[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    LETTER TO HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FROM REPRESENTATIVE McCOTTER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to place into the Record my 
letter to His Holiness Benedict XVI concerning the persecution of the 
Christian community in Iraq.
                                                    July 24, 2008.
     His Holiness Benedict XVI,
     Apostolic Palace,
     Vatican City State, Europe.----
       Your Holiness: It is with great respect that I write to you 
     as both a Member of Congress and a Roman Catholic. Your 
     witness to justice and advocacy of the plight of the 
     persecuted is an instrument of hope.
       Your Holiness has emphasized the importance to the Church 
     of the well-being of the ancient Christian community of Iraq. 
     It is now widely acknowledged to be an ``endangered'' 
     community, with nearly half of its members forced to flee 
     Iraq over the past five years. As the U.S. Conference of 
     Catholic Bishops Migration & Refugee Services reported last 
     July: ``Especially critical is the plight of Iraq's minority 
     religious communities, including Christians and Mandeans (or 
     Sabeans). These groups, whose home has been what is now Iraq 
     for many centuries, are literally being obliterated--not 
     because they are fleeing generalized violence but because 
     they are being specifically and viciously victimized by 
     Islamic extremists and, in some cases, common criminals.''
       As you meet with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki tomorrow, 
     please know that the United States is shifting its burden to 
     the Iraqi government. It is imperative that he acknowledge 
     and commit to the future well-being of Iraq's endangered 
     religious minorities.
       Concerned Americans, including the ChaldoAssyrian 
     Christians in my Congressional district, are anxious that the 
     Maliki government address the following issues to ensure that 
     the Iraqi Christians, who have made contributions to Iraqi 
     society far beyond what their numbers suggest, and other 
     smallest minorities are able to maintain their presence as 
     part of the national fabric of that country: Security, 
     including protection for their vulnerable clergy, development 
     assistance, humanitarian aid for the large number of 
     displaced among them, educational opportunities, full civic 
     participation, including thorough measures to guarantee free 
     and fair provincial elections later this year that would 
     allow them just representation, and equal treatment under the 
     constitution that would allow political autonomy in the 
     Nineveh Plains.
       Be assured that I will remain actively engaged with the 
     ChaldoAssyrian Church and civic leaders in the United States 
     and Iraq to protect the fundamental dignity of this oppressed 
     ancient community of Iraq.
       The psalmist seeking deliverance from his enemies remembers 
     the great mercy of God. ``Blessed be the Lord! For he has 
     shown me the wonders of his love in a besieged city . . . Be 
     strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for 
     the Lord'' (Psalm 31: 21,24) The Christians of Iraq have 
     suffered threats of violence, kidnappings, murder and being 
     exiled from their ancient homeland. And yet, they are 
     resilient in the face of what is certainly an existential 
     threat. Their great faith and your advocacy on their behalf, 
     give them hope.
        I have the honor to profess myself with the most profound 
     respect, your Holiness, sincerely yours,
                                             Thaddeus G. McCotter,
     Member of Congress.

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