New university in Erbil, Iraq, offers fresh hope for young lives disrupted by IS
World Watch Monitor The new Catholic University of Erbil wants to create a diverse and inclusive community and has more female than male students. PICTURE: World Watch Monitor Displaced young Iraqis whose education was halted by Islamic State’s violent seizure of territory are receiving a vital opportunity to catch up and train for professional life, […]
Devastated northern Iraq needs ‘new Marshall Plan’ for reconstruction
World Watch Monitor The Archbishop of Erbil in northern Iraq, who is overseeing the care of thousands of displaced Christians who fled Islamic State jihadists, has announced ambitious plans for the church and charities to reconstruct their towns and villages. Archbishop Bashar Warda told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) recently that […]
Trump ban will hurt Christian refugees fleeing conflict, say Iraqi Catholic leaders
RNS As confusion continued over President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and travelers from seven Muslim countries, Catholic leaders from Iraq are warning that the policy change will hurt thousands of Iraqi Christians languishing in Middle East refugee camps. “They would like to continue their lives in Europe, Canada, Australia or America,” Archbishop Bashar Warda […]
Security “most critical need” to facilitate return of Christians to northern Iraq, say church leaders
Security is the “most critical need” to be addressed if vulnerable Christian communities are to return to their former homes in northern Iraq, Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda told a delegation from the World Council of Churches during a recent meeting in Erbil, Iraq. While Iraq’s military campaign against the so-called Islamic State has seen it […]