Reply #58: Libya's civil war shrinks Christian communities

[pinboy3niner]

(AP) – 3 hours ago

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — With most of his flock having fled Libya's violence, Tripoli's Roman Catholic bishop now focuses on keeping the power struggle between Moammar Gadhafi and anti-government rebels out of his church.

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Some of his parishioners, especially African migrant workers, have been using his St. Francis Church as a sanctuary, saying they dread going into the streets because they are frequently stopped and harassed by Gadhafi's security forces.

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Martinelli said his flock of 100,000 in the greater Tripoli area has dwindled to about 5,000. The Greek Orthodox community has shrunk from around 1,000 to fewer than a dozen. The Union Church is down from 1,200 to 250 parishioners.


Some of those who stayed, especially Africans who lack proper papers, said they rarely leave their homes these days because Tripoli is full of checkpoints, part of the clampdown by Gadhafi's forces to prevent anti-government protests.

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ihK3NuR7tlnN0pYASE5QtrDRvk_g?docId=637cd4deef464a7cb13d16dc55304e83