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Title: Vatican rejects “chosen people” claim, calls on Israel to end “occupation”
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URL Source: http://rt.com/politics/vatican-israel-palestinians-catholic/
Published: Apr 9, 2014
Author: staff
Post Date: 2014-04-09 13:34:10 by Horse
Keywords: None
Views: 204
Comments: 12
A high-ranking Israeli official on Sunday slammed a statement from Catholic bishops, who called for international organizations to lead the cause of Palestinian statehood. Greek-Melchite Archbishop Cyrille Bustros sparked an interreligious firestorm when he suggested that Israel was “using Scripture” to continue its occupation of Palestinian territory. "The Holy Scriptures cannot be used to justify the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of the Palestinians,” Bustros said at the close of a two-week conference in Rome, Italy, “to justify the occupation by Israel of Palestinian lands.” The Archbishop then questioned the biblical idea of a “promised land” set aside by a specific group of people. "We Christians cannot speak of the promised land as an exclusive right for a privileged Jewish people,” Bustros continued. "This promise was nullified by Christ. There is no longer a chosen people – all men and women of all countries have become the chosen people." Bustros led the group that drafted the synod's concluding statement on Israel and the Palestinians. The controversial comments came at the conclusion of a two-week Vatican conference assembled to discuss the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Pope Benedict XVI was in attendance at the synod and celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Cathedral on Sunday with the bishops. Israel responds On Sunday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon criticized the concluding statement of the conference, saying the forum has been “hijacked by an anti-Israeli majority." "We express our disappointment that this important synod has become a forum for political attacks on Israel in the best history of Arab propaganda," Ayalon said in a statement. "The synod was hijacked by an anti-Israel majority." Ayalon then called on the Vatican to distance itself from the comments, which the Israeli official said amounted to “libel.” "We call on the Vatican to distance themselves from Archbishop Bustros' comments which are a libel against the Jewish People and the State of Israel and should not be construed as the Vatican's official position," the foreign minister said in his statement. "These outrageous comments should not cast a shadow over the important relationship between the Vatican, the state of Israel and the Jewish people." The Palestinian Authority, however, praised Bustros’ comments. "Israel cannot use the biblical concept of a promised land or chosen people to justify new settlements in Jerusalem or Israeli territorial claims," Saeb Erakat, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said in a statement released Sunday. Erakat said the synod sent "a clear a message to the government of Israel that it may not claim that Jerusalem is an exclusively Israeli city." "The Palestinian people will thus have an independent and sovereign homeland where they can live with dignity and security," the statement continued optimistically. "The State of Israel will be able to enjoy peace and security within their internationally recognized borders." "The Holy City of Jerusalem will be able to acquire its proper status, which respects its particular character, its holiness and the religious patrimony of the three religions: Jewish, Christian and Muslim," it said. "We hope that the two-state-solution might become a reality and not a dream only." Pope Benedict XVI first called for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis during a visit to the region in May 2009 when he voiced the Vatican's support of a sovereign Palestinian homeland. At the time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was opposed to a two-state solution. The Vatican, however, eager to boost its sagging popularity worldwide, noted during the synod that only 2.1 per cent of those living in Israel are Christian, who continue to be outnumbered by high Jewish and Muslim birthrates. The Catholic Church also mentioned conflict, religious discrimination and economic woes as the cause of its shrinking influence in the Middle East. No sign of apology The Vatican in January blamed Israel not only for the exodus of Christians from Palestinian-controlled territories, but for the plight of Christians across the entire Middle East. The statement, which served as the basis for the latest Vatican synod, was also authored by Arab bishops from the Middle East, who argued that Israel’s "occupation" of Arab-claimed lands is the root cause of most of the oppression suffered by Christians in the region. They suggested that in the absence of an "occupation," radical Islamic forces across the Middle East would lose their support base, and stop causing problems for Christians. The Vatican said they were not trying to take sides in the issue, but that the Arab bishops “know the situation well.” This is not the first time of late that religious tensions have boiled over between the adherents of Judaism and Christianity. Earlier this year, the Catholic Church became suddenly embroiled in a string of pedophile cases, some of them dating back many years. Some inside of the Catholic Church saw a “Jewish conspiracy” behind the reports. Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Meridiaga, the archbishop of Honduras, said there was something curious about the media’s timing of the revelations, coming as they did as the conflict in the Middle East was heating up. "It certainly makes me think that in a moment in which all the attention of the mass media was focused on the Middle East, all the many injustices done against the Palestinian people, the print media and the TV in the United States became obsessed with sexual scandals that happened 40 years ago, 30 years ago…" L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's daily newspaper, criticized what it said was a "clear and despicable intention" by the media to strike at Benedict "at any cost." American lawyer Alan Dershowitz, a well known defender of Israeli interests, called the Cardinal’s assertions a “cockamamie theory” and “blood libels,” while arguing that much of the criticism (concerning the pedophile cases) “comes from disappointed Catholics.” Strange how two religions that emerged from the same seed are so committed to dragging each other down at every opportunity.
