Posted on 08/03/2006 5:01:16 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
THE World Council of Churches today appealed for an urgent ceasefire in Lebanon and sharply criticised the international community for failing to halt the violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
In a strongly worded public appeal, WCC general secretary Reverend Samuel Kobia accused major western powers of turning their backs on previous calls for an end to the violence or for restraint.
"A war of ominous dimension and of far-reaching consequences is causing unimaginable and untold suffering to the people in Lebanon," Kobia said.
"Yet these developments seemed to have no effect on the leaders of countries like Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom," he said.
"Our hearts cry out to the leaders of the international community.
"Recognising that humanitarian assistance cannot address the underlying political conflicts, we appeal to them to do whatever is possible to stop the bombings, negotiate a ceasefire and a comprehensive peace settlement."
The Geneva-based WCC groups the main Christian and Orthodox faiths, except the Roman Catholic church.
Rev Kobia urged the Israeli government to guarantee unhindered access for aid agencies to those in need in Lebanon.
"We pray for all the people of Lebanon, Muslims and Christians alike. We pray for the people of Israel who have fallen victims to the missiles that continue to be fired indiscriminately into their towns and villages," he said.
"The present disproportionate acts of violence of immense magnitude can have no justification," said Rev Kobia, criticising the "power and politics of the dominant nations" for paralysing talks on the crisis at the United Nations security council.
"It is indeed shocking and disgraceful for world leaders to stand before the bar of public opinion and announce in a most callous manner that fighting will continue 'till strategic military objectives are met," he said.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has sided with US President George W. Bush in refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Shiite Muslim militia Hezbollah.
Today, the United Nations security council was gradually edging towards a resolution aimed at ending the conflict in Lebanon, following days of disagreement on conditions for a permanent political deal.
Founded in 1948, the WCC brings together 348 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican churches representing about 560 million Christians in 110 countries.
Israel attacks the terrorists and the WCC wants a ceasefire!
Can't they at least try to appear a little even-handed?
Bombs away, Israel.
They need to address their concerns to the islamists in Iran.
Isn't that just precious? What a fetid heap of dung that outfit is.
The WCC probably joined the rest of the world in strongly condemning Israel's bombing of Saddam's nuclear plant in '81. Israel will ignore the idiots again and do what's necessary to defend their nation.
• African Methodist Episcopal Church
• The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
• Alliance of Baptists
• American Baptist Churches in the USA
• The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
• Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• Church of the Brethren
• The Coptic Orthodox Church in North America
• The Episcopal Church
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• Friends United Meeting
• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
• Hungarian Reformed Church in America
• International Council of Community Churches
• Korean Presbyterian Church in America
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
• Mar Thoma Church
• Moravian Church in America Northern Province and Southern Province
• National Baptist Convention of America
• National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.
• National Missionary Baptist Convention of America
• Orthodox Church in America • Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
• Polish National Catholic Church of America
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
• Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.
• Reformed Church in America
• Serbian Orthodox Church in the U.S.A. and Canada
• The Swedenborgian Church
• Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America
• United Church of Christ
• The United Methodist Church
World Council of Churches=Religious Equivalent of the United Nations...and about as useful.
I have to admit, I've never heard of most of them. Who the hell are they?
Oh, the WCC says something....
For example, from this WCC link on peace in the Middle East...
...paying special attention to the future status of Jerusalem, the right of return of Palestinian refugees....
The WCC says plenty.
They are both ultra-liberal groups who call themselves churches but actually they exist for the purpose of advancing socialism/communism.
Most of the groups have evolved over time. They may have started out as legitimate churches but through their associations with the NCC, or WCC, have lost all semblance of Christ-centered churches believing in the scriptures. They are nothing but left-wing political groups.
More mainline church BS - calling for a ceasefire is easy.
- Celebration of homosexuality
- Celebration of abortion
- Unmitigated immigration
- Radical environmentalism
- Hatred of the US
- Sympathy for Muslims
- Public censorship of Israel
This is an end-times organization so support the opposite of them
The WCC (We Caress Communists) has been at it for decades. During the Cold War, the WCC was all hot and heavy with the Kremlin. They gerbiled themselves up the a** of nearly every communist revolutionary movement or government and then came out licking their lips asking for more.
For the last 20 or so years its been bash Jews, bash Israel, bash conservative Christians. Its not a big surprise that most, if not all, of the denominations listed as affiliates of the WCC are losing members faster than the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
I can't wait to see the looks on the faces of the leaders of the WCC when they meet the Creator face to face. I hope they are wearing Depends.
The "mainstream" churches listed herein may be "members" of the WCC, but its Leftist views on most issues certainly don't represent the members in the pews of many of those denominations.
You're absolutely correct but they have to be brain dead. These aren't churches at all--they are left wing political organizations and those sitting in the pews and putting their hard-earned money in the collection plates are helping to advance this apostasy and evil
Amen!
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 10-11 KJV)
Also, where are their hearts?
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:21 KJV)
If they do not separate themselves from the apostasy, and even help finance it, then where are they really sitting, spiritually?
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