B'nai B'rith Offers Analysis to Vatican Meeting on Catholic Life in Mideast

["David Michaels" <dmichaels@bnaibrith.org>]

>B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL
>News Release

>Contact:  Sharon Bender
>202-857-6699 or sbender@bnaibrith.org 

B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL OFFERS PERSPECTIVES TO VATICAN MEETING ON
CATHOLIC LIFE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

(Washington, D.C., Oct. 12, 2010)-In advance of the Vatican's Special
Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which began Oct.
10 in Rome and is meeting through Oct. 24 to discuss the state of
Christianity in the Middle East, B'nai B'rith International engaged in
ongoing communication with Synod and other church leaders, offering 
its
analysis of conference preparatory materials.

In a May letter, B'nai B'rith leaders acknowledged important elements 
of
the initial Lineamenta discussion paper, including "recognition of
resurgent extremism," and mistreatment of Christian and other 
minorities
in the Middle East at large. At the same time, B'nai B'rith noted
disproportionate association of Palestinian-Israeli disputes-and 
Israeli
policies particularly-with broader regional difficulties. 

Regarding the subsequent Instrumentum Laboris document, B'nai B'rith
urged that the complexities of the Middle East be treated "accurately,
fairly, and responsibly," and in keeping with the delicacy of peace
talks as well as various Catholic teachings. The Catholic Church has,
over the course of 45 years, not only established its relationship 
with
Jews as sacrosanct, but also formally recognized Israel and criticized
anti-Zionism.

However, in a September correspondence, B'nai B'rith observed that the
latest preparatory document summarizes the Catholic Church's position 
on
the Arab-Israeli conflict by referencing support expressed by Pope
Benedict XVI for Palestinian objectives, while neglecting to also cite
the pontiff's critical affirmation to Israel's ambassador that "the 
Holy
See joins you in giving thanks to the Lord that the aspirations of the
Jewish people for a home in the land of their fathers have been
fulfilled."

Indeed, in his address Oct. 11, Patriarch Antonios Naguib of the
Catholic Coptic Church of Alexandria, who serves as secretary of the
Synod, said: "we express our solidarity with the Palestinian people." 
He
also asserted that "the [Christian] emigration in our countries has
increased primarily as a result of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,"
among other causes, but did not note that, in contrast with other
countries, Israel's Christian population has consistently grown in
actual numbers. Perhaps most cause for concern, the former Latin
Patriarch of the Holy Land, Michel Sabbah, is scheduled to make a
presentation of "Kairos Palestine," a Palestinian Christian treatise
that delegitimizes Jewish statehood, sanitizes Palestinian terrorism,
urges blanket economic campaigns against Israel, and labels the 
presence
of Jews in disputed lands as "evil" and a "sin against God."

With a significant presence in Jerusalem since 1888, and a lasting
commitment to advancing Catholic-Jewish relations, B'nai B'rith
appreciates church leaders' receptiveness to the perspectives of 
Jewish
partners. B'nai B'rith recognizes Christians' right and aspiration to 
a
vital communal life in the Middle East, and hopes that the current
special assembly will help Christians serve as a true force for
reconciliation and peace.

B'nai B'rith International, the Global Voice of the Jewish Community, 
is
the oldest and most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human rights, 
and
advocacy organization.  For 166 years, BBI has worked for Jewish 
unity,
security, continuity, and tolerance.  Visit www.bnaibrith.org. 

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