SYRIA: ABDUCTED NUNS USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS

Pope Francis has asked for prayer for the Orthodox nuns of the convent of Santa Tecla, in Maaloula, who "two days ago were forcibly abducted by armed men. Pray for these sisters and for all the people who have been kidnapped as a result of the ongoing conflict . We must continue to pray and work together for peace, entrusting ourselves to Mary."

The nuns are reported to be in good condition, as is Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, who was kidnapped in July.  But a motive for holding the religious non-combatants has emerged:

Syrian rebels want to use nuns "kidnapped" from their Maalula convent north of Damascus as "human shields," pro-regime daily Al-Watan said on Wednesday.

While initial reporting indicated that 12 nuns had been taken, it appears that the actual number is "only" five:

For the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch "the five nuns from the Monastery of St Thecla (Maaloula) have reached Yabrud and are in good condition; however, nothing is known as yet as to why Islamist rebels took them or when they will be released."

Islamist rebels have been holding the five nuns - not 12 as initially reported - since Monday after bursting into the monastery and forcing them to go with them to Yabrud, some 80 km north of Damascus. Now 35 sisters are left in St. Thecla.

Meanwhile, in the small town, the cradle of Syrian Christianity, Islamist rebels have started setting fire to all the houses owned by Christians.

"No one is left in Maaloula. Those who fled are pained over these attacks. Residents are listening helplessly at reports about the destruction of their homes," said local sources, anonymous for security reasons.

Such actions, sources note, are the result of "anti-Christian hatred by Muslim extremists" and are "unrelated to the war."

In recent days, extremists led by fighters from the Jabat al-Nusra militia have posted graphic videos of their attacks and summary executions on social networks.

The ongoing crisis in Maaloula highlights how difficult it can be to get good information since the Western media tend to ignore the story:

However, how hard is it to cover the actual statements of major churches and, at times, even the Vatican? I realize that this can lead to unbalanced coverage, if these Western voices are quoted in isolation. I get that. However, what I don't understand is journalists with major organizations - such as the Associated Press - failing to cover the basics on life-and-death stories of interest to many readers.

At the moment, Eastern Orthodox listservs and parish websites are buzzing with some horrifying news from the highly symbolic town of Maaloula (click here for a column I wrote on earlier events in the fighting there).

The author goes on to point out some details that the media is apparently reluctant to discuss:

By the way, what is the name of the other convent led by Nabhan? (The answer, I assume, is Our Lady of Saidnaya.) Why not tell readers the religious tradition that is involved here? And what is the name of the besieged facility in Maaloula, which just happens to be one of the most symbolic Christian sites in the Middle East (and thus, the world)?

And what are we to make with the "three days of fighting" reference? Maaloula has been under siege for weeks, if not months. And why is this town so important to "opposition fighters" and "rebels?" Why is it so important to overthrow an ancient institution containing some nuns and lots of orphans?

The answer, at least in part, for why the American media is reluctant to report the facts on the ground would be that the U.S. is arming and training the jihadists.  As usual, the policy fiascoes of the Obama Regime must be downplayed or ignored altogether.