Holy Land at critical stage, Cardinal McCarrick says during visit

Published: 2006-03-13

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The Holy Land is at a critical moment in its history following the Hamas victory in Palestinian elections and preceding March 28 Israeli elections, said Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. "There is the sense that this is a very crucial moment, and it will require an enormous amount of wisdom and courage and prayer because there are so many intangibles we just don't know," Cardinal McCarrick told Catholic News Service March 10, the final day of a three-day visit to the Holy Land. The Washington cardinal said both elections could "very significantly change the equation" of keeping the peace in the Holy Land. The elections also may make it more difficult for the U.S.-backed "road map" -- designed for a permanent, two-state solution for Israeli-Palestinian peace -- to move forward, he said. The cardinal said the U.S. Catholic Church is committed to the road map, developed in 2003. Despite the challenges during this time of transition, the United States needs to be dedicated to a two-state solution that gives Israel "recognized borders and freedom from terrorism" while at the same time giving Palestinians a "viable and peaceful state," he said. "Unquestionably, our country has a lot on its plate right now, but I believe the commitment the president made to the road map is a most important and essential one, and we still believe we have to follow (it) and encourage our government not to give up," he said.

Copyright (c) 2006 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .