Middle East synod hears summary of first week's work

(October 18, 2010) Halfway through the two-week Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East , currently taking place in the Vatican, participants on Monday heard a summary of the first week of their work. The general speaker of the synod assembly, Coptic Patriarch Antonios Naguib of Alexandria, Egypt, delivered a lengthy report underscoring the two aims of the synod – namely, confirming and strengthening the identity of the Middle East Catholics, through the Word of God and the sacraments; and, fostering ecclesial communion among the local churches so that they may offer an authentic and effective witness. The Oct. 10-24 synod has as its theme, “Communion and Witness.” In his summary, Patriach Naguib acknowledged that the Middle East lacks priests and personnel specialized in scriptures to quench the thirst of their faithful for the Word of God, failing which, he said, people seek for it elsewhere. He noted that as minorities in non-Christian societies there is the risk of being swept away by the values and culture of the majority. Stating that “we cannot be Christian if we are not missionary” he stressed that proclamation done “in peace and respect is not proselytism.” He said that the synodal fathers favoured “positive laicism”, urging that religion be not politicised and that the state not prevail over religion. They called for a qualitative presence of the Church in the region in order to have a real and effective impact on society. This requires a sound doctrinal, spiritual and social formation of pastors and the faithful, especially youth. While condemning violence whatever its origin and calling for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the synodal fathers expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, whose current situation, they said, encourages fundamentalism. The synod also called upon the political world to pay sufficient attention to the tragic situation of Christians in Iraq who are the main victim of the war and its effects.