The Washington Post has an article today about the targeting of Christian priests by Islamic militants in Iraq. It describes a young priest, Father Abdal, saying Mass while Church members guard the church with AK 47 rifles. Here is the chilling ending of the article:Abdal, a tall 29-year-old, said six months ago he received a phone call from a man with an Egyptian accent.The man said he was with a group that wanted to meet Abdal and asked if he was a priest. Abdal, in fear, told the man he was a church cleaner.The caller said to Abdal, "One day Peter will come and take you."Abdal said the would-be kidnappers threatened to put him on a cross and crucify him. "At that moment I don't say I was frightened. At that moment I said I must face my faith. I asked his name," Abdal said. The caller said his name was Malak, Arabic for angel.Abdal said he peered deeper into his faith."Jesus Christ, at the last meal before they put him on the cross, said it's true that the body is weak but the soul is strong," Abdal said. "As the people's servant, I believe that one day I will suffer the same fate as the teacher. That doesn't mean this church is thirsty for blood. But we have a real principle. We want to announce to the people that the church is existing. It has existed and it will exist."Abdal's telephone call came at the start of a major kidnapping campaign targeting priests. Many of those kidnapped were his friends and had his name in their cellphones.

"Now there is no kidnapping," Abdal said. "There is killing."