Church appeals continue as violence shadows Lebanon ceasefire
-14/08/06
Violence and attacks on both sides continued in the Lebanon last night, hours before the hard-won United Nations brokered ceasefire is due to come into force this today (14 August 2006). Meanwhile, church and other faith leaders have continued to make their appeals.
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu began his widely-publicised personal action of prayer and fasting in a tent at York Minster on Sunday 13 August. Like his senior colleague, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, who has called for all involved in the Middle East to listen to the voices of the innocent over the clamour of war [0], Britainís first black archbishop has called for a radical change of heart amidst destruction and conflict.
The former president of the Roman Catholic Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, will also travel to Lebanon this week, on a visit that Vatican officials describe as "spiritual and humanitarian" rather than political.
He plans to celebrate the feast of the Assumption, Tuesday 15August, along with the embattled country's most prominent religious leader, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir.
Cardinal Etchegaray will be travelling as a personal representative of the Pope, rather than as an official of the Holy See. That subtle distinction is intended to make it easier for the French prelate to manoeuvre quietly without affecting official Vatican policies.
As prayers for the ceasefire continue, an international church delegation in Beirut has declared that Israeli bombing of Lebanon is strengthening support amongst the Lebanese people for Hezbollah.
They reiterated the appeal of local religious leaders for an immediate cease-fire as aid workers said fear is gripping everyone in the Lebanese capital, reports Ecumenical News International.
"There's one word that has to be spoken and voiced as clearly as possible - an immediate cease-fire," French cleric the Rev Jean-Arnold de Clermont, part of a delegation led by the World Council of Churches visiting Beirut and Jerusalem, declared.
The members of the delegation are CEC President the Rev Jean-Arnold de Clermont, the [Roman Catholic] Archbishop of Tours (France) Mgr Bernard Aubertin, and WCC programme executive on racism, Ms Marilia Alves-Schuller.
[Also on Ekklesia: Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams writes about Lebanon [1] - 13 Aug 2006; Stop this insanity, say Australian church leaders [2] 13/08/06; Sentamu to launch week-long York fast against violence [3] 12/08/06; Ex-hostage and US church leader call on Abrahamic faiths for just-peace [4] 11/08/06; Christian Peacemaker Teams activists face Israel military aid vigil charge [5] 11/08/06; Church agency warns over unexploded munitions in Lebanon [6] 09/08/06; Global church leaders make peace boat trip to Beirut [7] 09/08/06; Palestinian refugee camp hit by Israeli bombing raid [8] 09/08/06; Churches deplore killing of French aid workers in Sri Lanka [9] 09/08/06; Mennonites respond to massive Lebanese humanitarian needs [10] 09/08/06; World church leaders strongly condemn Middle East violence [11] 08/08/06; Tony Blair phones Christian Aid director about Lebanon crisis [12]08/08/06; Hundreds of thousands march against the war in Lebanon [13] 06/08/07 Cana mayor describes bombing horror and calls for Christian support [14] 06/08/05; End this blind faith in violence, says WCC leader [15] 04/08/06; Church group goes directly to Beirut to call for a ceasefire [16] 03/08/06; Development agencies petition Tony Blair for an immediate ceasefire [17] 02/08/06; Unite for MidEast peace, say US Sikhs, Christians, Muslims and Jews [18] 01/08/07; Lebanon destruction a 'crime against humanity' says aid group [19] 30/07/06; No way to security through fighting, says Holy Land bishop [20] 29/07/06; Blair to press Bush for ceasefire as churches push for peace [21] 28/07/06; Israel sees ceasefire hesitancy as a green light for its Lebanon bombing [22] 27/07/06; Mennonites call on USA and Canada to pursue non-violent alternatives [23] 27/07/06; Christian groups urge Blair to back ceasefire calls [24] 26/07/06; South African churches propose bold Middle East conflict transformation process [25] 26/07/06; Why violence cannot solve Lebanon or Gaza Strip showdowns [26] 24/07/06; Christian Aid emergency appeal swings into action [27] 24/07/06; Mennonites issue action alert on Middle East crisis [28] 24/07/06; Middle East churches document and condemn Lebanon horror [29] 23/07/06; US churches appeal to Bush as Israel seizes Lebanese village [30] 23/07/06; Aid agencies say Blair must call for immediate Middle East ceasefire [31] 22/07/06; WCC urges churches to support Middle East appeals [32] 21/07/06; Churches redouble efforts and prayers for an end to Middle East hostilities [33] 21/07/06; Williams laments Lebanon vicious spiral of violence [34] 20/07/06; Gaza, Israel and Lebanon crises are imperiling Middle East security [35] 19/07/06; Historic Galilee sites hit by rocket attacks [36] 18/07/06; Pope condemns Lebanon raids as G8 converges and Blair blames Iran and Syria [37] 17/07/06; Christians call for end to Lebanon violence as Israel vows revenge [38] 16/07/06; Middle East Christians in anguish over Lebanon violence [39] 14/07/06; Embattled Hezbollah backs Iraq 'doves of peace' [40]; Christian warnings substantiated as Israel targets Hamas [41]; Ex-spy wages peace on terror in the Middle East [42]]
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