Melkite archbishop sees 'conspiracy' against Syria
August 17, 2011
A controversial Melkite Catholic archbishop has charged that Syria is “the victim of a conspiracy,” designed to advance the interests of Israel and the US in the Middle East.
Archbishop Hilarion Capucci said that mounting worldwide criticism of the Syrian government is the result of a propaganda campaign aimed at breaking up powerful Arabic states.
Archbishop Capucci was arrested by Israeli police in 1974 when he tried to bring firearms into Palestinian territory on the West Bank, where he was serving as Archbishop of Caesarea. Convicted of smuggling weapons, he was imprisoned by eventually released to live in Syria. In 2009, he was a passenger on a ship that sought to break an Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.
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Further information:
- Archbishop Capucci’s inflammatory statement: “There’s a conspiracy going on in Syria” (Vatican Insider)
- Israel blocks relief ship from Gaza; archbishop on board (CWN, 2/6/09)
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Posted by: Don Vicente -
Aug. 18, 2011 11:19 AM ET USA
My opinion on Abp. Capucci having been shared, this does not mean that I am "all for" the "Arab Spring." Refer article by Sandro Magister: http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1349081?eng=y A complicated issue -- as are most in the Middle East.
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
Aug. 17, 2011 5:47 PM ET USA
No surprise, either, that the Church hierarchy has done nothing to stop his dangerous behavior. Reminds me of Hunthausen; too busy protesting and engaging in other inappropriate behavior to bother with mundane things like shepherding his flock.
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Posted by: Don Vicente -
Aug. 17, 2011 4:56 PM ET USA
I remember Abp. Capucci's arrest back in 1974, when he abused the dignity of all Christian clergy with the Israeli government in order to run guns. Equivalent to an Irish Abp. running guns for the IRA. The man's a long-time political activist, and now he's shilling for the Assad regime. No surprise.
