Maronite patriarch criticizes leaders for sinking Lebanon into crisis
Nov 16, 2006
The head of Lebanon's Maronite Catholic Church has criticized the country's bickering leaders for plunging the nation into political crisis.
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS, Nov-15-2006) -- "Lebanon does not and should not encompass enemies, but brothers," said Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, Maronite patriarch. "This is not how brothers treat each other."
Referring to Christian politicians, Cardinal Sfeir asked, "If politicians were aware of the principles of Christian education, wouldn't they put an end to their challenges and insults of one another?
"Wouldn't they throw out hatred and envy and other feelings that do not reflect their respect for each other?" he asked.
Cardinal Sfeir spoke Nov. 13 at the 40th session of Lebanon's Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Bkerke, the headquarters of the Maronite church in Lebanon.
The main focus of the assembly was adult education, but the cardinal also discussed the daily rhetoric-filled speeches by Lebanon's rival political factions that have been fueling fears the divisions would spill out onto the streets.
In a Nov. 13 statement after a meeting discussing the political crisis, the assembly urged the Lebanese people to avoid demonstrations and called on them to face the political impasse with "responsibility and patience."
They also called on the country's political leaders to remember their civic responsibility to "provide citizens with a peaceful life."
The assembly was expected to issue a final statement when their meeting concluded Nov. 18.
Participants discussed the dangerous situation in Lebanon following the recent resignation of six Cabinet ministers in what appeared to be an attempt by the militant Islamic group Hezbollah to topple the country's anti-Syrian government.
The resignations, by all five pro-Hezbollah Shiite ministers and a Christian minister, prompted Lebanon's pro-Syrian president, Gen. Emile Lahoud, to claim the Cabinet had lost its constitutional legitimacy. Lahoud said the resignation of all the ministers from the country's largest religious faction meant any further Cabinet decisions were null and void, but according to the Lebanese Constitution two more resignations would be required to topple the government of Western-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
Party talks aimed at easing mounting sectarian tensions in the aftermath of the war between Israel and Hezbollah collapsed Nov. 11 after Siniora's allies rejected demands by Hezbollah for representation that would have given the group veto power.
Hezbollah's reclusive leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, has called for demonstrations to bring down the government, saying it had "zero credibility" and would soon be toppled to be replaced by a "clean government."
On Nov. 12 during his Sunday homily, Cardinal Sfeir said certain parties "are rejecting" the international community's support for Lebanon.
"Civil society is afflicted by disorder, which we fear will expand. We fear that those who are seeking to help us will know that we cannot manage our own affairs and we are in constant need of someone to control us," he said.
Maronite patriarch criticizes leaders for sinking Lebanon into crisis