Category: Palestine
Bishops meet with family of Christian Palestinian journalist killed in Jenin
Bishops from across Europe have offered their condolences to the family of Christian Palestinian Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh who was killed in Jenin on 11 May 2022. The Bishops, part of the Holy Land Coordination chaired by Bishop Declan Lang, met with Shireen’s family, local clergy, and Christian youth in Beit Hanina on 21 May.…
We pray as people of peace for an end to the violence engulfing the Holy Land
Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of the Bishops’ International Affairs department, has echoed calls for an end to “the occupation, discrimination and human rights violations that propagate violent attacks on civilians, standing in the way of a stable and peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis.” Statement As people of peace, we pray for an end to…
Statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem concerning the recent violence in Jerusalem
We the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, are profoundly disheartened and concerned about the recent violent events in East Jerusalem. These concerning developments, whether at the Al Aqsa Mosque or in Sheikh Jarrah, violate the sanctity of the people of Jerusalem and of Jerusalem as the City of Peace. The actions undermining the…
Latin Patriarchate reacts to recent violence in Jerusalem
With all the Heads of Churches, we are “profoundly disheartened and concerned about the recent violent events in East Jerusalem, whether at the Al Aqsa Mosque or in Sheikh Jarrah, which violate the sanctity of the people of Jerusalem and of Jerusalem as the City of Peace and require of an urgent intervention.” The violence…
Bishops reject “Peace for Prosperity” plan and insist on the upholding of international law and human rights for all in the Holy Land
Our governments have a responsibility to uphold international law and protect human dignity in the Holy Land. This unilateral initiative does not do so. We are extremely concerned that the UK government has welcomed the proposal. The government should continue to insist upon meaningful dialogue, a viable two-state solution and the application of international law.…
Bishop talks about Parents Circle – an organisation for bereaved Palestinians and Israelis
Greetings from the Holy Land. My name’s Bishop Oscar Cantú from the United States – from the Diocese of Las Cruces. I’m here in the Holy Land with the the Holy Land Co-ordination – a group of bishops that comes here every year to pray and to have a peaceful presence. We also come to…
South African Archbishop talks about the Holy Land Co-ordination visit to Gaza
Greetings! I am Steven Breslin, the Catholic Archbishop of the Diocese of Cape Town in South Africa. The Holy Land Coordination is a group of Bishops who come to the Holy Land every year in January. This year, we are 13 bishops from various different countries and our aim, of course, is to give support and…
Statement from Bishop Declan Lang on recent violence in the Holy Land
As I pray for the dead and injured from both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, I also call upon both communities and their leaderships to exercise restraint and refrain from going down the slippery road of tit-for-tat killings and mutual recrimination.
Holy Land Christians: Call for Solidarity
The Cardinal and Archbishop were returning from the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) which had been meeting in Galilee and Jerusalem at the invitation of His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Bishop Declan Lang: Delight at the Cremisan Valley Final Judgement
The proposed wall through the Cremisan valley threatened to separate the nineteenth century Salesian monasteries and a convent school. The Court has instructed the Israeli government to plan a new route, although it has set no time frame for the new plans. I am against all walls that separate communities from each other, let…
Bishops celebrate Mass in Bethlehem Carmelite Convent founded by soon-to-be declared saint
The Carmel was founded by Mariam Baouardy – Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified. Sister Mariam, a Palestinian Discalced Carmelite nun of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, will soon be declared a saint. Last month, December 2014, Pope Francis issued a decree recognising the miracles needed for her canonisation. The Most Rev Patrick Kelly, Archbishop Emeritus…
Bishop Declan Lang’s Statement on Gaza
Indeed, my mounting concern witnesses the indiscriminate and relentless attacks by the Israeli military machine on the civilian population of Gaza. I condemn in equal measure the firing of rockets by militants from Gaza into populated civilian areas across Israel.