Death of an archbishop

Ur of the Chaldees, often mentioned in the bible, was an ancient city between Baghdad and the Persian Gulf, founded around 4000BC. It is where Abraham was born. The Chaldeans were Assyrians and were converted to Christianity. Thus was born the ancient Chaldean Catholic Church. It is in communion with Roman Catholicism and its current patriarch is the first to be made a cardinal of the Church of Rome. Perhaps the most famous member was Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein’s right hand man.

Now the Chaldean archbishop of Iraq, Paulos Faraj Rahho, who had been abducted a fortnight ago, has been found dead.

The Chaldean Catholic Church has more than half a million members; these are just people who want to worship in the way they see fit. The Church was left in peace until the invasion of Iraq which has polarised attitudes to other religions.

I rather think a moment’s reflection is called for here.