Jerusalem patriarch condemns kidnappings, killings, decries calls for revenge

July 03, 2014

Latin-rite Catholic Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem has denounced the killing of a Palestinian teenager, in apparent retaliation for the murder of three Israeli youths by Palestinian extremists.

Comparing the killings to human sacrifice, the Catholic prelate called for prayers for all of children who had been abducted and killed, and for their families. He called upon responsible leaders to discourage calls for vengeance.

"It is not worthy of political and religious leaders to support, feed, foment revenge," the Patriarch said. "Revenge calls for revenge, blood calls for blood. And innocent people who are killed, all the children killed, are victims sacrificed on the diabolical altars of hatred."

 

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Further information:

• A young Palestinian kidnapped and killed. Patriarch Twal: Stop human sacrifice (Fides)