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Catholic Culture Liturgical Living
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Support for rebels will prolong suffering in Syria, says Catholic patriarch

May 28, 2013

"The future of Syria cannot be built on destruction,” said Melkite Catholic Patriarch Gregory III Laham, lamenting the failure of the European Union to renew a ban on the arming of Syrian rebels.

France and Great Britain are expected to lead a drive to provide military assistance the rebels seeking to oust the Assad regime. But the Melkite prelate said that support for the rebels does not ease the suffering of Syria’s people.

The Catholic leader characterized the current struggle in Syria as a fundamentally religious dispute-- “between Sunnis and Shiites”-- rather than a drive for democracy or a bid to replace an oppressive regime.

 


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  • Posted by: Defender - May. 28, 2013 7:40 PM ET USA

    Finally it has taken the Melkite Catholic Patriarch to clearly state what has been obvious in Syria these many months. It is a fight between Islamic sects (and extremists) for control, with the Christians caught in the middle. While the West plays its game of championing the overthrow of the Assad regime, a million people have fled or died. Starvation, kidnappings and killings go on without stopping as the groups jockey for position to rule what is left.