through our love collectively we also challenge the greed and selfishness behind it," he said.
The church, he added, would always been an untidy institution because we live in a "vulnerable, untidy, broken" world.The church, he added, would always been an untidy institution because we live in a "vulnerable, untidy, broken" world.
"Yet when we see the fact of Christ's birth, hear the witnesses, receive the life he gives and respond in passionate discipleship, then all our vulnerabilities, muddles and weaknesses are carried in his strength," he said."Yet when we see the fact of Christ's birth, hear the witnesses, receive the life he gives and respond in passionate discipleship, then all our vulnerabilities, muddles and weaknesses are carried in his strength," he said.
"The Christian meaning of Christmas is unconditional love received, love overflowing into a frequently love-lost world.""The Christian meaning of Christmas is unconditional love received, love overflowing into a frequently love-lost world."
Welby's warning on Middle East Christians comes just over a week after the Prince of Wales raised concerns about their plight.Welby's warning on Middle East Christians comes just over a week after the Prince of Wales raised concerns about their plight.
The heir to the British throne, who spoke of his work to promote understanding between the two religions, said bridges between Christians and Muslims were being deliberately destroyed by people with a vested interest.The heir to the British throne, who spoke of his work to promote understanding between the two religions, said bridges between Christians and Muslims were being deliberately destroyed by people with a vested interest.
"I have for some time now been deeply troubled by the growing difficulties faced by Christian communities in various parts of the Middle East," he said. "It seems to me that we cannot ignore the fact that Christians in the Middle East are increasingly being deliberately targeted by fundamentalist Islamist militants.""I have for some time now been deeply troubled by the growing difficulties faced by Christian communities in various parts of the Middle East," he said. "It seems to me that we cannot ignore the fact that Christians in the Middle East are increasingly being deliberately targeted by fundamentalist Islamist militants."
His comments were echoed by the archbishop of Westminster, the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, who asked people to give "a special thought and prayer" to Christians around the world who suffer for their faith.His comments were echoed by the archbishop of Westminster, the leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, who asked people to give "a special thought and prayer" to Christians around the world who suffer for their faith.
Speaking at midnight mass in Westminster cathedral, Vincent Nichols told worshippers: "Christians are the most widely persecuted religious group in the world today and this evening we think especially of the Middle East, especially of Egypt, Iraq and Syria.Speaking at midnight mass in Westminster cathedral, Vincent Nichols told worshippers: "Christians are the most widely persecuted religious group in the world today and this evening we think especially of the Middle East, especially of Egypt, Iraq and Syria.
"As Prince Charles said last week: 'Christianity was literally born in the Middle East and we must not forget our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters'.""As Prince Charles said last week: 'Christianity was literally born in the Middle East and we must not forget our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters'."
"We come to this cathedral this evening freely and relatively easily, ready to give a simple act of witness to our faith. But for many going to church is an act of life-risking bravery. We thank them and seek to be inspired by their courageous faith.""We come to this cathedral this evening freely and relatively easily, ready to give a simple act of witness to our faith. But for many going to church is an act of life-risking bravery. We thank them and seek to be inspired by their courageous faith."
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