Iraqi priest says Kurdish aid could place church in danger

Published: 2005-07-08

ROME (CNS) -- Desperation for monetary aid and security has forced churches in Iraq to accept help from the Kurdish regional government in the northern part of the country. But some Iraqi bishops are worried that taking money from Kurdish authorities will compromise their political neutrality and anger their Arab neighbors, an Iraqi priest told Catholic News Service. Dominican Father Mikhael Najib of Nineveh, near Mosul, said accepting the aid leads "Arabs and Muslims to think that the Christians and the Kurds are working together against them." He said accepting the money has led to "a very dangerous situation" for the church. Father Najib said that several months ago the regional Kurdish government was paying the salaries of bishops in northern Iraq as well as salaries of church staff, including gardeners, drivers and security guards. He said the bishops met and decided not to accept the stipend for themselves "because it's very dangerous to take salaries now from the Kurds."

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