Bishop, Israeli president discuss Christian schools’ financial crisis

August 26, 2015

Auxiliary Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo of Jerusalem met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on August 24 to discuss the financial crisis faced by Christian schools.

In May, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem stated that Israel’s education ministry has cut its assistance to Christian schools by 45% in the last decade. At the same time, the education ministry, the Patriarchate stated, “issued new regulations that even limited the ability of Christian schools to collect fees from the parents”-- in effect imposing a “death penalty” upon Christian schools.

According to the Latin Patriarchate, President Rivlin praised the work of the schools, and the nation’s education minister pledged to prepare a report and work toward a solution.

The Patriarchate’s schools office said in a statement that it “considers this meeting as a positive step; however, the solution to the current crisis requires further negotiations. Schools will therefore remain closed until further notice.”

 

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Further information:

• Christian Schools: positive discussion with Israeli President (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
• Israeli government’s policies threaten Christian schools, Latin Patriarchate charges (CWN, 5/28)