Late news" "
An urgent appeal to support Christians in Bethlehem, the Pope’s invitation to participate in a meeting of Swiss Catholic youth to be held in the spring of 2004, and a bioethical document on the status of the embryo: these are the main decisions taken by the Swiss bishops at the end of their 259th ordinary assembly, held in Lucerne from 3 to 5 March. The Swiss bishops repeat “their cry of alarm” about the crisis in the Holy Land: “The whole population of this region they point out is living in a dramatic situation which the risks of a war in Iraq have unfortunately eclipsed in recent months. The very presence of the Christian communities in Palestine is threatened by the gravity of the current conflict and the economic devastation that is its consequence”. The bishops condemn, in particular, “the construction by the Israeli authorities of the wall that separates the Palestinian and Israeli populations. The wall is about to be built at Bethlehem. At the entrance to the town, for example, dozens of Christian families who live close to the tomb of Rachel are encircled, isolated and deprived of all services. This situation, like many others along this wall, is intolerable”. The Conference of Swiss bishops therefore urges “the cessation of these discriminatory measures against the local population” and asks that Bethlehem “may remain a town where anyone may circulate, pray or live in peace”: “A genuine solution shall only be found by a real commitment to peace, by both Palestinians and Israelis”. The Swiss bishops lend their support to “all the peaceful measures that may be taken, at all levels, to encourage the action of the Federal Council in favour of peace and justice in this region”. The faithful are invited to contribute to the Good Friday collection in aid of the Holy Land and to participate in pilgrimages to the region. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1187 N.ro relativo : 17 Data pubblicazione : 07/03/2003
