North American, European bishops discuss Holy Land problems, answers

Published: 2007-01-18

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said North American and European bishops would urge their countries to be "advocates for peace and justice" in the Holy Land. "I will urge my own country to be more involved in establishing peace in the area," said Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., at a press conference Jan. 18. He added that the current situation in the Holy Land was "untenable." Bishop Skylstad visited Israel and the Palestinian territories Jan. 11-18 as a participant in the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land and the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. He and 21 other American and European bishops visited Catholic parishes and religious leaders throughout the region. The bishops' group was created in Jerusalem in 1998 at the request of the Vatican. This was the bishops' seventh trip to the region.

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