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Melkite Patriarch Says ‘We are Resolved to be Martyrs,’ Urges Pope to Work for Holy Land Peace
Catholic Culture ^ | 12/4/13

Posted on 12/04/2013 8:04:02 PM PST by marshmallow

Expressing gratitude to Pope Francis for his support for Syrian Christians, the head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church told the Pope that “despite the woes and the quite tragic situation that we have been experiencing for nearly three years now, we want to stay and help our faithful to stay.”

“You called upon us not to allow the flame of hope to be extinguished in our hearts,” said Patriarch Grégoire III (Loutfi) Laham in a recent address to Pope Francis in Rome. “We are resolved to be martyrs in this land, blood martyrs, like some of our faithful, including three men from Ma’alula: Michael Taalab, Antonios Taalab and Sarkis Zakhem,” who were slain in September.

“Most Holy Father, they are real martyrs, who were ordered to recant and proudly refused,” the Patriarch added. “Three others, however, gave in and were obliged to profess Islam, but later returned to their ancestral faith.”

The Patriarch, whose Eastern Catholic church is in full communion with the Holy See, added:

Like Blessed Pope John Paul II, who brought down the Berlin Wall through his prayer and bold interventions, you wrought a miracle, Holy Father, by summoning Christians and the whole world to fast and pray on 7 September last. So you brought about a turning point in the Syrian crisis and even in the vision of global politics. The world changed after 7 September, 2013!

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Islam; Orthodox Christian
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1 posted on 12/04/2013 8:04:02 PM PST by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

What a way to go. I pray if it comes to that God gives me that courage.


2 posted on 12/04/2013 8:21:08 PM PST by DManA
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To: marshmallow

When will the Pope notice that the U.S. is sinking into Marxist National Socialism? And that the bishops of this country are mostly collaborators?

Despite the HHS Abortion Mandate (the first attack on the Church from the Left that the bishops have ever noticed) Cardinals O’Malley, Dolan, and Wuerl, and Archbishop Gomez, continue to send out signals that they still would love to slobber on Obama’s shoes, if only he would let them.

I am waiting—almost certainly in vain—for the Pope or any American bishop to speak up against the Marxist revolution that is underway in this country.

The USCCB has funneled tens of millions to the Marxist groups that nurtured Soetoro for the past 20 years.

It is not easy being a member of the Church that I consider the true Church, while as an institution it is the enemy of my country and the Catholic Faith.


3 posted on 12/04/2013 8:28:05 PM PST by Arthur McGowan
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To: marshmallow

What is it in the BIBLE that people do not understand?

There can be NO PEACE in the Middle East until Jesus Himself returns.


4 posted on 12/04/2013 8:34:28 PM PST by Shadowstrike (Be polite, Be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
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To: Shadowstrike

....Then pray for a speedy return.


5 posted on 12/05/2013 5:50:02 AM PST by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Biggirl

I do, every night of my life.


6 posted on 12/05/2013 9:01:03 PM PST by Shadowstrike (Be polite, Be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
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