President's Statement on the Middle East
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
April 2, 2002
Dear Pax Christi USA members and Friends, Greetings of peace.
Below you will find a statement by the President of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops on the escalating violence in the Middle
East.
I just heard on CNN that Egypt has cut off all relations with Israel
except diplomatic ones so I suspect, if true, this will have a rippling
effect throughout the region and beyond.
Your prayers and actions for peace are deeply appreciated.
Blessings of peace,
Phyllis Phyllis Turner Jepson, Director
Pax Christi USA
Local/Regional Group Development Office
Email: paxwpb@gate.net
Web: www.paxchristiusa.org
Thomas Merton: When I pray for peace, I pray not only that the
enemies of my own country may cease to want war, but above all that my
country will cease to do the things that make war inevitable.
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President's Statement on the Middle East
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
April 2, 2002
As President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, I
deplore and condemn the escalating violence, terrorism and warfare in the
Middle East. We join with the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem in their urgent
appeals for action "to end the suffering of so many peoples" in the Holy
Land.
These terrible events have included people killed
as they participated in a Passover meal and other attacks on innocent civilians.
They have also included tanks and gunfire at the Church of the Nativity,
Israeli military invasion of Bethlehem University and Palestinian militia
occupation of a Franciscan Convent. This growing tragedy requires greater
solidarity and more effective action to stop this horrific cycle of violence.
We renew with greater urgency the recent call of
the USCCB Administrative Committee "that the parties embrace an immediate
cease-fire and return to the arduous task of negotiating a just peace,
without delay or pre-conditions. Only negotiation can lead to an end to
violence and occupation, a secure state for Israel and a viable state for
Palestinians."
It is clearer than ever, as the Committee said,
"that the status-quo is unacceptable. Israeli occupation cannot be sustained
– militarily or morally – nor can the indiscriminate use of force in civilian
areas. Palestinian attacks on innocent civilians cannot be tolerated –
both because they are morally indefensible and because they undermine the
legitimate claims of the Palestinian people. This deadly cycle of action
and reaction, suicide bombing, and aggressive attacks must be ended."
We renew with even greater urgency our call for
the U.S. "government to use every means to persuade leaders on both sides
to turn away from actions which permit, incite or employ violence and to
return to the search for peace based on mutual respect and equal justice
for Palestinians and Israelis."
These events require a clear and unequivocal condemnation
of suicide bombings and effective action to stop attacks on civilians.
They require a rapid withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank. They
require stronger efforts by the United States and the international community
to bring to an end the violence and terror, occupation and attacks which
are destroying so many lives and hopes.
We pledge to continue to work for a just peace,
heeding Pope John Paul II's Easter call: "Christian communities on every
continent, with trepidation and hope, I ask you to proclaim that Jesus
is truly risen and to work so that his peace may bring an end to the tragic
sequence of atrocities and killings that bloody the Holy Land, plunged
again in these very days into horror and despair." Therefore, I call
on my brother bishops and others of good will to do all they can in prayer
and public advocacy to bring about an end to this terrible violence and
a new beginning of negotiations for a just peace.
We extend our solidarity and prayers to all those
whose lives have been damaged or destroyed in this terrible conflict. Having
come through the holiest of weeks for many believers, we pray that the
promise of the Resurrection will sustain all those who seek peace in the
midst of war and mutual respect in the face of bitter hatred.
senden