Catholic News 2

Washington D.C., Jan 26, 2016 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The multiple crises in the Middle East show the need for continued peacemaking and humanitarian efforts, the U.S. Catholic bishops have told foreign policy leaders in the Obama administration.

“As Pope Francis has said on a number of occasions, we need to build bridges, not walls. I pray that the United States will help build a bridge to peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces said to National Security Advisor Ambassador Susan Rice in a Jan. 20 letter.

Bishop Cantu chairs the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace. In this role he recently wrote two letters to Obama administration leaders concerning Israeli-Palestinian relations, the Syrian conflict, and the humanitarian crisis.

“The path ahead will be arduous, but the time is long past for the international community to pursue diplomacy and peace in Syria and the region,” Bishop Cantu told Secretary of State John Kerry in another Jan. 20 letter. “In the final analysis only peace will end the refugee crisis, preserve the Christian presence, and allow inclusive societies to be built that respect the human rights of all.”

Bishop Cantu said humanitarian assistance is critical for refugees and displaced persons as well as for the countries hosting them.

“The needs are simply outstripping the available resources,” he said, noting funding shortfalls for the United Nations’ World Food Program and other aid programs.

“Jordan and Lebanon have been remarkably generous to the call to welcome the stranger, and at great cost to their social systems,” the bishop continued.

He added that Catholic Relief Services and its Caritas agency partners have been assisting both host populations and refugees.

United Nations-led talks seeking peace for the Syrian conflict are scheduled to begin in Geneva on Friday.

Bishop Cantu told Kerry that if peace talks are successful, the U.S. and the international community will need to provide “robust assistance” to help rebuild Syria and repair the social fabric so that refugees can return.

“Post-war desperation will only fuel renewed conflict and extremism. It is particularly important that Syrian refugees in Lebanon have the opportunity to return to their country so as to restore the delicate demographic balance necessary for stability in Lebanon.”

The need to secure peace and isolate extremists in Iraq and Syria are difficult, but not impossible, the bishop said. He said it is critical to promote an inclusive government for all ethnic and religious groups.

Bishop Cantu recently traveled to the region.

“Church leaders with whom we met are particularly concerned to preserve the Christian presence in the region, the birthplace of Christianity,” he explained. “This presence is not only important for the Church, but also for stability in the region.”

The Christian presence helps encourage tolerance and respect for pluralism, he said.

The bishop had met with Christian refugees who spoke of persecution by the Islamic State group. He said it is clear that the Islamic State wants to expel Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities, as well as Muslims who reject their “narrow, distorted and extremist ideology.”

Bishop Cantu welcomed the nuclear agreement with Iran, saying this achievement can be a basis for peace in Syria and for strengthening stability in Lebanon.

He asked that the U.S. encourage the election of a president in Lebanon. The presidency has been vacant since May 2014 due to both internal and international tensions, particularly the Syrian crisis.

“This paralysis must end in order for Lebanon to weather better the crises sweeping the region.”

Bishop Cantu stressed the urgency of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict amid the several crises in the Middle East. His letter to Rice said the status quo is “unsustainable” and “dangerous” for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The bishop included a statement from the bishops of the Holy Land Coordination, “You Are Not Forgotten.” That statement recognized Israel’s right to live in security, while warning of the effects of Israeli occupation in Palestine.

Bishop Cantu called for “renewed efforts to achieve a peace agreement that provides security and recognition for Israel and a viable and independent state for Palestinians.”

He said the Holy See’s recent recognition of Israel must be followed by concrete action. The situation in Gaza is “dire” and the population there suffers from isolation and desperation.

“I would again highlight the injustice being perpetrated in the Cremisan Valley. Bulldozers have begun to uproot ancient olive groves belonging to Christian Palestinians in the West Bank near Bethlehem,” Bishop Cantu commented.

The bishop said Israel’s security barrier route should not effectively confiscate Palestinian land and compromise the ministry of Christian institutions and the rights of Christian landowners.

“It if is to be built, it should be on internationally recognized Israeli land,” he said.

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

Full Article

 WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one" on January 14. His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason - though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."

"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well-funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.

"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action, in the upcoming "9 Days for Life" campaign, January 16-24. More information on the campaign is available online: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxJwfcefUiU

He also cited the Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis as a time for women and men to find healing through the Church's Project Rachel post-abortion ministry.

The full text of Cardinal Dolan's message is available online.
---
Keywords: Roe v. Wade, anniversary, Pro-Life, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, 9 Days for Life, USCCB, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Year of Mercy, Project Rachel, Pope Francis
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT
Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206

Full Article