Lebanese Maronite Bishops Urge Maintaining Neutrality in Border Conflicts
Beirut, 10 August 2013: The Council of Maronite Bishops in Lebanon called for the
country’s leaders to continue maintaining its neutrality in the conflicts occurring
on its borders. The bishops made their appeal during their monthly meeting held on
Wednesday.
According to Fides News Agency, the council which is led by Patriarch
Bechara Boutros Rai, also addressed to opposing national political blocs in the country
that are responsible for sinking the country into a social and economic crisis.
"The
bishops express their concern and that of the Lebanese people before the political
paralysis that affects the constitutional institutions because of the extreme vertical
divisions of the political class, polarized into two opposite fronts, that each try
to monopolize power and impose their point of view,” the Maronite bishops statement
read.
The Council of Maronite Bishops appealed to the opposing blocs to reach
an agreement on an electoral system that “allows to resume the practice of democracy
and renewal of the political elite through an authentic representation of all the
Lebanese parties on the basis of equality enshrined in the Constitution.”
Regarding
the issue of Syrian refugees entering Lebanon, the Maronite bishops renewed their
call for solidarity with refugees, saying that it is a “national duty.” This bishops
also expressed their support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, who were recently attacked
in the area bordering Syria.Source: Zenit.org