Time - U.S. Evangelicals See Political, Religious Cause in Syria Conflict

By Elizabeth Dias, Time.com

Catholic Father Paolo Dall’Oglio of Syria’s Mar Musa monastery stood before Rock Springs Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington, Virginia, on July 23 and pleaded for U.S. intervention in his homeland’s escalating civil war. Already half of Syria’s two million Christians have fled, he said, comparing the exodus of Christians to the one out of Iraq. “It is already too late—but we must do something to save what can be saved,” he told the 250 Christians and Muslims in attendance. “We need the help of the international community…otherwise only the weapons will dictate the destiny of my country.”. . .

Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice, an organization founded by Pat Robertson that advocates for religious freedoms, thinks the U.S. should be more directly involved in the conflict. “We should not underestimate the influence western countries have with either the Assad regime or the Syrian opposition,” says Sekulow. “As the United States, a country that prides itself in liberty for all, we must apply pressure on any future ruling party to guarantee that Syrian Christians and other religious minorities retain all human rights within the future Syrian society.” . . .

Mahmoud Khattab, chairman of the Syrian American Council, a co-sponsor of Dall’Oglio’s address, suggests that the presidential campaign is impeding U.S. willingness to intervene. “Unless the United States moves, things will get messy,” he cautions. “The whole world is waiting for the leadership of the United States.” And many evangelical leaders in the United States are waiting to see who will take up their cause. . . .

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