Some evangelical Christians hinder Holy Land peace, says bishop

Published: 2005-01-27

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Dealing with U.S. evangelical Christian movements on political issues is sometimes a bumpy road, especially regarding the Holy Land, said the new president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Some evangelical movements "endorse uncritical support for what they believe to be in the best interests of Israel," hindering promotion of solutions favored by Catholics based on the twin pillars of Israeli security and a Palestinian homeland, said Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash. On U.S. domestic issues, there is common ground with evangelicals regarding opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, but differences with many evangelicals on the death penalty and social welfare issues, he said. Bishop Skylstad, elected USCCB president last November, spoke Jan. 10 in Bethlehem, West Bank, at a meeting of bishops from the Holy Land, Europe, Canada and the United States. The Jan. 10-14 meeting examined problems Christians face in the Holy Land. A text of his speech was released to Catholic News Service in Washington Jan. 21.

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