european churches" "
A new and urgent appeal for peace in the Middle East was made by European and American bishops at the end of a meeting held in Bethlehem and Jerusalem from 12 to 15 January. Organized by COMECE (the Commission of the episcopates of the European Union), the theme of the meeting was: “The solidarity of the universal Church with the Church of the Holy Land”. “We have seen the devastating effects caused by the security wall that is now being built and that crosses through the land and houses of Palestinian communities”, says the final declaration signed by the bishops of France, Germany, England and Wales, Italy, Canada, Spain, USA, Switzerland and Scandinavia, and by representatives of Caritas Latin America and Caribbean and of the CCEE (Council of the European Episcopal Conferences). “It seems that the wall is becoming a permanent structure that will divide families, isolating them from the lands they cultivate and from their homes, and severing their links with the religious institutions”. The bishops have also been able to experience for themselves “the frustration and humiliation to which Palestinians are subjected every day at the check points, that prevent them from providing for their families, reaching hospitals, going to work, studying and visiting their families”. “We deplore the fact that, in spite of the visible efforts the bishops declare -, some priests, seminarians, male and female religious, and lay personnel, are denied, or have difficulty in obtaining, visas and residence permits to study and work in Israel and in the Palestinian territories”. The bishops conclude by also remarking the numerous signals of hope, including a slight growth in the number of pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
