Holy Land’s bishops condemn arson attack on historic church
June 19, 2015
The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land has condemned the June 18 arson attack on the Church of the Multiplication of Church of the Loaves and Fish, built on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
“This is the third time that the Benedictine community of the Holy Land has been affected by similar criminal attacks,” the bishops noted.
“On April 27, 2014 at the same site in Tabgha, young extremist Jews desecrated crosses and an altar,” they continued. “In the Benedictine Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion close to the Upper Room, fire was started on May 26, 2014 a few minutes after the departure of Pope Francis. The Benedictines of Mount Zion are also incessantly subjected to acts of contempt and violence.”
They added:
In recent months, other attacks were perpetrated against Christian sites or mosques and investigations were not followed up. Given the seriousness of these incidences, we demand immediate investigation and the perpetrators of this acts of vandalism be brought to justice. We thank the political and religious leaders who have condemned this act and expressed their solidarity.
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Further information:
- Arson at Tabgah: Press Statement of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
- Arson attack on historic church in Israel (CWN, 6/18)
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