Bischöfe aus den USA und Europa haben zur Solidarität mit den Christen im Heiligen
Land aufgerufen. In einer gemeinsamen Erklärung zum Abschluß einer einwöchigen Solidaritätsreise
bitten sie darum, die "lebenden Steine" der Kirche im Geburtsland Jesu nicht zu vergessen.
Die christliche Präsenz im Heiligen Land habe einen "moderaten Einfluss" und sei wichtig,
um Frieden in der Region zu erreichen, so die Bischöfe, zu denen auch der Schweizer
Pierre Bürcher gehörte.
Lesen Sie hier den Wortlaut des Bischöfe-Appells
im englischen Original.
BREAKING THE HOLD OF FEAR, ANGER AND DESPAIR
IN THE HOLY LAND
Final Communiqué of the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences
in Support of the Church of the Holy Land
18th January 2007
In
the wake of a traumatic year for Israelis, Palestinians and the peoples of the Middle
East, the work of our Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church
of the Holy Land seems more important than ever before. In our home countries and
among Catholic people, there is enormous interest in and concern for the situation
in the Middle East. The Co-ordination represents Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of
Europe and North America. It was formed in Jerusalem in 1998 at the request of the
Holy See.
This was our seventh trip to the Holy Land to walk in solidarity
with the local Church and its bishops, while supporting the search for a just peace.
We urge Catholics from all nations to follow in our steps, and those of millions of
pilgrims, to visit the holy sites and the Christian communities of this land. We
call upon them to “come and see”.
Many of us visited Gaza to meet the Christian
community and Muslim and Palestinian leaders. We were warmly welcomed by people hoping
for a better future while living in poverty. Our entire delegation then visited Galilee
and met the “living stones” of the Christian communities. We prayed with them, listened
to their stories of joy and concern, and learned of their initiatives to build a common
future with persons of all faiths. We experienced an encouraging inter-religious
dialogue with a panel that included a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim and a Druze.
Time
and again we were reminded that pilgrims to this land ought to meet the living Christian
communities in addition to visiting the holy places. We discussed with Minister of
Tourism, Isaac Herzog, ways to encourage and improve pilgrimages and visits.
The
Christian presence is a moderating influence and is essential to achieving peace.
As Pope Benedict XVI recently said, “Christian witness will be of assistance and support
for a future of peace and fraternity.” Christians are small in number but are an
integral part of the people of Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Their rights
must be guaranteed through recognition of equality and improved security, along with
religious rights enshrined in law.
The Fundamental Agreement between the Holy
See and Israel is built upon rights established over centuries to facilitate the unique
mission of the Church in the Holy Land. The vitality of the Church and its institutions
in Israel, including hospitals, schools, and hospices that provide valuable services
to the whole community, will be enhanced when the Agreement and other measures are
ratified in law and fully implemented. For more than a decade, the Church has pursued
this goal. We ask Israeli officials to enable the negotiations on the Fundamental
Agreement to be completed successfully and soon. The granting of visas and permits
to Church workers continues to be an urgent concern.
Our belief in the one
God compels us to work for the welfare of two peoples, Israelis and Palestinians,
and members of three religions – Jews, Christians and Muslims, who belong to the one
family of God. As bishops and pastors, we affirm our Holy Father’s recent address
to the diplomatic corps in which he said, “The Israelis have a right to live in peace
in their state; the Palestinians have a right to a free and sovereign homeland.” (8th
January 2007)
In a meeting with Israeli Vice-Prime Minister Shimon Peres, we
expressed an understanding of the significant security challenges that face Israel.
We discussed the proposed reduction in the number of checkpoints and the proposed
release of Palestinian tax revenues which could be encouraging signs, but emphasised
that bold gestures are needed to break the cycle of Israeli fear and Palestinian anger
that dominate the current situation.
The future of all peoples of the Holy
Land depends on securing a just and lasting peace. There is clearly profound suffering
on both sides. Mutual trust should be established through specific measures that
build confidence. The establishment of a viable Palestinian state, which would end
the occupation, requires contiguous lands and calls into question the route of the
security barrier and the expansion and establishment of settlements in the West Bank.
In the meantime, Palestinians need freedom of movement so that they can work, visit
family members, obtain medical treatment and get an education. Humiliating treatment
at borders and checkpoints needs to be avoided. Since the foundation of society is
the family, Israeli regulations should allow reunification of families where there
is a Palestinian spouse.
In a meeting with President Abbas, we noted that
we had witnessed during our visits the sufferings and deprivations that Palestinians
experience on a daily basis. However, unity among Palestinian leaders is necessary
for them to negotiate a just peace and create a better future. The restraint of
violence and the recognition of the state of Israel by all elements of Palestinian
society will help rebuild the international community’s confidence in and support
of the Palestinian Authority. President Abbas affirmed the need for the international
community to support a new, more serious and timely initiative to pursue peace.
On
this, our seventh visit to the Holy Land, we note that 59 years after the conflict
began, the search for lasting security and a just peace continues. Clearly something
new is needed to achieve justice and peace so that Israelis can move beyond fear,
which drives counterproductive security policies that oppress the Palestinian people,
and so that Palestinians can move beyond anger and despair, which drive violence that
terrifies the Israeli people. We were encouraged to learn that the Israeli Prime
Minister, the Palestinian President and the US Secretary of State will be meeting
soon to work towards a just peace.
In communion with the bishops of the Holy
Land, we urge Catholics to pray for peace, come on pilgrimage and undertake other
activities to support the Mother Church. We pray for the courage and guidance that
are needed to break the hold of fear and despair in this Holy Land.
Co-signatories:
Bishop
Christopher Budd Bishop of Plymouth, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England &
Wales
Bishop Pierre Bürcher Auxiliary Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva & Freibourg,
Swiss Bishops’ Conference
Bishop Gilles Cazabon OMI Bishop of Saint-Jérôme
(Province of Québec), Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Bishop Michel
Dubost Bishop of Evry, French Bishops’ Conference
Monsignor Peter Fleetwood Deputy
General Secretary of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences
Bishop Raymond
Field Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs
Archbishop
Patrick Kelly Archbishop of Liverpool, Vice-President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of England & Wales
Bishop William Kenney Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham,
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales Representative of the Commission
of Episcopal Conferences of the European Union
Bishop John Kirby Bishop
of Clonfert, Trócaire, Irish Episcopal Conference
Mr. Ulrich Pöner Director,
German Bishops’ Conference Department for International Church Affairs and Migration
Bishop
William Skylstad Bishop of Spokane and President of the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops
Bishop Joan Enric Vives I Sicilia Bishop of Urgell and
Co-Prince of Andorra, Spanish Bishops’ Conference