wfn.org | Patriarch Laments Restriction on Religious Liberty

[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

also Zenit website: www.zenit.org

JERUSALEM, April 6, 2001 (via Zenit)--Religious liberty is not guaranteed in 
the Holy Land this coming Holy Week, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of 
Jerusalem lamented.  

Patriarch Sabbah, an Arab who is the leader of Latin Catholics in the Holy 
Land, spoke after the visit of a U.S. study commission on religious liberty, 
which was headed by Washington's Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, and included 
Muslim and Jewish leaders.

Speaking to the Italian newspaper Avvenire, the patriarch said the primary 
threat to religious liberty in the Holy Land is due to "the political 
situation and to all so-called security measures and subsequent reprisals."  

Specifically, the Catholic leader mentioned "the closing of Jerusalem to 
Christian faithful, and the closing of roads between different villages in 
which there are parishes."  Some days ago, the patriarch himself was stopped 
at an Israeli control post and not allowed to visit parishes.  

The problem of religious liberty is also due to existing tensions between 
Christians and Muslims.  "The very instability of Palestinian society, which 
is a consequence of political instability--limitations on freedom of 
movement, the confining of people in their cities and villages, without being 
able to 'to breathe fresh air' outside--creates tensions at all levels 
between Muslims and Muslims, Christians and Christians, and Muslims and 
Christians," the patriarch acknowledged.

Tensions have led to an increase in the exodus of Christians from the Holy 
Land, he added.  "Over the past months [the exodus] has increased, following 
the bombing of the Christian centers of Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and 
Ramallah."  

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