Coordinated blasts rock Iraqi churches, convents

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Four Iraqi churches and three convents were damaged in coordinated bomb blasts Jan. 6. Two churches in Baghdad and two in Mosul were hit without fatalities, Chaldean Baghdad Auxiliary Bishop Andreas Abouna said. He said the blasts occurred within five minutes of each other at about 11 a.m. Father Bashar Warda of St. Peter’s Seminary said, “There has been much violence against the Sunni and Shiites, while the Christians have been left alone, at least for [the past few months].” He said that the blasts let Christians know that, “whatever [violence] is happening around the country, you [Christians] will be part of it also.”