WASHINGTON — In 2014, the Islamic State group removed hundreds of
families of religious minorities from their homes in Karamdes, a mostly
Christian town on the Ninevah Plain in Iraq. Just over two years later, the
town, also known as Karemlash, was liberated.
The Knights of Columbus will raise $2 million to assist these
families in returning to their homes, according to Knights CEO Carl Anderson,
who announced their pledge at the Knights' 135th annual Supreme Convention
being held Aug. 1-3 in St. Louis.
"The terrorists desecrated churches and graves and looted
and destroyed homes," Anderson said in his annual report, which was livestreamed
from the 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 following the example of the Hungarian government,
whose new spending bill allowed for $2 million to be sent to the Archdiocese of
Irbil in Iraq, assisting with the rebuilding of a Christian community near
Mosul, Iraq.
Families who were displaced previously from their homes were able
to return to their homeland because of the government of Hungary. This example
served as proof to the Knights of the impact of returning families to their
homes.
The cost of resettling one family is around $2,000, the amount
the Knights are encouraging councils, parishes and individuals to donate.
"These Christian communities are a priceless treasure for
the church," Anderson said to the Knights attending the convention.
"They have every right to live."
The Knights have sought to provide humanitarian aid to Christians
in Iraq, as well as Syria and the surrounding areas, donating more than $13
million. In June, Anderson joined Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Rep. Anna
Eshoo, D-Calif., in speaking at a news conference to urge the Senate to pass
legislation that would provide U.S. humanitarian aid to the Archdiocese of
Irbil, after the House unanimously voted in favor of the bill.
Pope Francis commended the Knights for their work in the Middle
East in a letter sent to the Knights at the convention from Vatican Secretary
of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The pope professed his "gratitude for
the commitment of the Knights to supporting our Christian brothers and sisters
in the Middle East," according to the letter.
Pope Francis also described the Knights' relief fund as "an
eloquent sign of your order's firm commitment to solidarity and communion with
our fellow Christians."
In a news conference July 27, Secretary of State spokeswoman
Heather Nauert reaffirmed the use of the word "genocide" to describe
the situation of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.
"When we look at Iraq and we look at what has happened to
some of the Yezidis, some of the Christians, the secretary (Rex Tillerson)
believes, and he firmly believes, that that was genocide," Nauert said.
In March 2016, then-Secretary of State John Kerry first declared
that IS militants' actions in Iraq and Syria against minority Christian, Yezidi
and Shiite Muslim groups was genocide.
The Knights of Columbus also will join the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops for a "Week of Awareness" for persecuted Christians,
which will begin Nov. 26 with a day of prayer for persecuted Christians.
In his annual report, Anderson urged each council of Knights to
mark this day with "highest priority."
"Our work has truly changed history," Anderson said.
The work to rebuild Karamdes will begin the first week of August
and any funds raised will go directly to the project.