Supplications for peace

The European Churches are increasingly adopting a position against the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which broke out on 12 July: an opposition to violence, encouraged by Benedict XVI’s continuous appeals to dialogue and negotiation, combined with prayer and concrete solidarity (cf. SirEurope nos. 52 and 54/2006). GERMANY. The “solidarity” of German Catholics with all those suffering as a result of the conflict in Israel and Lebanon has been expressed by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, in a letter sent to the Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East: Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, Maronite Patriarch; Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; and Gregory III Laham, Greek-Catholic Patriarch. In his letter, the text of which was released by the press office of the Bishops’ Conference on 28 July, Cardinal Lehmann condemns the “acts of terrorism against the Israeli civil population and the hostage-taking of Israeli soldiers, which re-ignited the recent violent conflict. Israel has a right – declares Lehmann – to defend her own existence within secure frontiers”. The cardinal says he is “deeply disturbed by the dramatic developments” of recent days. At the same time, the cardinal writes: “I also see with great apprehension that the fragile multifaith society of Lebanon, which has only just successfully returned to the road of democracy, risks being precipitated anew into a dreadful crisis, difficult to control as a result of the current conflict; radicalism and political and religious fanaticism could finally gain the upper hand”. In his letter, the cardinal also recalls the principle of proportionality in the use of military force: “Account is certainly not taken of provisions in the field of international humanitarian law if blanket bombardment causes heavy damage to large numbers of civilians”. Lehmann therefore appeals to all the political leaders “to seek satisfactory solutions at the negotiating table. The deployment of an international peacekeeping force in Southern Lebanon could be a suitable means of temporarily guaranteeing stability and security. The disarmament of Hezbollah represents one of the indispensable tasks, as long requested by the United Nations”. But for the cardinal now “is the time for humanitarian aid. The suffering of people in the regions of crisis grows from day to day. Hundreds of thousands of people in Lebanon are fleeing from the conflict. The aid situation is precarious. Humanitarian corridors must be put in place for the suffering civilian population”; help needs urgently to be provided to the victims through church-run charities and their local partners”, and also – as stressed on several occasions by Benedict XVI in recent days – through prayer “for all the people of the Middle East: Jews, Christians and Muslims, Lebanese, Palestinians and Israelis”. FRANCE. Resolution 1559 of the UNO could be a suitable point of departure for bringing real peace to the Lebanon, say seven French Catholic associations, including Pax Christi, Caritas France and the Commission of Justice and Peace of the Bishops’ Conference of France. They issued a joint petition on 31 July to ask both sides of the conflict to “commit themselves to negotiations without preconditions” and to appeal to “French and European leaders to do everything possible to urge the belligerents to renounce violence and choose the path of law and justice”. According to the signatories, “only the government of a sovereign Lebanese State is able to obtain the disarmament of Hezbollah” (as required by Resolution 1559). In the case of Palestine, “the bases of a just peace” are “Resolutions 242 on the return to the frontiers of 1967, and 194 on the right of refugees to return, which the State of Israel has failed to implement”. What is happening under the eyes of the world, according to the promoters of the initiative, shows that “recourse to violence to obtain security and peace is an illusion and a grave error. The war adds violence to violence. Only the principles of equality and justice – concludes the petition – can ensure the progress of the Middle East towards political solutions. The total and sincere recognition of the sufferings and injustices suffered by the other side is the only way of getting out of the cycle of violence, hatred and fear”. So far over 300 people have signed the petition. To add your support: www.appelprocheorient.com/ SCOTLAND. Prayer each day until the end of the war: the initiative is that of the diocese of Paisley, near Glasgow, in response to Benedict XVI’s appeal for prayer and penance for a cessation of the conflict in the Lebanon. The bishop of the diocese, the Right Rev. Philip Tartaglia, has invited all the parishes in his diocese “to congregate every day for a moment of prayer for peace”. A celebration in the cathedral, during which Bishop Tartaglia himself will light the candle of peace, is planned for 3 August. IRELAND. The Justice and Social Affairs Commission of the Bishops’ Conference of Ireland has asked “the Irish government to provide immediate aid to those in need”. At the same time it expresses “its unconditional condemnation of the terrorist actions of Hezbollah and the countries that support them” without justifying the military response of the Israelis after two of their soldiers were taken hostage. CEC. The Conference of European Churches (CEC) has also issued a statement on the conflict, inviting “everyone to pray for peace in a particular way on 6 August”, the 61st anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima.