Latin patriarch criticizes creation of religious state in Middle East

Published: 2007-12-19

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Jerusalem's Latin patriarch criticized the creation of a religious state of any kind in the Holy Land, saying that a Jewish or Islamic state would not be suitable for Christians. "In this land which is holy for three religions and for two peoples, religious states cannot be established because they would exclude or place in an inferior position the believers of the other religion," Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem said in his Christmas message, given to journalists Dec. 19. "A state that would exclude or discriminate against the other religions is not suitable in this land made holy by God for all humanity." Any state "cannot be for just one religion," he told journalists in response to a question. "It is the vocation of this land to be for all." Political leaders "must know that the holiness of this land does not consist in the exclusion of one or the other of the religions, but in the ability of each religion, with all of their differences, to welcome, respect and love all who inhabit this land," he said.

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