Maronite Catholic Bishops Issue Statement on S. Lebanon Situation

Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, patriarch of the Maronites called together the Maronite bishops of Southern Lebanon for a meeting about the conflict between Hezbollah & Israel. After the meeting they issued a statement on 22 July that contained 8 points.

1) Condemnation of Israel’s reaction to the kidnapping of two soldiers, indicating that response to the capture should not be a reaction against Lebanon, although the bishops did not subscribe one bit to the theory of kidnapping people; 2) An appeal to people of goodwill to help defenceless citizens who have been forced to abandon their homes and land of origin; 3) An appeal to the United Nations to double its efforts to arrive at a ceasefire, in such a way that will lead to opening the doors to mediation that could spare more innocent victims; 4) Appreciation for the “intelligent” effort of the Lebanese government and its president through diplomatic means and backing for the government of Fouad Siniora; 5) Hope that all Lebanese political leaders, despite their different viewpoints, will overcome divisions and come together to seek a solution, avoiding useless challenges and clashes; 6) An invitation to all citizens to welcome their brothers without distinctions between Christians and Muslims, even opening schools and homes to offer solutions fitting the dignity of each person; 7)An appeal to those responsible for the violence to allow the arrival of food and medical supplies to people kidnapped or forced to remain in their homes subject to shelling. There was also an invitation to the Red Cross to assure aid to the needy. 8) The Maronite bishops hailed the initiative of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to pray tomorrow, 23 July, for peace in Lebanon, inviting all their believers to respect this desire of the pope, because only prayer can save the country. (Source: AsiaNet)

Recently meeting with US Secretary of State Condeleeza Rice, Patriarch Sfeir had the following to say: "The world says the Resolution 1559 will it be applied. But it is not up to the Lebanese Government to apply it. It is so weak to do so. There is another way to apply this, but I do not know how. But our interest is that all the citizens will be equal (inaudible). When some are having arms and the others have not there is no equality and I've said this a long time that -- how to apply this I don't know. [Through a dialogue] perhaps, some other -- some pressure to … "

At his Angelus address today, the Holy Father, Papa Benedetto said the following about the situation: "Your Excellency, you mentioned that last Thursday, given the worsening situation in the Middle East, I convoked a day of prayer and penance for this Sunday, inviting pastors, faithful and all believers to implore from God the gift of peace. I strongly renew the appeal to the parties in conflict to adopt a cease-fire immediately and allow the sending of humanitarian aid, so that, with the support of the international community, ways will be found to begin negotiations. I take advantage of the opportunity to reaffirm the right of the Lebanese to the integrity and sovereignty of their country, the right of Israelis to live in peace in their state, and the right of Palestinians to a free and sovereign homeland. I feel, moreover, especially close to defenseless civilian populations, unjustly stricken in a conflict in which they are no more than victims: both those of Galilee, obliged to live in shelters, as well as the great multitude of Lebanese, who once more, see their country destroyed, and have to leave everything behind to try to save themselves in another place. I raise to God a sorrowful prayer so that the aspiration to peace of the great majority of peoples may soon be realized, thanks to the common commitment of those responsible. I also renew my appeal to all charitable organizations to manifest in a practical manner common solidarity with those populations. "

1 story I recently read on CNSNews.com gave me an interesting bit of insight into the problem. It contained an interview with a Lebanese family from S Lebanon now living in Israel. Pierre, the father (the last name was kept out for safety reasons, esp to protect family still living in S. Lebanon) talks about the need to get rid of Hezbollah & sees that as the only way to save the country he dearly loves. Rather than summarize the story here is the link to read it: http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewSpecialReports.asp?Page=/SpecialReports/archive/200607/SPE20060721a.html

for me, these Lebanese in exile are the forgotten victims of Hezbollah.

Some quotes of 3 young Lebanese Christians still in Beruit, Fadi Geagea, 21; George Khouri, 18; & Joseph Muhanni, 21; from an article in the Washington Post add to my conviction about the damage Hezbollah has done: "If I'm supposed to respect [Hezbollah leader Hasan] Nasrallah, he should respect me. If he respects us, I respect him," said Fadi Geagea, a 21-year-old student, smoking a cigarette. "To be honest, he's not respecting us." …

Geagea and his friends say they know what [Lebanon] is now becoming: a Shiite fiefdom of Hezbollah. And to stop Hezbollah, to take away its weapons, to diminish its influence, they were willing to see Israel attack their country.

"In the wake of World War I, as the Ottoman Empire was dismantled, France sought to aid its traditional allies in Lebanon, the Maronite Christians. To make viable their homeland in Mount Lebanon, a rugged region of terraced hillsides, they redrew the borders to encompass the Sunni-dominated port cities of Beirut, Sidon and Tripoli, the fertile Bekaa Valley and the Shiite regions of the south. Identity was always a question: Was Lebanon a Christian homeland, a part of the Sunni Arab world or something in between?"

"Islam is controlling us, and we've known that for a long time," said Khouri, wearing a cross crafted as an emblem of a Christian party. "Lebanon is a Christian country. We're steadfast, and one day we'll be in charge of Lebanon again."

"God will be good to us ahead," Muhanna said. (Barrage Reopens Wounds of a Fractured Beirut, Washington Post Mon 17 July 2006 p A01)

Patriarch Sfier in his talk to Secretary Rice makes a sad but interesting point, how weak the Lebanese government is. & shows a little more clearly why Hezbollah hasn't been cleared out as it should. His statements also point to how the UN & the international community have failed on their part to help Lebanon to do what should be done to get rid of Hezbollah. The international community has a responsiblity now to step in & do what needs to be done to put an end to the fighting. That is the short term, stop gap solution.

In the long term, clearly it is obvious that it is going to take more than human effort to bring about lasting peace. & again the Holy Father is pointing the way. By calling people in prayer in turn to Jesus, the Prince of Peace he is showing the way to the only means to change people's hearts, to remove the hatred & distrust & bring about true peace. The peace that only Jesus can give.

I think Muhanna got it right: "God will be good to us ahead"