Its a Question of Land Say Bishops at End of Pilgrimage to Holy Land
(15 Jan 09 - RV) Stop the violence! Stop the killing! Start to build peace! That
appeal was launched today by the co-ordination of Bishops in support of the Church
in the Holy land at the end of their 9th pilgrimage to the Church there.
Philippa Hitchen accompanied the Bishops on their journey and gathered this statement
from Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool.
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Statement below:
Stop the violence! Stop the killing! Start to build peace! Over
and over again we heard these cries during the ninth visit of the Co-ordination of
Episcopal Conferences to the Mother Church of Jerusalem in this divided and suffering
land. The violence in Gaza was on everyone’s minds and lips. We heard directly about
the human tragedy from the parish priest of Gaza, Father Manawel Musallam. There
can be no peace unless people believe in peace. There can be no security unless there
is security for all. There can be no justice unless there is justice for everyone
in this land. Faith gives us hope that justice, peace and forgiveness are possible—a
conviction shared by our hosts, His Beatitude Fouad Twal and the Assembly of Catholic
Ordinaries of the Holy Land. We are pastors, not political leaders, but the religious
voice is vital to the search for peace. The reality that every human person is created
in the image of God demands dignity for all. The message of the Prince of Peace, born
in this land, reminds us that peace is possible. “The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) The darkness of this time will give way to
light. To the leaders of the international community we say: Work with Israelis
and Palestinians to stop the violence in Gaza and provide urgently needed humanitarian
assistance. But do not stop there. With one voice press Israelis and Palestinians
to build a just peace with security for Israel and a viable state for Palestinians.
To the people of God in our countries we say: Intensify your prayer for the welfare
of the Mother Church and the peace of Jerusalem. Do not be afraid. Come as pilgrims
to the Holy Land and meet the living Christian communities here. Join us in persuading
our governments to make Israeli-Palestinian peace a high priority. Support concrete
projects and partnerships with the local Christian communities that are struggling
for survival. To the Christians of the Mother Church in the Holy Land we say: We
see in you the suffering face of Christ who lost everything for our sake. You are
not alone. We are one family, a worldwide communion in Christ. We hear your cries
as you suffer alongside your brothers and sisters in the wider community. We assure
you of our love, our prayer and our continued solidarity. We ask you to pray for us. Signatories: Bishop
Peter Bürcher Bishop of Reykjavik, Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference Bishop Michel
Dubost Bishop of Evry, French Bishops’ Conference Bishop Raymond Field Auxiliary
Bishop of Dublin, Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, Irish Catholic
Bishops' Conference Archbishop Patrick Kelly Archbishop of Liverpool, Vice-President
of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales Bishop William Kenney CP Auxiliary
Bishop of Birmingham, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales Representative
of the Commission of Episcopal Conferences of the European Union Bishop Gerald
F. Kicanas Bishop of Tucson, Vice President of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops Archbishop Reinhard Marx Archbishop of Munich and Freising,
Vice President, Commission of International Church Affairs, Bishops’ Conference of
Germany Bishop Joan-Enric Vives Sicilia Bishop of Urgell and Co-Prince of Andorra,
Spanish Bishops’ Conference Archbishop V. James Weisgerber Archbishop of Winnipeg,
President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops