Holy Land religious leaders pledge respect for life and holy sites

(November 11, 2011) Religious leaders from Israel who met Pope Benedict XVI in the Vatican on Thursday have reiterated their commitment to the sanctity of human life and rejected all violence, especially when it is done in the name of religion, calling it a desecration of the sacred. The representatives who form the Council of Religious Leaders in Israel issued a statement in which they also promised to educate their children and congregations and prevent any offense against the feelings or beliefs of others. They also pledged to preserve the religious sanctity and cultural significance of the holy sites in the Holy Land, by protecting them from all violence and desecration. They said that free access for believers to their respective holy sites must be provided, and the empowered civil authorities must guarantee this. They all stressed their common call to be attentive to the cry of the weak in their midst and to work together for a more just and fair society. Formed in 2007, the Council of Religious Leaders in Israel brings together 18 different religious communities, including Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, Samaritan and Bedouin leaders. When Pope Benedict met the group on Thursday, he stressed on the need for dialogue among them.