U.S. Maronite bishops seek prayers for Mideast peace

Published: 2006-07-28

ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- Maronite Bishop Robert J. Shaheen of the St. Louis-based Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon is asking people to pray for Lebanon and for all innocent victims of war. Bishop Shaheen's East Coast counterpart, Maronite Bishop Gregory J. Mansour of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, N.Y., characterized the ongoing fighting as "very, very sad. I think it's one of the lowest points in human history." A Middle East powder keg exploded after the Shiite militia Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers July 12 and began firing rockets on Israel from positions in Lebanon. Israel then retaliated with attacks on Lebanon. At least 443 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Lebanon since the fighting began, according to security officials. Lebanese health officials July 27 estimated that 600 civilians have been killed. Nearly a half-million people have been displaced. Thirty-three Israeli soldiers and 33 Israeli civilians have been killed. On July 25 Israeli bombs hit a U.N. post, killing four international observers.

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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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