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| Iraq |
| Christian Arab Americans pray for Terror's defeat, U.S.troops' safety |
| 2006-06-30 |
| YORK, Pa.--Three days before terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed by a U.S. air strike in Iraq, Pastor Moussa Joseph Moussa led a group of 500 believers in praying for the insurgency to be defeated. After the bombing, Mr. Moussa says, "I really believe that because we prayed, God dealt with the evil forces." Inside his evangelical Arabic Christian Church on Alliance Avenue, Mr. Moussa, a native of Syria, is prone to deliver such patriotic lines. "I really commend this nation for having the heart to stand with another nation that has been oppressed." While in Baghdad two years ago, he recalls telling U.S. troops: "You are doing a noble job liberating people. Sometimes it is costly, but you are doing the right thing, and we are praying for you." The 44-year-old pastor isn't the typical portrait of Arab America that most Americans see. Drowned out in the post-Sept. 11 media frenzy to cover Muslims, Arab-American Christians have been neglected. But 63% of the country's estimated 3.5 million Arab-Americans are Christian. Most are Catholic, while a smaller number are Protestant and Eastern Orthodox, which includes the Antiochian, Syrian and Coptic traditions. These Middle Eastern churches date to the dawn of Christianity. Most Copts are Egyptians who believe the Apostle Mark founded their church in Alexandria. Many Maronites hail from Lebanon, believed to be where disciples of St. Maron took refuge in the fifth century. In addition to their diverse religious beliefs, Arab Christians also represent a variety of American political perspectives, not a monolithic bloc. In the last presidential election, nearly 34% of Arab Catholics and 48% of Orthodox Arabs polled by Zogby voted for President Bush; just over half of Arab Catholics and almost 47% of Orthodox Arabs voted for John Kerry. After Sept. 11, many Arab-American Christians worked to voice their allegiance to the nation. In Richmond, Va., the Rev. Fakhri Yacoub of the Arabic Christian Fellowship church wrote a letter to the local newspaper explaining that "as Arab-American Christians, we condemn and denounce such evil actions." Pastor Esper Ajaj of the Arabic Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., worried that the Arabic writing on his church's front sign would scare passersby. So he put up an English sign that read, "Don't Mess With the U.S. God Bless America." But Arab Christians still find themselves the victims of public wariness toward Islam. In a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll, the percentage of Americans who admitted holding prejudices toward Arabs--one in four--was the same as the percentage who admitted prejudices toward Muslims. Mr. Moussa is doing everything he can to combat these attitudes. He considers it his duty to not only spread the Gospel but also to help other Arab immigrants "be good American citizens." Indeed, church is a strong force for assimilation. Arab parishes commonly share space with more established nonimmigrant churches, which plugs them into the larger community. The mixing also extends to where Christians live. In the Detroit area's large Arab community, Christians tend to be dispersed throughout the suburbs, while Muslims cluster in the Dearborn region. Almost half of the area's Muslim Arabs say their religion isn't respected by mainstream society--compared to just 11% of Christian Arabs and Chaldeans, according to a University of Michigan study. Worshippers at Mr. Moussa's church are encouraged to vote and pray for the country's leaders, children's Bible study is taught in English and church picnics feature barbecue. Mr. Moussa is also spreading his message via satellite TV. His program, called "Peace With God," which features Mr. Moussa's sermons, currently reaches America, Mexico and Canada and soon will be seen in another 20 countries in the Middle East. In August, Mr. Moussa plans to return to Iraq and visit Syria and Jordan for missionary work. If possible, he will also try to get back in front of the troops in Baghdad. "Many of the people in Iraq feel liberated," he says. "In the news, we only hear of negative things. But a lot of things are getting better. Freedom is coming." Ms. Miniter, a Phillips Foundation fellow, is a writer in New York. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 San Diego has a huge Chaldean community. They seem very patriotic, and unlike our Islamic community, contributed no terrorists to the 9/11 tragedy. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-06-30 20:59 |
| #1 We have a Syrian Orthodox Church in our town, and they are VERY supportive of our troops and their mission in Iraq. Unlike the local Islamic Center. |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2006-06-30 19:47 |