A Sanctuary Under Siege: Clergy Expected Palestinians to Seek Refuge

Washington Post ^ | April 20, 2002 | Craig Whitlock

[anapikoros]

The sudden appearance of a small army of guerrilla fighters in one of the holiest sites in Christianity did not, however, come as a complete surprise to most of the clergy members inside. Many of them had been expecting the visit. They welcomed the Palestinians, asked them to please shoulder their weapons and offered them tea.....

[Alouette]

The Jews will think one time or two times before going into a mosque," said the Rev. Maroun Lahham, director of a Roman Catholic seminary in Beit Jala, a village near Bethlehem. "But they will think 10 times before going into a church.

But an Arab won't stop to think even once before going into a Passover seder or synagogue where a bar mitzvah is taking place. What is it going to take before they stop and think that synagogues are not "fair game"? The Israelis haven't given any reason why synagogues should not be destroyed at will.

[Draco]

First, I'd better say I am Catholic. Second, let me say that I am a deeply angry one. A hierarchy which sends homosexual priests around and then one that cooperates with terrorists. Who is in charge and do they know what they are doing?

[anapikoros]

ping

[tet68]

What is one to think of a religion (Islam) whose adherents would rather seek sanctuary in a dispised religions church.

Not much.

[anapikoros]

The hierarchy has decided that the best way to protect its flock in Muslim countries is to take a pro-Arab stance. They know the Jews aren't about to slaughter the Christians but they know full well what the Arabs can do.

Remember Damour.

[watchin]

I wonder what would happen if a group of Christians forced their way into a mosque for protection. Would they be greeted and served tea?

[mathurine]

Send any peculiar priest to the middle east to confront the beast and have a feast to say the least.

[monkeyshine]

It is a political decision for them.

lol. like it wasn't a political decision for the Palestinians to burst into the church?

[another cricket]

They know the Jews aren't about to slaughter the Christians but they know full well what the Arabs can do.

It is the only thing that makes sense. But all that kowtowing to the arab world will do is get you killed last at best. So if this is their policy it is not a very good one.

a.cricket

[SJackson]

But an Arab won't stop to think even once before going into a Passover seder or synagogue where a bar mitzvah is taking place. What is it going to take before they stop and think that synagogues are not "fair game"?

Their total defeat and complete destruction of their infrastructure. Nothing less will work.

[McGavin999]

They know the Jews aren't about to slaughter the Christians but they know full well what the Arabs can do.

Apparently right and wrong no longer influences decisions. That can't please God very much.

[watchin]

But an Arab won't stop to think even once before going into a Passover seder or synagogue where a bar mitzvah is taking place.

Desecrating the religious shrines and sanctuaries of others is a sacred muslim tradition, along with telling lies and cutting the heads off of infidels.

The dome of the rock, built on the Jewish temple site and adorned with anti-Christian koranic rhetoric, is a fine example of this dearly held muslim sacrament. Though Jerusalem is never mentioned in the koran, the muslims felt obligated to build something there, once they found the place to be sacred to the Jews. Finding themselves able to offend both Jews and Christians with one building was a glorious gift from allah.

Countless churches have been converted to mosques over the centuries, in an effort to prove the supposed superiority of allah. Crosses are torn down and sanctuaries violated in the name of allah.

In recent weeks, Muslims have desecrated a Bat Mitzvah, a Passover celebration, several synagogues, and forcibly invaded a Christian church - while at the same time rebuking the Jews for daring to surround the church they've invaded.

[FITZ]

In the Sudan over a million Christians were killed by Muslims and they're being killed now in Nigeria and Indonesia by the Muslims. Muslims are not true friends of Christians even if they are using them for the moment.

[watchin]

That, my friend, was a masterful bit of understatement.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Most interesting!

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Click here: Islamic_Violence

[Prodigal Daughter]

BUMP!

[dighton]

"It was planned this way," said the Rev. Majdi Siryani, a Roman Catholic priest in Bethlehem who speaks daily with the monks and priests inside the Church of the Nativity and counts several of the armed Palestinian as his parishioners. "Everybody knew that if there was trouble, they would go to the church. They knew the Israelis would not storm the holy site. They'd be insane to do it."

Quarter-hour string of expletives deleted.

[RonF]

So, it was a deliberate policy to desecrate one of Christianity's holiest sites by bringing weapons inside it? But the Israelis were critized for their conduct at the Church? How many mosques or churches have the Israelis brought weapons into?

[RonF]

The Rev. Michael McGarry, director of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Christian Studies, located between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, said the religious orders that oversee the Church of the Nativity have a long tradition of sheltering people who are fleeing danger, regardless of their guilt or innocence.

I accept the concept of sanctuary. But as I understand the concept, it does not apply to armed people. The priests should have told them to either abandon their weapons, or leave.