Syrian American church opposes US strike
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The pastor of a Syrian-American congregation in Allentown, Pa., says his church members oppose a U.S. attack on Syria because they have relatives there who fear Islamist rebels more than the regime of President Bashar Assad.
St. George Orthodox Church Pastor Anthony Sabbagh (sah-BAH') says Syrian Americans will gather there Friday and march to the federal courthouse in Allentown to protest what they see as U.S. support for rebels who have destroyed churches and killed Syrian priests.
Father Sabbagh says in rebel-controlled parts of Syria, Christians are being beheaded, kidnapped or exiled from church communities that date from the time of Christ's Apostles.
He says members of his congregation fear that their families in Syria "are going to be plucked out of their roots, and no one is going to be left over from a Christian presence."
Sabbagh said his congregation hopes and prays that U.S. forces will "not go into Syria with arms or bomb Syria."
Syrian American church opposes US strike | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio