I am often asked by other Chaldeans, how am I to know if I am making God happy.  My response, “First, we must obey Him.  We must obey His laws and act in the way He has commanded.  We know this, based on how we behave.  We have been told that we are known by the fruit we bear; meaning our behavior and motivation. God calls us to obey Him, not man.  How we choose will determine our future.”

Fr. Michael Sisco compliments this message by challenging us to that simple question.   Are we to obey God or are we to obey men?  Our actions answer this question.  Some of us are blinded to how our actions please Jesus or offend him. Our actions are simply leaves to a tree of habit. That tree nourished or poisoned by its roots.  What Chaldeans should be most concerned with is the root of their tree and how the roots are nourished and fed to their branches and leaves.  The roots of every good Chaldean are nourished by two traits.  Traits Fr. Sisco makes clear.

Like Fr. Sisco, I too favor Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est, which means Where charity and love are, God is there.   Charity and love is the sun and water for all Chaldean roots.  The music Fr. Sisco refers to is breathtaking and included, with transcription, in this article for readers who wish to listen and meditate on how they can strengthen their obedience to God. 

I, like a few other Chaldeans won’t reach my goals in the New Year.  I am not alone by any means.  Like everyone else who has pledged to change things this New Year, together we are going to find ourselves bummed out when nothing has really changed. 

Here are the best advice I have received from my friends on beating the odds. Give them a try.  I will, and hopefully we can last beyond the first few months in sticking to our New Year resolutions.

Lyon, FRANCE - Dario Salvi of AsiaNews reports that the “new” Iraq there is a clear strategy to eliminate Christians.  Salvi interviews Joseph Yacoub, an export on Christianity in the Middle East. 

Joseph Yacoub, an Iraqi Chaldean and professor of political science at the Catholic University of Lyon.  An expert in Christianity in the Middle East with a profound knowledge of the Iraqi reality, he criticizes the idea of a Christian enclave on the Nineveh plain and warns of a “political strategy that aims to eliminate Christians” which can only be halted if “the logic of divisions and self-interest is overcome”. 

He is also critical of the American troop withdrawal pact, judging it a “superficial change” which will not restore full “national sovereignty” to Iraq.  He is also against the electoral law, describing it as a “discriminatory measure” against Christians, who must impute the “government of Baghdad” that has failed to guarantee “unity and security in the country”.  Finally, he is worried by the climate of “distrust and fear” within the Christian community, since time immemorial the guarantor of “pluralistic and rich multi-culture” in Iraq, today abandoned to its own destiny.

Below is the published interview given by Joseph Yacoub:

The following is the first of a three-part series on the 2008 Elections. In the next two weeks we will deal with issues of Culture and Conscience.

Now that the election is over, we can separate the real Catholics from those who just act the part. Those still reeling from the results of the election can rest assured that they are in good company with the saints.

Those who have drawn a line in blood and made a decision to stand with the culture of death need a serious examination of conscience.

Now look at what we’ve done to ourselves. America has made her “choice” for maximum leader and it is not pretty. In fact, it is one of the most devastating blows to American civilization that we have ever undergone, and I do not speak in hyperbole. Even such a saintly figure as Mother Theresa said that “a nation that kills its children has no future;” likewise, an authority like Fr. Benedict Groeschel recently commented that we have entered into “the beginning of the twilight” of our country—dire words that touch on the reality of electing the most extreme, pro-abortion candidate America has ever had the misfortune of occupying the highest office of our land.

In 2004 a group of United States Bishops, acting on behalf of the USCCB and requesting counsel about the responsibilities of Catholic politicians and voters, received a memo from the office of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, which stated: 

“A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate’s permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia."  In short, you are not in communion with Christ or His church if you vote for a candidate who supports abortion more.   

This declaration raised a number of questions.  The following 8 answers might offer greater clarity. 

“For the Catholic there is no room for cowardice," says Frank Dado.  “Cowardice is the opposite of the moral virtue of fortitude.  Cowards are weak in difficult times and inconsistent in the pursuit of good.  They are unable to resist temptation and easily succumb to sin.  They fear death, trials, and persecutions.  It is from either pride or cowardice that sin takes hold and grows.  A Catholic coward will quickly become a Judas and sell-out his faith, his church, and his people.” 

