Ragheed ganni biography of christopher

This priest and three companions were killed for the faith instruct in Iraq

Rome, Italy, Jun 9, 2017 / 02:04 am

When Fr. Ragheed Aziz Ganni was confronted disrespect armed men after celebrating honourableness Eucharist at his Chaldean Comprehensive parish in Mosul, they freely him why he was undertake there and why he hadn't closed the church as they had demanded.

"How can I culminate the house of God?" without fear responded, right before they thud and killed him, alongside triad friends and subdeacons at class parish: Waheed, Ghasan, and Basman.

An Iraqi priest born in 1972 in a town in blue blood the gentry Plain of Ninevah, Fr.

Ganni moved to Rome in 1996 to study at the Overbearing University of Saint Thomas Saint on a scholarship from picture pontifical foundation Aid to prestige Church in Need.

In 2003 good taste decided to return to Irak, despite the war following class American invasion, and the agony of Christians that was duty place. He served at tidy parish in Mosul until decency day of his death, June 3, 2007.

Ten years after her highness death, Fr.

Ganni's friend distinguished fellow priest, Fr. Rebwar Basa, has written a book make out his life and death, viewpoint about the ongoing situation exercise Christians in Iraq. He rung to CNA at a piece for A Catholic Priest hostage the Islamic State, published uninviting Aid to the Church think it over Need.

The martyrdom and testimony commandeer Fr.

Ganni, he said, "is very important for the allinclusive Church, but especially in Iraq."

"He is an example for tumult of us to resist presentday to testify to the Doctrine in the midst of high-mindedness conflict and violence that awe have in Iraq. Because miracle need this kind of beholder to reconstruct Iraq, to hair able to live together put in peace and unity."

Baian Adam Balla, the wife of Waheed Hanna Isho'a, one of those handle with Fr.

Ganni, was button eyewitness to the events pleasant the martyrdom, though her seek was spared. In an investigate published in the book, she described how they were attacked.

The day of the murder, Fr. Ganni was accompanied by two subdeacons of the parish, Waheed, Ghasan and Basman, as convulsion as Waheed's wife, Baian.

Driving soupзon after saying Sunday evening Liturgy at Holy Spirit church take delivery of Mosul, they were approached make wet masked men carrying machine ordnance and told to get straighten of the car and admonitory their hands up in representation air.

"And then they fired stand for took the car.

And Comical began to cry out. With respect to was a butcher, I ball not know, a butcher gentleman. He was a Muslim. They took the car and abduct him. But at us Christians …  they shot and they killed them," Baian recounted.

"Certainly less is an effect. Not protest effect on our faith, nevertheless an effect on us, thanks to we are not able support go in the church … because we are not unguarded to continue so … Exhibition are we able to keep up like this?

In these conditions? But what do they compel from us? What have incredulity done?"

There had been around 10 different attacks on the cathedral before this, though with thumb casualties. But Fr. Ganni seemed to know that something not as good as might happen.

The morning of sovereignty death, after meeting with brutal young men for breakfast mount renewing his ID, he visited his father and mother, transferral with him a recent pic of himself, which he gave them.

In an interview recorded restrict Fr.

Basa's book, Fr. Ganni's father recalled him saying accord his mother that the sketch account "is for my funeral, consequently it is not a control to you."

His mother remembered drift he said to her, "Mamma, if I die now contaminate I die in 10 existence, there is always a defile. If they cut my canyon with a knife, at ethics beginning it will hurt unsatisfactorily, but then I will tell somebody to nothing more."

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She said endure him, "So they have near extinction you!" and he answered: "I know that they have endangered the whole Church, but conspiracy they threatened me personally?" Unquestionable was laughing but he didn't answer the question, she related.

Fr.

Basa explained that Fr. Ganni himself described the situation have as a feature Iraq during his five time eon as a priest there though "worse than hell."

"Now it laboratory analysis even worse than in delay period because of the break-in of ISIS and the colourful situation for the minorities importance Iraq, including Christians," he said.

He added that people should tweak very careful to distinguish betwixt Muslims and a certain dogma which doesn't tolerate other religions.

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  • This ideology "should fur refused", and Muslims encouraged howl to become victims of that ideology themselves.

    But as a Christly and a Catholic priest, blooper explained, he doesn't feel monotonous is his place to inspection what Islam is – event is up to Muslims to show they are peaceful.

    The solution to the violence, agreed said, is to respect soul in person bodily rights and human freedom, which is a product of genuine religion, "not the propaganda focus terrorists and fundamentalists want in front of offer us."

    "Real religion is representation religion in which we animate in peace and respect compete other and the freedom some others to express their meaning, their faith, as they like," he said.

    "What we need pump up very simple, that they (the government) recognize our human demand, the human rights of prestige Iraqi people in general, last especially the minorities."

    Continuing, he well-kept that Islam should not happen to the established religion of significance nation.

    Iraq's constitution establishes Islam translation the country's official religion charge a foundation source of bill.

    It adds that no banned may contradict Islam's established menu, the principles of democracy, subjugation the rights and basic freedoms stipulated in the constitution.

    It likewise guarantees the Islamic identity sign over the majority of Iraqis, long forgotten also guaranteeing "the full scrupulous rights to religious freedom remember religious belief and practice be worthwhile for all individuals such as Christians, Yazidis, and Mandean Sabeans."

    The churchman maintained that "saying that Mohammadanism is the official religion weekend away the State, is an legally binding invitation for the fundamentalists talk feel better and superior pick up others.

    That could be interpretation start point for terrorism!"

    Fr. Basa explained that from the replicate of time, Iraq has back number made up of many iciness religions and civilizations, and dump is what should be meticulous on.

    His hope, he noted, go over the main points that the United Nations, integrity United States, Europe, and excellence whole world will help Irak to overcome present divisions pivotal concentrate on the human one`s own image and rights of all people of the country.

    "Because when helter-skelter are these rights – holy freedom and other kinds illustrate freedoms – I think all and sundry can live his or say no to faith as they like boss we can live in peace," he said.

    "This would eke out an existence a great richness for Irak, for the whole region, take for the whole world."

    Hannah Brockhaus is Catholic News Agency’s high-flying Vatican correspondent. After growing heighten in Omaha, Nebraska, she fair a degree in English differ Truman State University in Siouan. In 2016, she moved coalesce Rome, Italy, where in dip spare time she enjoys conjure and going on adventures secondhand goods her husband and son.