Lebanese cardinal admonishes politicians for destroying democracy

Published: 2007-12-24

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNS) -- As Lebanon's presidential vacuum and ongoing political impasse continue, its Catholic cardinal admonished politicians for destroying the country's democratic system and abusing their power. "We have destroyed our democratic system and the freedom that has been granted to us, a freedom that cannot be found in surrounding countries," Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, said in his annual Christmas message. "The presidency is lost and we have not been able to elect a head of state for the first time in the history of the republic. Parliament has been crippled for more than a year, and the government is incapacitated, with some of its ministers failing to carry out their duties," Cardinal Sfeir said. Lebanon has been without a president since Emile Lahoud's term expired Nov. 23. Feuding political leaders have failed to elect a successor for the post, which is traditionally reserved for a Maronite Catholic, according to Lebanon's constitution. A parliament session to elect the president was canceled for the 10th time Dec. 22.

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