Most Chaldeans are secure about their faith.  A legacy of courage in the throngs of tragic trials and persecution has proven Chaldeans do not break easy.  “Evil has tried to penetrate the church walls of Chaldeans since the early formation of the church.  The walls remain.  Our church leaders are assassinated, thinking the flock will scatter.  We do not,” says Dado defiantly.   “Evil has now changed its strategy.  It can not break Chaldeans, so it is trying to melt us.”

Dado refers to the slow burn Chaldeans endure in the West.  “Forced to flee Iraq, rather than convert from their faith, Chaldeans now have to contend with the steady fire of Western sin.”  Western society and culture continues to promote forbidden deeds as trendy, modern, progressive, or hip.  Dado says Chaldeans are afraid to take action against what they know is immoral and evil.  “Instead children call their parents boaters and misguidedly run into the arms of evil thinking it is cool or that they will be accepted.”

The pressure to remain silent or tolerate evil is real.  Schools and college campuses have long used humiliation and shame to force Catholics and other pious groups into silence.  This is why Dado considers them cowards.  He says the cowards have been frightened into obeying what they know to be wrong. 

California, USA –  “We should be more active,” says Jonathan Shayota.  “We need to knock on doors, get petitions signed, lobby our government, and be more involved in voicing our issues.”  Shayota’s passion is contagious.  A group of college students nod in passionate agreement with what he is saying.  “If we don’t voice our opposition, then remaining silent means you agree with them,” Shayota adds.

The political science major is active in local California politics and is helping other Chaldeans learn how to take a stand.   His fervent effort to protect marriage between one man and one woman won over his local parish into helping to get signatures signed by committed voters to help defeat the California gay marriage court intervention.  “Most tech savvy people don’t bother with the paper any longer.  They use the internet,” Shayota says. “However, papers still offer Chaldeans an opportunity to voice their concern and most professional publications have invested heavily in their online presence as well.  You are still going to have to write to the editors to set the record straight and if they refuse to listen, then share your feelings with their advertisers.”   

Shayota shares his ten tips on how to write a letter and ensure it has the best chance of being published.  Included in Shayota’s example is a submission by Rafah Odish of Farmington Hills, Michigan.  “Odish writes about her support for Congressman Knollenberg and his active involvement in helping Chaldeans. Her masterful piece found its way into the local paper in her city showcasing the gratitude of the Chaldean community and the good work of congressman Knollenberg.  This is a wonderful example of how to get your piece printed.”

Odish writes:

Michigan, USA - Often food of the ethnic variety is a cultured taste where so much is tied to familial memories and good times.  A whiff of a favorite dish can transcend you back to a fond experience.  Add to the memories a combination of authentic spices and learned taste buds and you have a native’s perspective of their own cuisine. 

However, to someone less adjusted to the culture, culinary experience, or learned taste buds you might find a completely different perspectives.  Jane Slaughter, food critic of Detroit Metro Times recently shared her insight of New Sahara located in Farmington Hills, Michigan.  This is what she had to say…

After a long bitter winter, spring finally begins to peek into Michigan.  In anticipation of the warmer temperature, I drew up my 24-point list of things to do, many of which involve outside activities; garage clean up, light home renovations, etc.  I am positive that many of us who are avid gardeners have probably started exercising their favorite hobby.   

Indeed, when I stood in the middle of my garden, I could count many things that needed attention.  Things such as trimming trees, picking up dead leaves, spraying fertilizer, and the most important of all, grass cutting.  That same day I was listening to my favorite radio station, the Catholic Radio, and the commentator was comparing our spirits to a garden.  That comment left a deep impression in me, and I started thinking to myself: If we spend so much time, money and energy cleaning up and beautifying our gardens every year, do we lend the same attention and spend the same amount of time and energy cleaning up our hearts and strengthening our faith and spirits? 

Michigan, USA - The Chaldean Caucus has sent out over 6,000 e-mails and mailed out over 2,000 letters to likely Chaldean voters reminding them that tomorrow, Tuesday, August 5 are the primary elections.  “We want to keep the Chaldean community informed and excited about local races as much as the upcoming presidential race,” says Lauren George, western district Chaldean Caucus representative. 

Politicians have come to realize the importance of winning the Chaldean vote says George.  “The community values democracy.  Coming from a country that would kill your entire family should you dare consider thinking and acting in democratic ways, we are hungry to participate.  Our community is active in campaigns, involved in running for politics, and we get out the vote.”

The largest population of Chaldeans in the United States lives in Oakland County, Michigan.  George says that political candidates in that county wisely court the Chaldean constituency knowing that Chaldeans can make all the difference.