ISIS destroys trust between neighbors by pressuring Muslims to betray Christians, says Bishop

A Detroit bishop who visited Iraq has said that the Islamic State has created a lot of mistrust in communities in the country by pressuring Muslims to turn on their Christian neighbors.

Bishop Francis Kalabat of the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle spent the entire month of September in the region and saw the difficulties faced by the Christians and other Iraqis, Catholic News Service reported. The bishop took part in a discussion at The Catholic University of America on Nov. 17.

In the discussion, Kalabat remarked that the Christians thrived in the Middle East before the Arab Spring, a series of protest that began in 2011 in several Middle Eastern countries. The protests were exploited by some extremist groups like ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Both groups were said to be responsible for the persecution of Christians which included murder, beheadings, rape, looting and destruction of churches. "If that is the spring, I'd hate to see the winter," said Kalabat.

"They not only destroyed buildings, but they destroyed relations between neighbors. Many (Iraqi Muslims intimidated by Islamic State) turned in their Christian neighbors and that has built up a lot of mistrust," he added.

Kalabat pointed out that there are many Muslims who are protecting Christians and many of them "want a democratic, free and peaceful Iraq."

"The people are sick and tired of being sick and tired. There is a need to unite the country. To remind all Iraqis, regardless of their religion, that their religion should make them better Iraqis," he said.

The bishop expressed his concern about the "massive exodus" of Christians leaving Iraq but he noted that it would not be fair and practical to ask them to stay.

"If — God forbid — every Christian left Iraq, what would happen? Let's pray and let's work and let's rebuild so that doesn't happen," he said.

Kalabat called on American Catholics to help Middle Eastern Christians by adopting churches, dioceses and even people.

Some Christians who have returned to their hometowns have found their churches desecrated by ISIS. In Keramlis, much of the interior of the church has been destroyed but the priest managed to conduct a prayer service for the returning Christians.