U.S. deacon says church can speak for marginalized in Holy Land

Published: 2006-02-22

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The Catholic Church can play a "prophetic role" in the Holy Land on behalf of the marginalized and poor, a Texas archdiocesan official said after a weeklong visit to the area. Deacon Sam Dunning, director of the justice and peace office of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, was among 32 Texas participants in an Anti-Defamation League-sponsored interfaith mission to the Holy Land Feb. 13-20. About some two-thirds of the participants also were members of the Texas Coalition for Mutual Respect, founded by a former ADL regional director. With its numerous institutions already in the Holy Land, the Catholic Church can focus on the human dimension of the conflict and can be a voice for collaboration and dialogue using its social doctrine as a base, said Deacon Dunning. Most international and local energy and resources are focused on the Holy Land's political situation, while the plight of the poor -- particularly the Palestinians -- is largely ignored, he said.

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