Vanity Post- Why isn't the PLO Seizing the Church of the Nativity as big a deal?

April 7, 2002 | Kay Soze

[TheLurkerX]

I wondered that myself. Why isn't the fact that they took 80 priests hostage a more newsworthy event?

[hole_n_one]

Does the seizing of the Church of Nativity by the PLO justify a bloody campaign of nonstop terror against the Arabs that want to create a Palestinian nation?

That strawman won't stand very long.

[Committed]

Just think of the uproar there would be if the Jews had siezed a mosque..........

[aimhigh]

Why isn't the PLO seizing perhaps the most sacred Christian site a big deal ?

It's because Christians aren't into idolotry. We shouldn't glorify buildings or anything other than Christ. And, who really knows where Christ was born. It's ludicrous to think that church is on the actual spot.

[discostu]

The west, especially America but Europe too, has no respect for it's own history. Most people, even people that think they're Christians, probably never heard of the Church of the Nativity before this.

Add to that the fact that Christianity really isn't a holy site oriented religion, it has them but they aren't such a huge part of the religion as holy sites are for others.

Hard to get people up in arms about a holy site they never heard of and probably wouldn't care about it they had.

[gdc314]

Why isn't the fact that they took 80 priests hostage a more newsworthy event?

Perhaps that they took 80 Christian priests hostage this isn't a newsworthy event. The press considers Christian deaths acceptable collateral damage or worse. Nothing to see here...move along.

[InvisibleChurch]

it's just an overt form of Christian bashing ... many people think we deserve it

[F16Fighter]

And don't forget -- the Pope himself was shot and almost assassinated by none other than yet one more Islamic kamikaze.

NOTHING is sacred to these savages.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

I read an article here earlier which stated differently. The four priests who left escaped. They said all the priests in there were barred from leaving.

[xm177e2]

According to the priests that came out, the priests aren't hostages.

The four priests who were released said they were being held forcibly.

[xm177e2]

They think that if they leave, the IDF is going to kill the Palestinian policemen that took refuge in the church.

They were probably reading a prepared statement at gunpoint. Can you imagine that?

[luvzhottea]

Press release from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Saturday, April 6, 2002

Dear brothers and sisters,


It is very sad that for the first time and because of war you won't be able tomorrow to reach the Basilica of the Nativity for the Sunday mass and prayers. I would have dearly wanted to be with you and to pray with you but it is forbidden until this very moment to get there. Nonetheless we call upon all of you our faithful to pray for tomorrow for the cause of peace; for an end to this war; and for the politicians to understand that the only way for a durable peace in this region is only and uniquely justice.

As for what is taking place in the Basilica of the Nativity itself, we are deploying every effort in order to put an end to this deadlock. False news and rumors were propagated to the effect that the Franciscan brothers are being held hostages inside their convent by the Palestinians. An official communiquee by the Custody of the Holy Land declared that this is not true. We also declare that this is false, and we strongly condemn this false news that only add insult to injury. We also strongly condemn the siege of the Basilica and the psychological war waged by the Israeli soldiers around it.

From Bethlehem our heart goes to all of the other cities and locations which had been invaded and are now under siege. We call upon all of you faithful, Christians and Muslims alike, to keep faith and courage. We are with you and peace-loving people all over the world are with you. The Holy Father John Paul II himself, the Churches of the world and many politicians are working toward putting an end to this ordeal. May the peace of the Lord be with you all.

Tomorrow, the Annunciation feast, we will pray for you and with you in Nazareth. May God bless you, give you courage and keep you safe.

+ Michel Sabbah, Patriarch
posted by jo6pac also see other reports on that page

[cowgirlcutie]

I have been asking this question ALL weekend! All I've seen on TV are the Palestinian protests "all over the world". I asked my husband today if the media and everyone else has already forgotten the NUMEROUS deaths of innocent Israelis at the hands of Palestinian murderers, and why NO ONE is talking about how these monsters ran into a church to hide, putting innocents at risk just to save their hides. It just infuriates me!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Lev 26:1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I [am] the LORD your God

1Ki 21:26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all [things] as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

Isa 19:1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

Isa 19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

Surely man does not learn by his mistakes when it comes to things of God and Spirit

[RS]

Maybe I just don't understand...
Why is hiding in a building and taking priests hostage supposed to bring more uproar then blowing up yourself and 20 civilians ??

Even if the Isrealis flatten Emperor Justinian's church, which was built after the Samaritans burnt down Constantine's Church, someone will just build another one.
So the Paletinians went to the one place where they may not be killed - would you expect them to stand outside and be shot instead ?

UPROAR !!... OUTRAGE..!! ... guess what folks - the Isrealis are allready trying to kill them.
Somehow adding sacriligious to their list of offences donsn't mean much

[cricket]

"Why isn't the PLO seizing perhaps the most sacred Christian site a big deal ?" [It's because Christians aren't into idolotry. We shouldn't glorify buildings or anything other than Christ. And, who really knows where Christ was born. It's ludicrous to think that church is on the actual spot.]

While that is true, in principle anyway. . .and perhaps reasonable answer in the mind of Christians; am sure this reasoning has nothing at all to do with the fact that this Palestinian aspect is underplayed by the Media. . .

More to the truth is the fact that this is 'bloody politics'. . .

[Kermit]

Hmmm, that's an idea, seize the Al-Aqsa mosque in return for the Church of the Nativity and the surrender of the gunmen.

[clintonh8r]

Haven't you heard? The Pallies can do no wrong...