ASIA/LEBANON - Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops again denounce the sectarian drifts of Lebanese politics

Tuesday, 13 November 2018 middle east   oriental churches   sectaniarism  

Maronite Patriarchate

Bkerké (Agenzia Fides) - The teaching of catechism as an essential part of the mission of proclaiming the Gospel to which the Church is called, is the central theme of the 52nd ordinary session of the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon, which opened yesterday Monday, November 12, with the introductory speech of Maronite Patriarch Boutros Bechara Rai. The assembly also represents an occasion for the Episcopates of the Catholic Churches present in Lebanon to outline once again the problems and critical issues that weigh on the daily life of the Christians in the Country and of all the other Lebanese. In his speech, the Primate of the Maronite Church described a social context marked by the "growing poverty of our people, because of the economic crisis and the suffocating conditions of life, and because of the great increase in unemployment, the high cost of living, of food, clothing". This scenario is exacerbated by the recurrence of sectarian forces that increasingly influence the choices of political forces and the functioning of national institutions, with state officials intent on safeguarding only their own private interests, without any intention of building a genuine rule of law. In such a context - added Patriarch Bechara Rai - the Churches must take charge of the "pastoral duty to defend the people, especially the poor and the oppressed", and must also offer their contribution to safeguard the constitutional, democratic and cultural principles that must regulate political action and set aside its sectarian deviations. "Today, if most of the armed militias no longer operate", the Patriarch remarked, "Lebanon is governed by the mentality of the "political militias", and we cannot accept this".
Today, Tuesday, November 13, participants in the Assembly of Lebanese Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops will meet Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, and members of the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches (ROACO ) that are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of this body, formed by agencies and organizations operating in various countries of the world, which are committed to financially support the life and activities of Eastern Catholic communities rooted in the Middle East. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 13/11/2018)


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