Lebanese bishops applaud changes, warn of relations with Syria

Published: 2005-09-14

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- Lebanon's Maronite Catholic bishops applauded political changes in their country but warned that troubling relations with Syria remain. Since Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in late April, "the Lebanese feel that they are the masters of their situation, free to run their affairs ... especially by electing those they want to represent them in the Lebanese Parliament, in compliance with the democratic system, choosing who is to be president of their republic," the bishops said. These political changes "revive hope in the soul of the Lebanese people, who were on the verge of despair," the bishops said. Their comments came in a statement following the Sept. 7 meeting of the Council of Maronite Bishops, headed by Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, Maronite patriarch. It was the sixth such statement on the plight of the Lebanese issued within the last decade.

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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .