Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


First Mass for Iraqi Christians Since Attack

   VOA News 07 November 2010
   Iraqi  Christians  attend  a  mass  at St. Joseph's Chaldean Church an
   Eastern  Rite  church  affiliated  with  the Roman Catholic Church, in
   Baghdad, Iraq (File Photo)

Photo: AP

   Iraqi  Christians  attend  a  mass  at St. Joseph's Chaldean Church an
   Eastern  Rite  church  affiliated  with  the Roman Catholic Church, in
   Baghdad, Iraq (File Photo)

   Iraqi Christians attended their first Sunday services since the deadly
   siege at a Baghdad church that left 58 people dead.

   A  handful of worshipers gathered at the Chaldean Church of St. Joseph
   as security forces stood guard outside.

   The  Roman  Catholic  church  is  not  far  from  where  members of an
   al-Qaida-linked  group  killed a priest and set off explosives in last
   Sunday's  bloody  attack  on  the  Our Lady of Salvation church during
   Mass.

   The  Islamic State of Iraq has threatened more violence against Iraq's
   Christians, but some worshipers said they have no plans to flee.

   One  woman  said she was not afraid, saying those who had died are now
   martyrs and saints.

   Meanwhile,  Iraqi  officials  said  two pro-government militia members
   were  killed by a roadside bomb at a checkpoint near Samarra, north of
   Baghdad.

   Police  in the northern city of Mosul said Sunday two soldiers died in
   an attack on an army checkpoint.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.