Iraqi bishop says U.S., allies must save nation's fledgling democracy

Published: 2004-09-13

CAMALDOLI, Italy (CNS) -- Having deposed a brutal dictator, the United States and its allies now have a duty to save Iraq's fledgling democracy from terror and disorder, an Iraqi bishop said. Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk said Sept. 10 that the recent crescendo of attacks on civilian targets -- including Catholic churches -- has raised grave doubts about the future of the country. "I think the United States and its allies have a responsibility to make every effort to put an end to this absurd situation, saving the democratic and representative model that will allow Christians to educate Iraqis in the culture of peace, dialogue and mutual respect," he said. "If they don't succeed, I think the Americans and the allies would lose all respect and credibility in the world," he said. Archbishop Sako made the comments in a letter read at an interreligious conference Sept. 10 at a Benedictine monastery in Camaldoli, Italy. The conference was sponsored by the Italian Catholic magazine Il Regno.

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