Hat tip to Jihad Watch.
My title is obviously not 100% true, but my point is that the West has done nothing to support the Christians of the Middle and Near East. As a consequence of this lack of support or help in the face of escalating post-strongman regime persecution, Christians feel as if they have no option but to support terror groups such as Hezbollah.
"As head of Lebanon’s Catholic Church, Rai recently sent his envoy, Father Abdo Abou Kassem, to Teheran to attend a conference in support of the Palestinian Arab Intifada and of a “Zionist-free middle east”. The conference was attended also by Hizbullah ideologue, Mohammad Raad, and by the Hamas’ leader Khaled Meshaal.
Cardinal Rai recently said in Paris that he supports Hizbullah's war against Israel: "Only when the international community exerts pressure on Israel to vacate the occupied Lebanese territory and Israel allows Palestinians in Lebanon to return to their homes, can Hizbullah be asked to hand over its arms because they will no longer be needed". It is not clear from the Cardinal's remarks to which Lebanese territory he was referring, since Israel, in compliance with the UN, had withdrawn from its Lebanon buffer zone years earlier. Rai said his statements reflected the policy of the Vatican."
Their situation is a pathetic one. A couple of months ago, I called for Russia to step in to protect Christians of this region*. These people have suffered for 1,400 years, and things are getting worse as the autocrats that at least provided some protection and order are going or gone.
The US will not even allow one's religion to be considered when applying for a visa. Not that they want to leave their ancestral homes, but bombings, kidnappings, shootings, and gang-rapes tend to change one's mind.
Christians of this region clearly have no problem with Israel, nor do they think that Hamas or Hezbollah will start to like them if they voice their support of terror groups. The sad fact is that, if they do not speak in favor of these groups, attacks on Christians will increase in quantity and severity.
This is very close to a parent who is trapped with an abusive spouse that abuses everyone in the house. Walking on eggshells will not appease the abuser, but woe to the individual that does anything to annoy the abuser or even fails to do what the abuser demands. The abuser will also attack others for allowing the act to happen in the first place. Christians in Muslim-majority countries cannot stand up for themselves, no one will help them, and the ever-watchful abuser stands ready to find a reason to lash out.
The article also notes that, in addition to the Hezbollah envoys, the Vatican seems to have a substantial group of Iranian envoys for diplomatic purposes.
I am a staunch Catholic, but what is going on with the Vatican and Islamic nations/groups annoys me to no end*. The Church's political positions have no authority over Catholics.
No comments:
Post a Comment