Iraqi archbishop urges coalition forces to understand Muslim ways

Published: 2004-08-20

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq need to better understand Muslims' way of thinking and worshipping if they are to succeed in helping the transitional Iraqi government stabilize the country, said an Iraqi archbishop. Chaldean Archbishop Djibrail Kassab of Basra, Iraq, also said that recent bombings of Catholic churches in Iraq were isolated acts and will not stop the church from continuing its charitable efforts to help Iraqis. "We will double our works," he said. "The Catholic Church is friendly to everyone." Archbishop Kassab was interviewed by telephone Aug. 20 while visiting relatives in Detroit. He said he favored fostering democracy in Iraq but said it would take time and involve changing mentalities after more than 30 years of rule by former President Saddam Hussein. Another obstacle is that some of Iraq's neighbors do not want a democratic Iraq, fearing that this would cause problems in their countries, which are not democracies, he said without naming specific nations.

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