KHARTOUM, SUDAN (ANS) -- Islamic militias loyal to the Sudanese government have kidnaped two Catholic priests in Rabak, Christian sources said.

According to a story by Compass Direct News (CDN), a large truck smashed through the gates of the St. Josephine Bakhita's Catholic Church compound in Rabak, 162 miles south of Khartoum, on Jan. 15 at 10 p.m.

Sources told CDN the attackers broke down the rectory door. Revs. Joseph Makwey and Sylvester Mogga were kidnaped at gunpoint.

On Jan. 19, CDN said, the kidnappers forced the two priests to call their bishop with a joint ransom demand of 500,000 Sudanese pounds (US$185,530).

Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok told Compass by phone that there was no direct communication between the bishop and the kidnappers, though the priests managed to convey that they were being mistreated.

“We are worried about the two priests,” CDN reported he said. “They are not treating them well.”

The kidnappers have not attempted to communicate with church leaders since then, Adwok said.

Neither Makwey, in his 40's, nor Mogga, in his mid-30's, are supporters of southern Sudan military forces in territorial conflict with Sudan over border areas, CDN reported he added. Eyewitnesses told Compass that they saw the assailants severely beating the priests while abducting them.

The kidnappers also looted the priests' living quarters, stealing two vehicles, two laptops and a safe.

CDN said the incident caused panic and terror among Christians in Rabak, with church leaders saying they fear for their lives as they become targets of the Islamic government and its allied militias.

For more information about Compass Direct News go to www.compassdirect.org

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net.