World Council of Churches slams Israel

Jerusalem Post ^ | May 22, 2006 | GEORGE CONGER

[West Coast Conservative]

Israel bears the burden of responsibility for the present crisis in the Middle East, the World Council of Churches has announced, following a meeting of its Executive Committee in Geneva from May 16-19.

The Christian Left's leading ecumenical organization stated Israel's actions towards the Palestinians "cannot be justified morally, legally or even politically."

The failure "to comply with international law" had "pushed the situation on the ground to a point of no return," they concluded.

The WCC condemned the killing of innocent civilians by "both sides" in the conflict and called for the Palestinians to "maintain the existing one-party cease-fire toward Israel" and asked Israel to base its security on "the equitable negotiation of final borders" with its neighbors.

However, the present disparities between Israel and Palestine were "appalling," the WCC said.

"One side is positioning itself to unilaterally establish final borders on territory that belongs to the other side; the other side is increasingly confined to the scattered enclaves that remain. On one side there is control of more and more land and water; on the other there are more and more families deprived of land and livelihoods.

On one side as many people as possible are being housed on occupied land; on the other side the toll mounts of refugees without homes or land. One side controls Jerusalem, a city shared by two peoples and three world religions; the other-Muslim and Christian-watches its demographic, commercial and religious presence wither in Jerusalem," the WCC said.

The WCC claimed a double standard was at work in the international community that favored Israel, saying, "The side set to keep its unlawful gains is garnering support from part of the international community. The side that, despairing at those unlawful gains, used legitimate elections to choose new leaders is being isolated and punished."

"Democracy must be protected where it is taking root," the WCC said, calling for a relaxation of American, British and EU sanctions against Hamas. "Peace must come soon or it may not come to either people for a long time," they concluded.

The WCC's Executive Committee called upon its 340 member churches in over 100 countries representing approximately 550 million Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant Christians to "share solidarity with people on both sides of the conflict," and to "use legitimate forms of pressure to promote a just peace and to end unlawful activities by Israelis or Palestinians."

It also asked its members to "find constructive ways to address threats experienced among the Jewish people, including the nature, prevalence and impact of racism in local, national and international contexts."

In March 2005, the WCC urged its member churches give "serious consideration" to pulling investments out of Israel and endorsed the 2004 decision by the Presbyterian Church of the United States to seek "phased selective divestment" from Israel. "This [Presbyterian] action is commendable in both method and manner, uses criteria rooted in faith and calls members to do the things that make for peace," the WCC said.

The Presbyterian Church will revisit its 2004 divestment decision next month at its 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, Alabama, in response to criticism that the divestment call was one-sided and ill-informed.

[del4hope]

That doesn't always work. We learned the hard way. We just left our Church because money we had earmarked for our Sunday School Class was then diverted to a NCC (WCC is parent to) sponsored charity. Yep, we are looking for a new church and this worldly religion is the prime reason.

[Redleg Duke]

Typical. The WCC was formed by the international socialist movement back in the 40s. It has nothing at all to do with religion. It is a socialist political movement.

[Salem]

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"Palestine is the wrong name for their State. It should be called Anarchy."—FReeper sgtbono2002
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[Tamar1973]

We just left our Church because money we had earmarked for our Sunday School Class was then diverted to a NCC (WCC is parent to) sponsored charity.

I'm sorry to hear that. You could report them to the IRS for that kind of thing.

[Tamar1973]

The WCC was formed by the international socialist movement back in the 40s.

Sounds like the 3 Self Patriotic Movement in China. They claim they were set up to support Chinese religious people but they were actually set up to subjugate them and fill them w/ propaganda.

[Radix]

"Israel bears the burden of responsibility for the present crisis in the Middle East, the World Council of Churches has announced,...

I have a hunch that FR is going to ban me soon if fully I express my thoughts on this sheite of an article.

My hatred of the media is getting to be pathological.

I am swearing my brains out here......a

A$$holes..............

[formercalifornian]

Then they just take someone else's contribution that would have gone to the janitorial budget and Sunday school, and send it to the WCC.

[Slings and Arrows]

Doggone it. If dog poop is considered pollution and you have to pick up after your dog, who picks up after the squirrels, raccoons, birds, horses, etc. which poop in the woods, too? Does the Sierra Club organise wild animal pooper scooper parties?!

As far as I can tell, it's collected and shipped to Howard Dean, who recycles it as the Democratic Party platform.

ROTFLOL! Sometimes I have to laugh or I'd be crying like a baby all day.

You and me both.

[Tamar1973]

As far as I can tell, it's collected and shipped to Howard Dean, who recycles it as the Democratic Party platform.

Do they get a complmentary doggie bag on the way out?

[Fruitbat]

Actually it should read apostate World Council of Churches.

Actually, the WCC would be better name the World Council of Communisim. It is completely anti-Christian in any real sense. It's one big "can't we just all get along" organization. To which I answer, no, I can't get along with those that seek to eradicate me.

[Slings and Arrows]

Do they get a complmentary doggie bag on the way out?

Why not? Hillary has to eat too.

[Ciexyz]

I'll be following the divestment updates from the Presbyterian Church (USA) with interest.

[gondramB]

<> That must be newspeak. One party ceasefire = its ok to lob rockets into civilian areas and blow up busses.

[Halgr]

I get flamed every time I head in the direction of the NWO....but alas the WCC is just a subset of a dark conspiracy....

There I said it....now I will scurry back under my rock ;-)

[Fruitbat]

Well, the WCC is anything but Christian. That's a fact.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

Yes, you can allocate which departments in your local church get "your" money. However, all funds become fungible when received by the church treasurer and even though "your money" will not go the WCC, the money from other members in your congregation will go to the WCC.

It requires an effort by church members to demand their local church stop sending any money to their denomination.

[Convert from ECUSA]

The World Council of Chuckleheads slams Israel for the 10 millionth time. In other news - water is still wet.

The World Council of Chuckleheads is about as useful as a sun porch on a submarine.

[Salem]

LOL!!  

[M. Espinola]

World Council of Churches (communism).

[Convert from ECUSA]

I've loathed the WCC since way back in the 70s, when it became public that they contributed money and support to various Marxist and terrorist groups worldwide (such as the PLO, Mugabe's thugs, etc., etc., etc.). They are in no way Christian, they're as bolshie red as Lenin's drawers.