ROME, Feb. 26, 01 (CWNews.com/Fides) - Latin-Rite Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem released his annual Lenten letter this week, telling Israel's army, "Destroy our churches if you must, but leave the people their homes."
He added, "If you need at all some sort of collective punishment or ransom, to restore tranquility to innocent children and families we offer you our churches to destroy."
The Patriarch's Lenten Letter is an anguished call for peace in the Holy Land, at a time when tension is high. Before writing it, the 67-year-old Patriarch visited Palestinian parishes, communities, and civil authorities. Although the letter is addressed to Christians in view of Lent, in many parts it openly speaks to Muslims and Jews.
Its main concern is for the political situation: "Roads closed, towns and villages in a state of siege, no work, constant bombing...." This desperate situation is causing many Christians to abandon the area. "Brothers and Sisters," the Patriarch says, "do not leave your land. Have patience. God wants you to be believers in Him and witnesses of his Son, Jesus Christ here in this land. Remain here in these Holy Places... why let others build your future?"
Referring to the conflict as a "war imposed on us," the Patriarch calls Christians to make acts of friendship and charity in view of the spreading poverty in the Palestinian territories: "We invite you all... to share your bread with those who have none, either by inviting them to sit at your table or by giving to Caritas or some other similar organization, the same amount you would spend on food for a day."
The Patriarch goes on to beg Israeli soldiers to destroy Christian churches rather than Christian homes, and he asks Palestinian militants to "spare the homes of innocent civilians," not to turn "tranquil homes, into gun-fire lines." The Patriarch was referring to fighting in Gilo and Beit Jala, two villages respectively Jewish and Palestinian (mostly Christians) used by both army and militants as a shield for attacking the opposite side.
Again addressing the Israelis, Bishop Sabbah writes: "Look at the Palestinian, Christian or Muslim, not as a terrorist, not as someone who wants to hate and kill... Remember you too [in the past] called out for freedom, with the same cry of the oppressed.... What you term security measures are only a call for more violence. Restore the land to its rightful owners, restore their freedom...."
He urges Palestinians to remember the "difficult commandment, love your enemy... Love is not weakness or running away. It is seeing the face of God in every man, whether Jew or Arab. The Jew who keeps us prisoners, still bears the image and likeness of God."
The letter closes with a call to make Lenten prayer and fasting a constant plea to God to grant the power and the spirit of love, as well as justice and peace.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
26. februar 2001