Aid official says Iraqi refugees seek out Catholic Church in Jordan

Published: 2007-01-25

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The Catholic Church is the first point of reference for Christian Iraqi refugees when they arrive in Jordan, said the director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine in the Jordanian capital, Amman. "Usually the first thing they do is come to the church. It is the first contact they have with other people and with relatives," said Ra'ed Bahou. "Then they learn about the projects we are doing." About 5 percent of the estimated 1 million Iraqis who have sought refuge in Jordan over the past two years are Christian, he said in a telephone interview with Catholic News Service. Between 1,000 and 2,000 Iraqis have crossed the border into Jordan over the past six months, he added. The Pontifical Mission is an emergency relief agency under the direction of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a New York-based humanitarian and support group founded by Pope Pius XI.

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