Maronite Patriarch Attacks Adversaries Who 'Do Not Want a Christian President' [Lebanon]

AsiaNews ^ | 11/15/22 | Fady Noun

[marshmallow]

The cardinal returns to the difficult process of choosing Aoun's successor. Already five parliamentary sessions have ended in a deadlock. The rift - albeit without naming names - with Hezbollah is deepening. The disagreements over Article 49. Lebanese patriarchs and bishops launch special "Truth and Reconciliation" commission. 

Beirut (AsiaNews) - The suspicions put forward by the Maronite patriarch are serious and destined to cause discussion. During his last homily at Sunday Mass, the cardinal spoke of Lebanon's adversaries "who do not want to elect a president, considering it unnecessary or of relative importance that he be a Maronite Christian" as per tradition and the Constitution. These words come two weeks after the expiry of President Michel Aoun's term of office (31 October), without Parliament having been able to elect a successor. 

"Our wish," are the brief words of the head of the Maronite Church, "is for a president elected by consensus, but the head of state that we want is the one who will challenge all those who challenge the Lebanese and Lebanon, and who will thwart all the hidden and visible efforts to distort the national and historical identity" of the Land of the Cedars. In doing so, Card. Raï has drawn a model portrait of a particular adversary 'with multiple loyalties' that, according to observers, ends up corresponding to Hezbollah. The great pro-Iranian Lebanese movement, which he continues to attack without explicitly naming it. 

"We will not allow the destruction of its specificity, of [Lebanon's] identity and pluralism, and of all that it represents in this East, a homeland that has been a safe national refuge for Christians as for all others [...] within the framework of a democratic and civilised nation. And it was on these noble objectives that Lebanon took shape in 1920 and on which........

[JesusIsLord]

Islam is a religion and form of government that since the 7th century has taught and promoted the subjugation and murder of Christians. Those who believe that Islam is anything other than a terrorist, murderous ideology have not been paying attention.

The only way to defeat a mortal enemy is to convert or destroy him. Otherwise, he will convert or destroy you.

[FamiliarFace]

My husband’s paternal grandfather was Maronite, a faith-filled man who impacted his children and grandchildren. I never had the chance to meet him, but he was obviously very loved and respected.