wfn.org | Archbishops of Canterbury and Ireland urge Christians in Mideast to stay put

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2001-215

Archbishops of Canterbury and Ireland urge Christians in Mideast to stay put

by James Solheim
jsolheim@episcopalchurch.org

     (ENS) Archbishop of Canterbury George L. Carey and Archbishop of Armagh 
(Ireland) Robin Eames made a sobering three-day visit at the end of July to 
Israel, Gaza and the West Bank and ended with an urgent plea for peace.

     In a sermon at St. George's Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem, Carey said that 
he was "often distressed by anti-Jewish feelings just as much as I am distressed 
by anti-Palestinian feelings. As Christians, our journey compels us to deplore 
racism in any shape or form, and encourages us to engage with our society in a 
deep and meaningful way."

     The archbishops met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Chairman 
Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority, visited sites of violence in Gaza and 
the area around Bethlehem, and spoke with those directly affected.

     "Bombings, shootings, killings and all such violence serve only to extend 
and deepen conflict," Carey said. "Striving together to do justice--the justice 
that brings peace and reconciliation is a harder way, but the better way."

     At a press conference following his meetings with Sharon and Arafat, Carey 
said that both leaders spoke very strongly about peace and hoped to work for 
peace and security for both sides in the conflict. "Both leaders have committed 
themselves to dialogue," he said.

     Sharon told Carey that 75 terrorists were causing the suffering of 2.5 
million Palestinians, adding that he sent a list of them to Arafat and urged him 
to arrest them.

Loss of pilgrims

     At the end of the visit, Carey issued an urgent plea to the dwindling 
members of the Christian community in the Holy Land not to leave. "We want to 
urge you to stay put," he said. He said at a press conference in East Jerusalem 
that he and Eames had been "shocked and disturbed" with the situation facing the 
churches in the region. He also expressed regret that the violence was preventing 
Christians from around the world to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

     "It is sad that recent conflict has led to cancelled pilgrimages," he said 
in his sermon. "It means we have lost opportunities to join our brothers and 
sisters here and to say we are still walking with you. So I want to encourage 
many Christian pilgrims from around the world to come. Come to the Holy Land and 
support the Christians, Jews and Muslims here who long and pray for peace."

     Carey and Eames were invited by Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal of the Diocese of 
Jerusalem to "show solidarity with local Christians," as well as to "learn first-
hand about the current crisis and the situation as a whole." Describing the visit 
as an opportunity to listen, Riah said that "listening to both parties is part of 
his mission for peace," so that "he will be able to contribute to making peace 
based on truth and justice."

     In his sermon at St. George's Cathedral, Eames said that "we are privileged 
to come and present a symbolic presence, which says simply, You are not alone." 
Speaking of the violence and the desperate search for reconciliation in his 
native Ireland, he said that "trust is a very fragile component," that it is 
"challenged and destroyed and therefore on the building of the trust we hope to 
understand each other."

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service.