In two separate attacks, gunmen emptied an Armenian and a Chaldean church today before setting off explosives, damaging both churches. Three people were injured according to the Associated Press. No one was killed.

"Smoke poured from the Armenian church and flames could be seen inside the Chaldean church … It was not clear how many people had been in the churches when they were attacked but the number was apparently not large," Reuters reports.

It has been nearly a month since the last attack on churches in Iraq. "At least eight people were killed in two church bombings in the capital on Nov. 8, and a car bomber attacked police guarding the hospital where the wounded had been taken."

Last weekend, Yonadem Kana, the leader of the Assyrian Democratic Movement in Iraq and a member of the Iraqi National Council, told the Associated Press that the Assyrian Democratic Movement would be sending 1,500 people to Baghdad to protect Christians from attacks.

"We do not want to transform our movement into a militia," Kana said. "But if needed, we can arm more than 10,000 people."

"We will not accept that our people's ethnic and religious background be used as a card in the hands of foreign forces to interfere in Iraq and to prolong the occupation," Kana said.

Iraqi Christians | Anti-Semitism | Islam | Nigeria | Indonesia Religious freedom conference | Religious freedom | North Korea | Christianophobia | UCC ad | British religious protection bill | Religion & politics | Religion & politics opinion | Churches & politics | Marriage & family | Same-sex marriage | Lesbians in ministry | Missions & ministry | Christmas | Hanukkah | Judaism | Bethlehem | Christmas ministry | Banning Salvation Army's bell-ringers | December dilemma | ...