ST. LOUIS, Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a
move that will give many Christians and other religious minorities
in Iraq hope for the future, the
Knights of Columbus will raise and donate $2
million to save Karamdes (Karemlash), a predominantly
Christian town on the Nineveh Plain which was liberated from ISIS
late last year.
The Knights' action will move hundreds of families from minority
religious communities in Iraq –
especially Christians – back to the homes from which they were
evicted by ISIS in summer, 2014.
The Knights' action matches a similar donation by the government
of Hungary, which recently donated
$2 million to save another
predominately Christian town, Teleskov. About 1,000 families have
now moved back to that town, providing a proof of concept that
shows that such actions can actually work in restoring pre-ISIS
populations to their home and towns.
Like the government of Hungary,
the Knights will partner in this resettlement and rebuilding effort
with the Archdiocese of Erbil, which is currently housing the
largest population of Christian refugees in Iraq, including many of the residents of
Karamdes.
"The terrorists desecrated churches and graves and looted and
destroyed homes," said Knights CEO Carl
Anderson during his annual report at the Knights of Columbus
135th annual convention. "Now we will ensure that hundreds of
Christian families driven from their homes can return to these two
locations and help to ensure a pluralistic future for Iraq."
The Knights are urging K of C councils, parishes or other Church
groups, and individuals who want to help to donate $2,000 – the approximate cost of resettling one
family. Just a thousand such donations would be necessary to reach
the $2 million goal. The rebuilding
work will begin this week and money will begin flowing to the
project immediately.
Urging the Knights to get behind this historic new initiative,
Anderson paraphrased the words invoked by Winton Churchill in 1940: "Put your confidence
in us …We shall not fail or falter, we shall not weaken or tire. We
will give you the tools and together we will finish the job."
In the same speech, Anderson also announced that the K of C
would partner with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on a
"Week of Awareness" for persecuted Christians beginning
Nov. 26.
Since 2014, the Knights' Christian Refugee Relief Fund has
donated more than $13 million for
humanitarian assistance primarily in Iraq, Syria
and the surrounding region. The Knights' documentation of ISIS'
atrocities and advocacy on behalf of Christians and other religious
minorities in the Middle East were
decisive in U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry's 2016 genocide declaration for Christians and other
religious minorities in the region. This designation was reaffirmed
by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
last week.
One hundred percent of the money raised will be used for this
project. Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc. is recognized by the
Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations can be made at
www.christiansatrisk.org or by calling
1-800-694-5713. Donations are tax deductible to the extent
allowed by law.
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SOURCE Knights of Columbus