Posted on 06/22/2006 4:32:17 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
POPE Benedict XVI today said violence was forcing Christians to flee the Holy Land and other countries of the Middle East and called for respect between cultures and religions.
"The serious difficulties encountered by the Christian community" in the Holy Land of Israel and the Palestinian territories "because of lack of security, work, restrictions on movements and poverty are a source of anxiety for us", he said.
The Pope was talking to participants at a meeting for assistance to the churches based mainly in the Middle East.
"This situation makes the educational, professional and family future uncertain for the young generations, who are strongly tempted to leave their native lands," he said.
"It is a situation which is repeated in other areas of the Middle East (such as) Iraq and Iran."
The Pope said, "We must find new ways of meeting the needs of these people. I renew my appeal to priests and the faithful, to all those who have a responsibility, to encourage mutual respect between cultures and religions, in order to create in the Middle East the conditions for calm and peaceful coexistence".
If the Jews weren't armed to the teeth, they would saying how they are running away from the holy land too.
Yeah, the Christians should turn the other cheek. That'll fix everything.
You mean Christians don't want to be beheaded for converting Muslims, or beaten up for practicing their faith in public?
ping!
Time for some crusaders!!
Ecc 3:8
A time to love
and a time to hate
a time of war
and a time of peace.
It wasn't just a folk song ...
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
-- Revelation 19:11-15 NAS
Mixed blessing? I've always thought that the Lord would protect the Christians in the Holy Land before all hell broke loose. His will be done!
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