[MadIvan]

Christmas should be celebrated in the birthplace of Jesus Christ nonetheless. How much does it cost to have a Mass?

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Bill Davis FR]

Christmas is 'cancelled' in Bethlehem

so the grinch did steal christmas this year...

[Aliska]

It's not clear that they cancelled the mass, but perhaps just the festive activities associated with it.

[Fred Mertz]

“Across the world billions of people will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, but here, at the centre of all this attention, Christians cannot celebrate. We don’t have the money and it is not right with people in such miserable circumstances. Our main concern is not decorations, it is getting food for the people.”

This isn't a good sign.

[Thinkin' Gal]

“Our infrastructure, our buildings, streets and pavements have been destroyed. We are not able to fix the millions of pounds of damage because the Israelis have only lifted the curfew for a few days in the last three weeks,” Mr Nasser, a Christian, said.

“When people are allowed out for a few hours, they must rush to buy food and bring their sick to hospital. Nobody feels like celebrating.”

What is the matter... is Suha the only one authorized to turn on the lights? Toss this guy a video so he can watch the Whos down in Whoville celebrate Christmas. Looks like some people WANT to blame Israel for cancelling Christmas.

Thank you IDF. Go Israel.

[VOA]

Father Ibrahim Faltas, a spokesman for the Franciscans, said:
Jesus Christ, but here, at the centre of all this attention, Christians cannot celebrate.
We don’t have the money and it is not right with people in such
miserable circumstances.

Boy howdy, I must have been asleep in my theology classes when the monetary requirement
for celebration of Christ's birth was discussed.
I'll need to get over to www.gospelcom.net and use their Bible Gateway to do some
searches for "money, christmas" in The Holy Bible.

Our main concern is not decorations, it is getting food for the people.”

Well, I'll give the fellow credit. He did return to some of the first principles of
Christianity...

Forgive me for being so hard on the "spokesman".

If the Palestinians had asked the Israeli military to provide souped-up security at
Bethlehem, broke out all the decorations they could find, and had the Palestinian Authority
arrest as many bomb-makers/users as possible...Bethlehem might (and yes,
might means it would still require an act of faith on the part of tourists)
be simply AWASH in tourist dollars.

But, once again the Palestinians decide it's all the fault of the Isrealis
and anyone who supports them.

The Palestinians never fail to live down to Israeli Ambassador Abba Eben (sp?) saying:
"The Palestinians never miss a chance to miss a chance."

[gcruse]

Christmas is 'cancelled' in Bethlehem

Joseph confessed?

[Cindy]

"A CHRISTmas Celebration!" (click here)

[Alouette]

The 25ft Christmas tree in the grounds of Manger Square would remain unadorned and the £130,000 display of street lights unlit.

And this has to do with the birth of Christ what exactly?

[Dog Gone]

I've never quite understood the attraction of Christmas in Bethlehem, anyway.

Far from being the "little town" of song, it's a sprawling suburban slum neighborhood of Jerusalem today. Nobody knows where the actual stable was, and the odds of Manger Square being located on the actual spot are slim. More likely, the actual birthplace is under some squalid apartment or other piece of construction.

The place is a tourist trap located in the middle of a war zone. Christmas is the celebration of an event, not a place.