A feud between a patriarch and a militia leader adds to the woes of Iraqi Christians

By ABBY SEWELL and SALAR SALIM
Associated Press

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — A feud between two prominent Christian leaders has divided believers of the faith in Iraq. The dispute involves a Vatican-appointed cardinal and a militia leader, with land and influence at the core of the drama. Cardinal Louis Sako withdrew last month from his headquarters in Baghdad and headed for northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. His move came after the Iraqi president revoked a decree recognizing his position as patriarch of the Chaldeans, Iraq’s largest Christian denomination. Sako blames a campaign against him on Rayan al-Kildani, a Chaldean Christian militia leader. The two men have accused each other of selling off or trying to take over church properties.