Church leaders decry vandalism, 'teaching of contempt' for Christians in Israel

September 04, 2012

Catholic leaders in the Holy Land have condemned an attack by vandals on a monastery outside Jerusalem, and protested that a “teaching of contempt” is encouraging hatred for Christians in Israel.

A fire was set at the door of the abbey of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Latrun, and anti-Christian slogans spray-painted on the outer walls, in the early hours of September 4. In a joint statement released the same day, Church leaders said that the incident was “only another in a long series of attacks against Christians and their places of worship."

Saying that the Church is “the target of forces of hatred within Israeli society," the Catholic leaders asked:

What kind of 'teaching of contempt' for Christians is being communicated in their schools and in their homes? And why are the culprits not found and brought to justice?

The statement was signed by the Latin-rite Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal; his predecessor, Archbishop Michel Sabbah, and Archbishop Georgio Lingua, the apostolic nuncio in Jordan.

 

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Further information:

• Catholic Church condemns 'price-tag' attack on monastery, urges Israel to change 'culture of contempt' (Haaretz)