The Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist group has not only destroyed buildings and entire cities in the Middle East but also strained relations between Muslims and Christians in the areas it conquered, according to a bishop from the United States.
Bishop Francis Kalabat of the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, based in the northern Detroit suburb of Southfield, spoke last week at The Catholic University of America where he condemned the atrocities committed by the Islamist extremists, the Catholic News Service reported.
The Roman Catholic prelate lamented how the ISIS "did a lot of destruction" and even promoted mistrust among Christians and Muslims in the Middle East.
"They not only destroyed buildings, but they destroyed relations between neighbours. Many (Iraqi Muslims intimidated by ISIS) turned in their Christian neighbours, and that has built up a lot of mistrust," Kalabat said.
However, the prelate also acknowledged that some Muslims helped Christians escape atrocities committed by the Islamic militants.
He further described the continuing persecution of Christians by the ISIS in the Middle East as a "purposeful destruction of a culture, a faith, a human history and a human person."
Kalabat also shared how he saw firsthand the struggles of Christians in Iraq when he visited the war-torn country last September. He said the believers had to endure bombings, terrorist acts, and mistrust in their government.
"Imagine, you build up a life and in almost the blink of an eye you lose everything," he said, describing the sufferings the Christians in Iraq are enduring following the ISIS invasion of their homeland.
Kalabat believes that although Iraqi Christians can withstand these trials, they still need help. He thus called on Christians around the world to help their fellow believers in Christ suffering in the Middle East.
"They (Iraqi Christians) are survivors, but is it enough just to be in survival mode all the time?" Kalabat asked. "Don't you want to live? Don't you want to thrive? Don't you want to be able to give?"
