In Syria, Melkite archbishop says church must make its presence known

Published: 2004-10-28

ALEPPO, Syria (CNS) -- As Melkite Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart threaded his 1976 Peugeot through the congested streets of Aleppo, he noticed a group of Muslim women wearing black veils over their faces. "You didn't used to see that here. In a way, this is their reaction to what's happening in Iraq. That sentiment is increasing among Muslims, but it will disappear if we have peace," he said. The 61-year-old archbishop, a native of Aleppo, was reading the religious landscape carefully as he took a shortcut through the traditional Christian section of the city in late October. "The Muslims have bought many of the shops here, but you see they are closed on Sunday. That's a sign of respect for Christians, small but important," he said. The sound of a Muslim prayer call briefly cut through the noise of traffic. The loudspeakers in Aleppo have multiplied to the point that some Christians feel acoustically intimidated. "I've complained about the loudspeakers," Archbishop Jeanbart said. "Then the officials tell me, 'You're too hard on the Muslims.' I tell them, 'No, the Muslims know I love them. But if I respect them, I must tell them the truth,'" he said.

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