Detroit's Cardinal Maida on Killing of Iraqi Archbishop

DETROIT, March 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cardinal Adam Maida,
archbishop of Detroit, joins with his brother bishops around the world in
expressing "profound shock and sorrow" following the death of Archbishop
Paulos Faraj Rahho at the hands of kidnappers in northern Iraq on Thursday,
March 13. The body of Archbishop Rahho, a respected and indefatigable
spiritual leader for the Chaldean Catholic community, was discovered on the
outskirts of Mosul. He is the ninth Chaldean cleric to be killed in Iraq
since 2006.
"The number of Christian leaders martyred in Iraq is alarming and
unacceptable," Cardinal Maida said. Archbishop Rahho "suffered for his
faith," the cardinal added. "He was a good shepherd whose life was needlessly
sacrificed by extremists."
Cardinal Maida offers his prayers and heartfelt condolences to the clergy
and members of the Chaldean Catholic community in southeast Michigan. "They
are grieving," the cardinal said, "and the priests and people of the Detroit
archdiocese grieve with them."
"In the Detroit area, we have a good paradigm of cooperation and dialogue
between and among spiritual leaders of different faiths," Cardinal Maida said.
"Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others are known to come together in peace and
respect," the cardinal noted. "We pray that our example can and will be
followed in our own country and around the world, especially in those areas
victimized by religious persecution."
Issued by Archdiocesan Communications:
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Report in The Michigan Catholic
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0801432.htm on local Chaldean
bishop
SOURCE Archdiocese of Detroit

Ned McGrath of Archdiocese of Detroit, +1-313-237-5943, +1-313-886-4114