wfn.org | MECC: Oriental Catholic Patriarchs '15th Conference

[mecc <mecc@cyberia.net.lb>]

Final Statement of  the 15th Conference of the Council of Catholic
Patriarchs of the Orient

The Council of the Catholic Patriarchs of the Orient held its 15th
Conference from November 28 to December 2, 2005 in Amman, Jordan. The
subject of the Conference was Justice and Peace in the Middle East, and the
theme based on the Lord¹s words (John 14:27) ³Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give to you?Do not let you hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid².

Attending Patriarchs reflected on the theme as well as the on the encyclical
document ³Joy and Hope² stating that they share with their churches and
nations their worries, their joys, their pains and their hopes. Reviewing
the situation in the region, they underline that millions of people in the
Arab region suffer from despair, hunger, unemployment, exploitation and lack
of human rights and are afraid of losing their national identity and
civilization in front of foreign political, military and economic power and
influence on the Arab world. Arab nations, they said, suffer from the
absence of peace and are sometimes deprived of their most basic needs. They
have turned towards religious movements hoping to find a solution to their
problems. With the exacerbation of crises, religious extremism has emerged
in the East and the West leading to acts of terror.

Catholic Patriarchs condemn and denounce terrorism and register a serious
concern for the recession in the virtues of forgiveness, dialogue and
cordiality and the spread of fanaticism, the development of violence, the
use of force to resolve problems, the diffusion of confessional sentiments,
and the emergence of audio-visual media that attack other peoples¹ faiths,
doctrines, traditions and customs, the increase of violence against women,
and the absence of social justice.

On the Palestinian issue, Catholic Patriarchs felt that, through history, it
has become the cause of destruction and devastation in the whole area. This
issue is the issue of a nation deprived of its land and rights.  They also
stated that Iraq has a right to live a decent life, strong and free, despite
its children¹s religious diversity, conjuring the international community
to
do its best to put an end to this human tragedy.

Expressing their hopes and ambitions, the Catholic Patriarchs stated that
the struggle for democracy and the defense of human rights is an investment
in the future and urged their children to cooperate with civil and
governmental organizations and all groups and individuals who struggle for
freedom, pluralism, democracy and human rights. They requested their
educational institutions to pay special attention to civic education and to
work for the consolidation of Justice and Peace. For an effective dialogue
and cooperation, they recommended a revision of Christian and Muslim
educational curricula and methodology so that they may contribute to the
formation of Christian and Muslim citizens, respectful of each other, so
that they may build their nation together and face the different challenges
they are confronted with.

The full text of the Statement is posted on the MECC website at:
www.mec-churches.org <http://www.mec-churches.org/>

Middle East Council of Churches
Office of International Ecumenical Relations
P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon

Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb

+961-1-353-938
http://www.mec-churches.org/