Lebanese cardinal criticizes politicians for foreign allegiances

Published: 2007-12-03

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- Lebanese Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir criticized Lebanon's political leaders for their allegiances to foreign powers and urged lawmakers to elect a president "before it's too late." Politicians' allegiance to foreign powers has made them "prisoners of their position and paralyzed their capabilities," said the cardinal, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church. "The prevailing situation is dangerous. We do not know whether anyone assesses its danger among those in responsibility," Cardinal Sfeir said in a statement issued Nov. 30. The cardinal urged the opposition to end its boycott of the presidential election and said it is "disgraceful and condemnable" that the opposition's resigned Cabinet ministers boycott parliamentary sessions but continue to run their respective ministries. "The Lebanese people denounce all these acts which go against logic and law. They expect the authorities whom they have elected to focus on people's daily concerns, provide jobs for people so they can take care of their families and provide them a secure and dignified life," the cardinal said.

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