Holy Land churches, and The Vatican's envoy, attack Christian Zionism

Reuters - Wash. Post ^ | Matthew Tostevin

[rface]

The Vatican's envoy in the Holy Land and bishops from three other churches have launched a rare joint attack on the Christian Zionist movement, accusing it of promoting "racial exclusivity and perpetual war."

Christian Zionists form a growing part of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States, the Jewish state's main ally. They believe the return of Jews to the Holy Land and establishment of Israel are proof of God's promises to biblical patriarchs.

Churches in the Middle East often appear closer to the Palestinians, whose Christian minority makes up a substantial portion of their clergy in the region.

The "Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism" was signed by Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, a Palestinian, and by bishops of the Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran and Syrian Orthodox Churches in Jerusalem.

Many Christian Zionists are evangelical Protestants.....

The Christian Zionist programme provides a world view where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism," said the declaration, accusing Christian Zionists of hurting hopes for Middle East peace.

The three main Christian Zionist groups in Jerusalem said in a statement that they were concerned at the declaration's "inflammatory language" and that it was far from the truth.

Christian Zionists stress Christianity's Jewish roots. Some back the movement to settle the occupied West Bank, the cradle of Jewish civilization, which Palestinians want as part of an independent state.

....there's more.....

[rface]

a zinger from Reuters and washPost

[My2Cents]

Push Israel into the sea, then. That's the alternative if one rejects "Zionism."

[massgopguy]

I've been a Christian Zionist since I understood the founding of the Catholic Church.

[twigs]

The Christian Zionist programme provides a world view where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism...

Post-modern critics accuse us of this all the time. However, there is a theological program in "Christian Zionism" as I see it. Jesus himself fulfilled God's promise to the patriachs. He is the Proof and the Fulfillment; there does not need to be another Temple because He is it.

Christians who are pro-Israel do not all fit into these liberal stereotypes. We are more nuanced than that--they should like that.

[twigs]

Oops. theological program = theological problem

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

"I've been a Christian Zionist since I understood the founding of the Catholic Church."

Me too. The Holy Land Chruches can kiss my foot! They need to support Israel. The blazes with them if they don't.

[papertyger]

...launched a rare joint attack on the Christian Zionist movement, accusing it of promoting "racial exclusivity and perpetual war."

As opposed to the Palestinian supporters, who are promoting tolerance, peace, and ecumenism with that support?

[Alouette]

Palestinians want as part of an independent state.

People in hell want slurpees.

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[Mr. Jazzy]

These monks don't know crap and are going straight to hell.



I am NOT kidding.

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

In fact I am fed up with the Catholic Church when it comes to the war on terror. Totally fed up. Appeasing, gutless, whimps. I have been turning a deaf ear to them for a long time. They are useless.

[rface]

said the leaders:....

.....said the declaration, accusing Christian Zionists of hurting hopes for Middle East peace.

they might as well say that it's all the Jews fault - and those that support the Jews...

This is like Ground Hog Day .... and so History will repeat itself

[Asclepius]

Churches in the Middle East often appear closer to the Palestinians, whose Christian minority makes up a substantial portion of their clergy in the region.

This explains it. Dhimmi sleeper cells wear the miters in the Middle East.

To be anti-Zionist is to be anti-Jewish, as Martin Luthor King explained at great length.

[sageb1]

Ping

You said you wanted to know more about the ME. :)

[Theoden]

Just remember that the Church is perfect, but men are not.

[SJackson]

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..................

[Sender]

If they back the Palestinians and Islam, they should not call themselves churches, let alone holy.

[NYer]

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[Pyro7480]

Totally fed up. Appeasing, gutless, whimps.

Definitely under Pope John Paul II, but there's new leadership now, that will be less appeasing of the Mohammadans.

[goldstategop]

Arab Christians are not much of a factor and Christianity is virtually extinct in the land in which it arose. In a few decades, the churches in the Holy Land will be museums.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

[NoFoxholeAthiests]

The Vatican's envoy in the Holy Land and bishops from three other churches have launched a rare joint attack on the Christian Zionist movement, accusing it of promoting "racial exclusivity and perpetual war."

In other words, "those dirty 'Christ Killing' Jews have no right to this land!" Pope John Paul II, before he died, looked over Israel with Yasser Arafat and said, "this is your land". It should come to no surprise to anyone that the Catholic church is Anti-Jewish. Long before Hitler came along, Rome was perfecting the slaughter of Jews and later was complicit in the Holocaust. Much of it is because of 'replacement theology'. This is the belief that the Catholic Church has replaced Israel as the object of God's covenant promises. This is wrong. God's promises to Israel are eternal and the 'Christian' church is grafted in to those promises. God says in Genesis, "I will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel". He brought them back in 1948 and he will complete the work he began!