Church leaders pray for peace, dialogue as Mideast violence escalates

Published: 2006-07-17

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Catholic church leaders prayed for peace and dialogue as Mideast violence escalated, and churches and local government buildings opened their doors to the displaced. Father Michael McGarry, rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies in Jerusalem, said he did not know why the radical Shiite militia Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and was firing rockets on Israel, but he said the force of Israel's retaliation was "not appropriate." "I think Israel has to react. They can't tolerate the taking of soldiers, the Katyushas," said Father McGarry, referring to the rockets Hezbollah has been firing into Israel. "They have to do something in response, but killing civilians is not appropriate." Lebanese officials said the number of civilian deaths had passed 165 by midday July 17, while Israeli officials reported 12 civilian deaths since the cross-border attacks began July 12.

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