Synod: Middle East has a right to Hope

The Middle East has the right to hope: this is the unanimous voice of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. On Thursday morning the sixth general congregation was held in the presence of the Pope and touched on themes of equality of rights and the strengthening of communication. Wednesday afternoon, saw the much anticipated speech by Rabbi David Rosen, who was subsequently received in audience by Pope Benedict XVI. Meanwhile Thursday afternoon will see the intervention of Muslim representatives.

The faithful of the troubled Middle East region have the right to hope and expect a lot from this Synod, say the bishops, who also admit that the Middle East witnesses alternating moments of darkness and light. While the Church has a vital role in Lebanon and there are new churches in some Gulf countries or interreligious meetings are encouraged in Saudi Arabia, it is also true that religious freedom is lacking where Islam is the state religion, immigration laws are restrictive and priests are a rarity. The question posed by the Synod Thursday morning is how can all of this be reconciled with the tolerance mentioned in the Quran, if there is no freedom of conscience and not all citizens are equal before the law? In this context it is important to boost communication systems that promote mutual understanding. Space must be given to the mass media not only formation for the laity, but also for seminarians, particularly in the digital culture, alive and active in the various nations of the Middle East. Another strong theme discussed in general congregation, the evangelization of the family, often attacked by a Western culture which promotes divorce and contraception. The concept of the family as a domestic Church, the center of transmission of the faith must be recovered.

Interestingly enough, the bishops were not slow to realize their own oversights, pointing out that Christians are not familiar with the Gospel and their doubts and divisions cause suffering. Again they posed a question; how can the faithful look for guidance to a church that is not in communion? The time has come, they agreed, to walk together for the good of the people of God; the ecumenical question in the Middle East is a major challenge for the Church today. Along these lines the Synod Fathers suggested the creation of an Middle East “ecumenical day”, along the lines of World Youth Day.

The ever-present issue of migration was again addressed particularly in light of immigrants who are often "crucified" between the countries of origin and host countries. All agreed however, that we must move from the concept of the aid to Eastern Christians to that of a development that roots them in their land.

However Thursday morning’s session was dominated by the intervention made Wednesday evening by David Rosen, Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee and advisor to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel:He noted “The relationship today between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people is a blessed transformation in our times - arguably without historic parallel.”

Rabbi Rosen went on to say that sometimes the two religions have shown little mutual understanding, but over the years things have changed. He put this down to two factors: the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Middle East, ten years ago, and Christian immigration to Israel. Familiarity with Christianity has grown, Rabbi Rosen added, also thanks to the dozens of bodies for the promotion of interreligious dialogue and many Christian institutions. With regard to political issues, Rosen points out one hand the special situation of Christian communities in the Holy Land, inevitably involved, he says, in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on the other the duty of the Jewish state to implement security measures against continuous violence. It is right that the Palestinian Christians express their expectations, said Rosen, provided they do so in the spirit that governs the inter-religious relationships.

He said “the distressing situation in the Holy Land and the suffering of so many on the different sides of the political divide, is a source of much pain”. “Notwithstanding, we must strive to do all we can to alleviate the hardships of the situation”.

Christians, he noted, play “a disproportionate role in promoting interreligious understanding” and as it is “not fair to expect the small local Christian communities to be capable of bearing such responsibility alone” he points to the initial signs of improvement brought about by the Council of the Religious Institutions of the Holy Land, set up three years ago, which Jew, Christian and Muslim representatives take part. In this way, Rosen concludes, the two nations and three religions could live in full dignity, freedom and peace, based on tripartite dialogue that is so often invoked by Pope Benedict XVI. Listen: