Shooting breaks out at Nativity Church

UK Yahoo News ^ | April 16, 2002 | Reuters

[Lent]

The Franciscans disagree with you with regard to the current situation. Please see the link above where Fr. Peter Vasko, OFM of the Custody of the Holy Land insists that the Christians are not hostages but are choosing to stay there and protect the holy site as they have for the last 800 years.

Would you say anything else if your friends were held up with 200 terrorists? I didn't think so.

[history_matters]

The PLO and Hizbollah desecration and destruction of Maronite and Melkite and Orthodox churches and cemetaries will stand for ever as a mark of shame against the PLO and all Moslem extremists.

[Domestic Church]

You are right....we can't even see the main battle...it is a vortex because of the Nativity and the Tabernacle. "To God, all moments in time are present in their immediacy" (CCC)

[Askel5]

"Palestinians" (?)

I think the real defining adjective (that will fit Arab, Jew, Westerner, Chinese, Russian alike) is militant atheist revolutionary or "communist".

Indeed they do lay the groundwork for a yin yang of perpetual conflict.

That is their special commission (along with chaos, discord, death, hate) ... just as the believer's is Hope (along with order, obedience, life and forgiveness).

All Believers need do to lose -- personally and in the grand scheme of things -- is adopt for even a moment the alchemy of pragmatism by which the enemy's tactics are rationalized as "just".

[history_matters]

Are you accusing the Franciscans?

[Lent]

Read post #13. Have you ever heard of the Stockholm Syndrome?

[AppyPappy]

Maybe they should all come out so we know they are truly not hostages.

[history_matters]

Yes. Are you accusing the Franciscans? Or are you accusing them of suffering from Stockholm Syndrome after two weeks?

[Angelique]

I believe the Israelis. They could have done something a long time ago. I understand that all Palestinians in the Church are not terrorists, but this shows that the terrorists will stop at nothing, to include sacrificing their own children. I shall continue to pray for the Franciscans and those who are innocent. I do not trust the mayor.

[history_matters]

If they come out, there will be a bloodbath in the holy site they have defended and guarded for 800 years. They will not allow that to happen.

[Ann Archy]

They ARe hostages in a way....but they are PROTECORS of the most HOLIEST of sites of Christianity. If they left, the Palis would desecrate the Christian Holy Site and so the Priests and the Nuns STAY....to PROTECT....the Church...not the Palis.

I have been there...the Holy Place is down stairs and quite small, but upstairs is large and open, so MAYBE the Palis haven't ruined the place. The Israelis would NEVER harm the Church.

[RnMomof7]

If they come out, there will be a bloodbath in the holy site they have defended and guarded for 800 years. They will not allow that to happen.

I agree ,they are defending this site with their lives..

[history_matters]

To be honest with you, I do not trust him either. I've known him a while and have some reason not to trust him. I also remember when the Israelis had their HQ/Police Station on Manger Square -- and when it comes to their presence in Bethlehem -- I have an equally difficult time trusting them. I do however trust the Franciscans, Armenians, and the Greek Orthodox.

[Lent]

Yes. Are you accusing the Franciscans? Or are you accusing them of suffering from Stockholm Syndrome after two weeks?

I'm not accusing anybody but the PLO but if you think that these are in there because they want to be in the good company of these terrorists then I'm afraid you're seriously mistaken.

[history_matters]

Monte Cassino is not an option. This is the oldest Church in continuous use in the Holy Land. Not even the Persians tried to destroy it. It must endure.

[history_matters]

No! No, you are the one who is sadly, sadly mistaken. The Franciscans have guarded this site with their lives for 800 years ever since St. Francis came to the Holy Land. They will never leave of their own free will. They will fulfill their mission to serve Christ and protect his birthplace no matter what.

[TheDon]

I noticed that too.

[Lent]

If they come out, there will be a bloodbath in the holy site they have defended and guarded for 800 years.

I think it's the way you phrase your issue. Are they protecting this site? Yes. Would they be happier to not have these psychopathic terrorists in their midst and freely go out and come in and to attend to their personal matters? Yes.

[history_matters]

I am glad for your concern about the innocent Christians in the Church. I know your opinion is usually at variance with mine e.g. Cardinal Egan.