Lebanon’s Christian presidency in peril, warns Maronite Patriarch
November 04, 2014
The head of the Maronite Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church in full communion with the Holy See, has called upon Lebanon’s Christian political parties to stop bickering and elect a president.
For decades, Lebanon’s president has been Christian, and its prime minister has been Muslim; thus the Lebanese president is the only Christian head of state in the Middle East. Lebanon has been without a president since March, and amid the impasse, there are growing calls for a dilution of Christian political influence.
“Only a Christian president can ensure Muslim and Christian coexistence and perpetuate the model of power-sharing that characterizes Lebanon in the Arab context,” said Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, according to a Fides report.
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Posted by: Defender -
Nov. 04, 2014 3:54 PM ET USA
One can only imagine the problem. A while ago, Lebanon was embroiled in a civil war, Syria stationed troops in the east, while Muslims took pot shots at Israel from across Lebanon's border and they also fought Lebanese Christians. Now Lebanon is home to Syrian refugees who are predominantly Muslim. The cardinal is right, a Christian president is essential for Christians in Lebanon.
