The emergency situation that the entire Iraqi nation is facing also
calls Christians not to proceed in a random order, emphasizing in an
exasperated manner the identity factors of each ecclesial community.
One
should instead express a unified position on the political and social
processes taking place in Iraq, presenting oneself as a "Christian
member": This is the proposal that Chaldean Patriarch Raphael Louis Sako
I addressed to all Christians in Iraq, in an appeal calling on them
"not to remain spectators with regards to the Iraqi scene" and "find a
common vision and a common 'roadmap' also to protect together the" right
to be treated like others".
The use of the expression "Christian
member" to express the unified position of Iraqi Christians in relation
to political and social events and national institutions according to
the Primate of the Chaldean Church "does not contrast with the
protection of millenary identity", and allows "not to waste time arguing
"around this identity.
"The Chaldean Church" refers the patriarchal
statement, sent to Agenzia Fides "wants to be at the service of all
Christians and all Iraqis in order to contribute to the reconciliation
process", which is essential in order to return to a situation of
peaceful coexistence.
Already at the beginning of his patriarchal ministry (see Fides
06/02/2013), the current Primate of the Chaldean Church had denounced
the danger that Christians were infected with the Middle East in the
current dominant sectarianism context: "Now, unfortunately," said the
Patriarch to Agenzia Fides "one hears people say: I am more Armenian
than Christian, more Assyrian than Christian, more Chaldean than
Christian. There persists here and there a tribal mentality, so every
village aims to have 'his' Bishop or 'his' Patriarch. In this way
Christianity fades away. We, as Bishops, must be vigilant against these
ill forms of living one's identity".