Church official visits schools, parishes during Holy Land meeting

Published: 2005-01-11

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) -- Though it appears the number of pilgrims to the Holy Land increased over the past year, the Palestinian economic situation remains difficult, said Archbishop Brendan O'Brien of St. John's, Newfoundland, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. "It is still difficult, and some families here have difficulties paying tuition for studies at Bethlehem University and other schools. The economic situation has not changed dramatically," said Archbishop O'Brien, who was in the Holy Land for an annual meeting on the problems faced by the region's Christians. "If people would have more opportunity for work, that would certainly help, but the Palestinian situation as occupied people is always in the background, so even if the economic situation would be good, there would still be the problem of the (Israeli separation) wall," he added. Archbishop O'Brien said there seems to be a sense of hope among Palestinians that newly elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be able to improve their situation.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .