Vatican blames Israel for all of the Christian problems in the Middle East
I posted recently about the Vatican synod meeting of Roman Catholic bishops from the Middle East next October, which will discuss Islamic fundamentalism and attacks on Christians in the region.
It would appear that there is a slant to the pre-synod document – entitled “The Catholic Church in the Middle East: communion and witness,” – which seems to lay some of the blame of Middle Eastern Christian persecution on Israel’s so called “occupation”.
Here is a small report from Israel National News:-
Vatican blames Israel for all Christian problems in MideastA document released by the Vatican this week blamed Israel not only for the exodus of Christians from Palestinian-controlled territories, but for the plight of Christians across the entire Middle East.
The document will serve as the basis for an October gathering of bishops to discuss the difficulties of minority Christian communities in the Muslim world.
It was largely authored by Arab bishops from the Middle East, most of whom said that the Israeli “occupation” of Arab-claimed lands is the root cause of nearly all oppression of Christians in the region. They suggested that in the absence of the “occupation,” radical Islamic forces across the region would lose support and be unable to cause trouble for Christians.
The document also appeared to justify the use of terrorist violence by Muslims in both Israel and Iraq:
“Violence is in the hands of the strong and weak alike, the latter resorting to whatever violence is within reach in order to be free.”
A Vatican official told reporters on Tuesday that the Catholic Church is not trying to take sides or make policy recommendations, but insisted that the Middle East-based bishops who authored the document “know the situation well.”
Israel is NOT the reason for Christian persecution in the Middle East, radical extremist Islam is the reason, period. To suggest that Israel is indirectly or directly responsible, is frankly disgusting and shameful. I shouldn’t be surprised however, as the vilification of Israel from Arab Christian leaders is nothing new:-
Here is a report from Voice of the Copts:-
Vatican to Study Christian Exodus from Middle East
The Christian exodus from PA-controlled territories continues, religious freedom under Moslem control is not expected – yet the Vatican issues a document blaming the “occupation.”
The document released this week prefaces a meeting that Pope Benedictus XVI will hold nine months from now with 150 bishops in the Middle East. The plight of the increasingly dwindling Christian minority in the region, the reasons for the exodus, and the discrimination faced by Christians will be the main issues.
The document lists several causes for the current situation in the PA, Iraq, and elsewhere, including the “Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the growth of “political Islam” in countries like Egypt, radical Islamic terrorism – and Israel’s “occupation.”
Though it is a widely accepted truism that the religious freedom granted by Israel surpasses by far that found in Moslem lands, the Vatican report says the “occupation” makes life difficult for daily Christian life, in that access to holy places is restricted.
During a visit of former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to Israel, a very senior figure in one of the main Churches in Israel told her privately that the members of his community are well aware that freedom of religion will only be provided by Israel, and that therefore she should not promote the division of Jerusalem. He further told her of the struggles he and his flock were forced to wage against the PA wherever it received control.
Without noting a specific country, the Vatican document states generally, “The solution to conflicts rests in the hands of the stronger country in its occupying and inflicting wars on another country.”
Many cases of Arab harassment of Christians in PA areas have been reported in recent years, and the phenomenon of Christians seeking to leave the area is not new. Back in May 2004, Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, visited then-President Moshe Katzav in Jerusalem and acknowledged that the “increasing Christian emigration from the Holy Land in general, and Bethlehem in particular, is troubling to the Vatican.”
I have also previously posted on the Palestinian Christian plight under Islamic rule; here and here:-
Tags: Christian Persecution, Church Life