Canadian Catholic peace activist is kidnapped by militants in Iraq

Published: 2005-12-01

TORONTO (CNS) -- A prominent Canadian Catholic activist was among four civilians kidnapped by militants in Baghdad, Iraq, where they were advocating peaceful resistance to the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Jim Loney of Toronto was heading a delegation of members of Christian Peacemaker Teams, an international organization that sends people to live in conflict zones and advocate for nonviolent solutions. Loney is the Canadian program coordinator for the organization. He is a member of the Catholic Worker movement, a columnist for the Catholic New Times and an advocate for the poor and homeless. On Nov. 26 he was kidnapped with other Christian Peacemaker members Harmeet Singh Sooden of Montreal, Tom Fox of Virginia and Norman Kember of London. A group calling itself "Swords of the Righteous Brigade" claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

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