[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 13159-13160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           THE ERADICATION OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

  (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, Pope Francis has spoken about the conditions 
in Iraq for Christians.
  Now His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox 
Church in the United Kingdom, said the following today:

       As the widespread violence and aggression facing Christians 
     and minority groups in Mosul, Iraq, intensifies, it is 
     increasingly evident that the fundamental right and freedom 
     to practice one's faith and belief is--and continues to be--
     grossly violated.
       We are currently witnessing an unacceptable widespread 
     implementation of extremist religious ideology that threatens 
     the lives of all Iraqis who do not fit within its ever-
     narrowing perspective. While this situation stands to 
     eradicate centuries of coexistence and culture in the region, 
     it also threatens to significantly and negatively impact 
     these communities for generations to come. If left 
     unchallenged, it is not Iraq alone that is at risk, but the 
     potential is intensified for the replication of this ideology 
     as a viable and legitimate model for others across the Middle 
     East.

  He then thanked the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies and its 
chairman, His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, for 
expressing his concern about the current situation in Mosul.
  Everyone--the President, the Congress, religious leaders--should 
speak out on the eradication of Christianity in the Middle East.

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