wfn.org | U.S. Priests, Nuns Send Message to Palestinians

[JerusalemRelOrgs@aol.com]

Contact:
Fr. Raed Awad Abusahlia
P.O.Box 14152  Jerusalem  91141
Tel.  (972 2) 628.2323 / 627.2280
Fax  (972 2) 627.1652
Personal E-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
Latin Patriarchate E-mail: Latinpat@actcom.co.il
Latin Patriarchate's Homepage: http://www.Lpj.org
"Nonviolence Homepage": http://go.to/nonviolence

Group offers prayers for Jews, Muslims and Christians of Holy Land

JERUSALEM, April 6, 2002---Two associations of Catholic religious in the 
United States sent a joint message to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem 
offering their support and solidarity.  

His Beatitude Michel Sabbah today received the message from the nuns and 
priests with great appreciation.  Along with the clergy of the Patriarchate 
and the faithful who attend its churches, Patriarch Sabbah has been living 
through a very difficult and tense period during which Israeli military have 
surrounded churches and made it impossible for clergy or church officials to 
reach their posts.

The full text of the letter follows:

Letter of support and solidarity
from the Presidents of the Religious Conferences in the United States 
April 5, 2002

Your Beatitude,

On behalf of the women and men religious of the United States we are writing 
to you at this time of great tragedy and trial in your region.  

We have received your appeals and the reports that come not only from your 
office but also from others who are eyewitnesses to the effects of the 
violence and terror in the Holy Land.

We are shocked by the violence taking place in the Holy Land at this time.  
Every day we read of the deaths of civilians because of suicide bombings and 
the shelling of civilian areas.  Our hearts are moved with sorrow for the 
great loss of life and the fear under which the people of the region are 
living. 

We are mindful of our own country's contribution to the crisis by supplying 
aid and equipment to the Israeli military and the weak condemnations of 
Israeli violence.

We extend the prayers of the religious in the U.S. to you and all in the Holy 
Land, Israelis and Palestinians; Jews, Christians, and Muslims, who are 
suffering under the constant fear of violence and terror.  

Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones because of suicide 
bombings or the disproportionate use of military power. The scriptures 
command us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  We pray not only for peace in 
Jerusalem but in the entire region.

We also express our solidarity for the work you are doing during at this time 
to call for peace.  The Peace March earlier this week and your offer to serve 
as a mediator between the two sides are examples of hope in the midst of the 
tragedy that is taking place.  You encourage us to take our own actions here 
in the United States.

Our Conferences have sent a letter to President Bush urging him to take 
effective and appropriate actions to call for an end to the violence and 
renewal of negotiations that will lead to a lasting and just peace in the 
Holy Land.  

We are also working with our colleagues in the U.S. to provide balanced and 
accurate information to our members and to the people in the U.S. about the 
current crisis.  

Also with our colleagues we are seeking meetings with government officials to 
urge them to not only support but take effective action to implement U.N. 
Security Council Resolution 1402 calling on  both the Israelis and 
Palestinians to move immediately to a ceasefire.

In his own time Jesus, speaking to the people of the Holy Land who lived in 
fear and occupation said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be 
called children of God." During this time of crisis in the Holy Land we 
commit ourselves to working with you to seek new paths of peace and justice, 
to speak out as you have asked us, and to help build bridges of understanding 
which will give birth to hope and human dignity for the people of the Holy 
Land.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Pruitt, CSJP                   
President                       

Canice Connors, O.F.M.Conv.
President
 
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