Christianity In Iraq

Aside from Israel, the Bible contains more references to the cities, regions and nations of ancient Iraq than any other country. The patriarch Abraham came from a city in Iraq called Ur. Isaac’s bride, Rebekah, came from northwest Iraq. Jacob spent 20 years in Iraq, and his sons (the 12 tribes of Israel) were born in northwest Iraq. A remarkable spiritual revival as told in the book of Jonah occurred in Nineveh. The events of the book of Esther took place in Iraq, as did the account of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Sadly, Christianity is being wiped out in Iraq, as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria - more commonly referred to as ISIS - systematically targets Christians and other religious minorities for extinction. I am reminded of William Wilberforce, the British parliamentarian who, in making the case against slavery in 1789, told his colleagues, “Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.” It is in this spirit that I have been speaking out on the floor of the House because it is important for my colleagues – and the Obama Administration – to know what was happening.

Floor Statements

Click Here for July 31 floor statement
Click here for July 30 floor statement
Click here for July 29 floor statement
Click here for July 28 floor statement
Click here for July 25 floor statement
Click here for July 24 floor statement
Click here for July 22 floor statement

Congressional Record

List of churches and other institutions in Mosul, Iraq that have been destroyed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

Top, Jonah's tomb before it was destroyed by ISIS on June 24. Below, Jonah's tomb today.

The red marking spray painted on the wall to the right of the gate is the Arabic letter nun, which stands for Nasara - a pejorative name for Christians

News Articles

Why Is Obama Suppressing The Atrocities Prevention Board (The National Interest)
Kirsten Powers: Obama's Inattention To Iraqi Christians (USA Today)
This Is Genocide (Winchester Star)
There Are Steps Obama Can Take (Winchester Star)
Obama Silent AS ISIS Gains Ground And Iraqi Christians' Hopes Fade (National Catholic Register)
1,500 Iraqi Civilians Were Slaughtered Yesterday BY ISIS, And The Obama Administration Issued A Statement (National Review)
Iraq's Imperiled Minorities (New York Times)
The Christian Purge From Mosul (Wall Street Journal)
Nina Shea: Only America Can Save Iraq's Last Christians (Fox News)
Kirsten Powers: Iraqi Christian's Nightmare (USA Today)
Timeline of ISIS In Mosul (AINA News)

Video

Cardinal Donald Wuerl speaks out about the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq at the Catholic University Mass of the Holy Spirit on August 28, 2014. (You Tube)