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C H R I S T I A N S AT R I S K
‘Courage to Confront Reality’ As the Order continues to aid genocide victims, U.S. House offers support with bipartisan legislation
Photo by Lloyd Wolf
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n June 6, the U.S. House of Representatives voted at risk in the Middle East. In conjunction with the ad unanimously to pass the Iraq and Syria Emergency campaign, the Supreme Council pledged to match up to Relief and Accountability Act (H.R. 390), a bill that will $1 million in donations through July 1 to assist with food allow the U.S. government to assist organizations that are programs for Christian refugees in Iraq. effectively serving these victims of genocide in Iraq and The Christian population in Iraq has fallen from as many Syria. The measure comes more than a year after the State as 1.5 million in 2003 to only about 200,000 today, accordDepartment declared that the ing to the Chaldean Catholic persecution of Christians and Archdiocese of Erbil. Erbil is other religious minorities by the home to the largest Christian Islamic State, or ISIS, constitutes population still in Iraq and the genocide. country’s largest community of “H.R. 390 will help to ensure displaced Christians, consisting that U.S. government money of 12,000 families. The archdiowill actually reach these endancese now faces a shortfall of gered communities,” said $600,000 a month in food aid. Supreme Knight Carl A. Ander“As we approach the third anson at a press conference on niversary of ISIS’ genocide Capitol Hill June 7. “We must against our community in Iraq, have the courage to confront reIraqi Christians face a new ality and then we must have the threat,” explained Archbishop courage to change reality. That is Bashar Warda of Erbil. “Even as what the House of Representatheir hometowns are liberated, tives did last night.” our people often cannot move He added, “Last evening’s home because there is not enough Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson speaks on Capitol vote showed this is not a partimoney for reconstruction or seHill after the U.S. House of Representatives unansan issue. It is an issue of surcurity. What’s worse, at this point imously passed the Iraq and Syria Emergency Relief vival, justice and decency and we face a serious shortfall in the and Accountability Act (H.R. 390) June 7. Also demonstrates that America money needed just to cover the pictured are Chaldean Catholic Bishop Bawai Soro stands united to ensure that the costs of providing food to the disof San Diego and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who goals of terrorism will never be placed Christians in our care. sponsored the bill. achieved.” Having to decide between reAlso speaking at the press conbuilding homes or feeding the ference was Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th District, N.J., who displaced is not a choice,” he said. “It is a potential death sponsored the bill; Rep Anna Eshoo, D-18th District, sentence for our Christian communities.” Calif., a co-sponsor of the bill; and Haider Elias, president Through its Christian Refugee Relief Fund, the Knights of Yazda, a global Yazidi organization. of Columbus has donated more than $12 million since The bill, which has moved to the Senate, also directs the 2014 in support of communities too often ignored by diUnited States to provide funding and assistance to organ- rect U.N. or U.S. government assistance. The bulk of the izations that conduct criminal investigations and collect funding has aided Christian communities in Iraq with and preserve evidence for the prosecution of individuals food, clothing, shelter and education, and has also helped and groups who have undertaken these acts. threatened or displaced communities in Syria, Jordan, At the end of May, the Knights of Columbus launched Lebanon and Egypt. Other religious minority groups tara digital and television ad campaign across the United geted by ISIS, including Yazidis, have also been recipients States to raise awareness and funds on behalf of Christians of the Knights’ aid.♦ SUPPORT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN REFUGEE RELIEF FUND. VISIT CHRISTIANSATRISK . ORG
JULY 2017
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