Monday Morning Headline - 51 Killed in Catholic Church in Iraq

A Catholic Church in Baghdad was attacked by terrorists and 51 people were killed. It was then stormed by troops trying to free them and 7 troops were killed. More from the Washington Post:

BAGHDAD - Scores of worshipers and seven Iraqi commandos were killed Sunday night during an hours-long siege of a prominent Catholic church in Baghdad, authorities and church officials said.

The bulk of the bloodletting happened shortly after 9 p.m. when Iraqi Special Operations troops stormed Our Lady of Salvation church in the upscale Karradah neighborhood to try and free worshipers who had been taken hostage. Several of the hostages had already been killed by the assailants who had taken over the church, authorities said. The attempted rescue prompted to detonate suicide vests, multiplying the death toll.

Two Assyrian priests who were presiding over Sunday evening Mass were among those slain during the hours-long encounter. One priest was executed and the other was reportedly killed in an explosion, fellow priest Meyassr Portus said.

Rocco has more here and here.

**Please pray for the Christians in the Middle East. The brave men, women, and children who literally put their lives on the line for Christ.