Christians asked to pray for people of Iraq

Koforidua (Eastern Region) - The Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, the Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, has called on Christians worldwide to pray for an end to the war in Iraq to enable the people enjoy the celebration of Easter in peace.

He described the war as a "senseless" attack on Iraqis by the US and Britain, saying "just for the sake of one man (ousted President Saddam Hussein) many defenceless children, women and fathers were suffering in hospitals without drugs and could not participate in the Palm Sunday worship."

Bishop Palmer-Buckle was preaching at the St George's Cathedral on Palm Sunday before he led the congregation in a procession through some streets in Koforidua as they sang and waved palm fronds to mark the day.

He expressed regret that many of the "killers" were Christians and wondered if there was no peaceful solution to the crisis without bringing suffering on innocent people. Bishop Palmer-Buckle who is also a member of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), urged Ghanaians to use the Easter period to pray for reconciliation among themselves as "Christ suffered and died to reconcile mankind with God."

He expressed delight at the on-going sittings of the Commission at which he said some people who had been nursing pain and anguish in silence for decades had had the opportunity not only to pour out their sufferings but were able to forgive their perpetrators who also had the chance to plead for forgiveness.

Bishop Palmer-Buckle asked Christians to use the occasion to pray for forgiveness and healing among themselves and reconcile with God and for peace and love to prevail. The District Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. Otu Acheampong, urged Christians to use the occasion to pray to God for salvation and to rededicate their lives to the saviour Jesus Christ.

"As Christians, let us humble ourselves and be obedient, so that the glory of God would be manifested in our lives," he added. Rev. Otu Acheampong also expressed concern about the pain of people who appeared before the NRC to testify, go through and prayed to God to forgive the perpetrators.