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#1. To: Horse (#0)
Talk like that could get this guy killed. The line sounds like it came out of the Onion. That majority should start hijacking a lot of things ! Not only can Scripture justify the fact that the Jews have a right to their land but that they are the apple of His eye. They are His chosen people. All one needs to do is re-read the history of how Israel triumphed over the Roman occupation to four wars following that.
I thought you were kidding until I went to your link.
The Truth of 911 Shall Set You Free From The Lie
Do you know where the word "ISRAEL" came from? ISRAEL was once Jacob, I believe you know that. ISRAEL is a PERSON NOT GEOGRAPHY, I believe you know that. Which one of his sons was called "Jew"? I do not think you know that. There was a son named Judah, pronounced Yahuda. Please site where God changed Judah to Jew. The Serpent Race - Dr James P. Wickstrom on the "Jews’"
The people occupying the so-called fake State of Is-Not-Real are actually converted gentiles and were never Hebrews. They are the murdering trespassers with UN approval. That being said, the "so-called Jews" don't believe in God or Christ so this Bishop is speaking to the choir of Christianity without any Jews in attendance. American lawyer Alan Dershowitz, a well known defender of Israeli interests, called the Cardinal’s assertions a “cockamamie theory” and “blood libels,” while arguing that much of the criticism (concerning the pedophile cases) “comes from disappointed Catholics.” The scum-sucker, Alan Dershowitz, is exactly why many people hate Jews. He and others of his ilk are self-promoting narcissists that murder little children internationally for a few shekels profit. Actually, I can't believe this shit sack is still amongst the living. Finally, the Papacy is as guilty if not more so than the so-called Jews when it comes to manipulating the people of the world to buy into their make-believe bullshit. All of these fakirs running around in purple and scarlet robes are the characters from the distant past that held inquisitions and invented torture to force others to "believe" their bullshit. It's time to tear off their masks and robes. Strip these asshats of their pomp and circumstance and they are like the emperor without clothes. They are lower than the shit you flush out of your toilet and it's time to expose them for the scum they truly are. Is it the fluoride in the water that keeps humanity genuflecting at the feet of these impudent bastards or kissing the popes ring ? Well fuck the Jews and the Pope. EDIT: Let me give his highness equal time, Fuck Obama - and the entire FEDERAL GOVT. "Resolve to serve no more,” he says, “and you are at once freed. I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break in pieces.” Étienne de La Boétie
You are correct, Itistoolate. Throughout history Israel has undergone many changes since the beginning of when it was born a Canaanite nation. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan
we need a Like button on 4um.
To question is to value the ideal of truth more highly than the loyalties to nation, religion, race, or ideology.
To question is to value the ideal of truth more highly than the loyalties to nation, religion, race, or ideology.
Oh sheesh, do you not recall the 40 years wandering with the freed Israelites through the desert? They DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE PROMISED LAND!! Even HaShem tired of the constant whining, complaining, sniveling and lack of gratitude. Ironically, this the story of humanity, not just the Hebrews. Israel is the Divine Spark in the heart of each follower...not literal land anywhere on Earth. They are to be wanderers and make peace wherever they go, not occupy any land with force. Israel is to be found within, not without. As above, so below; as indicative in the Star of David. They are chosen to follow the 613 laws written in the Torah, such as no shellfish and if you see your neighbor snarf a shellfish KILL HIM!! These are the sort of rules the chosen are to follow. However, the esoteric Jew knows that there is truly only one rule: love thy neighbor as they self. Same rule that Jesus, a devout Jew, came to put on a pedestal. 2000 years later and there are few chosen to follow that one dictate, which explains the sorry state of humanity. How many continue to whine, snivel, complain, lack gratitude while wandering the expanse of this Earth, ignoring the Divine Spark that is WITHIN? " If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11 "Life's tough, and even tougher if you're stupid." --John Wayne
Straight from the Torah, Genesis,xxxi, 14: Thou shall have no inheritance in their land: I Am thy part and thine inheritance.
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11 "Life's tough, and even tougher if you're stupid." --John Wayne
Well done, A.
Thanks ! Often enough it feels like we're living out a comic book scenario with the Religious Avengers and Political Powermen operating total control over other people's minds. Fortunately I have very little mind for them to manipulate. "Resolve to serve no more,” he says, “and you are at once freed. I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break in pieces.” Étienne de La Boétie
There is no longer a chosen people
“hijacked by an anti-Israeli majority."
#2. To: Horse (#0)
"The Holy Scriptures cannot be used to justify the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of the Palestinians,” Bustros said at the close of a two-week conference in Rome, Italy, “to justify the occupation by Israel of Palestinian lands.”
#3. To: purplerose (#2)
#4. To: Horse, purplerose (#3)
#5. To: Horse (#0)
(Edited)
"We Christians cannot speak of the promised land as an exclusive right for a privileged Jewish people,” Bustros continued. "This promise was nullified by Christ. There is no longer a chosen people – all men and women of all countries have become the chosen people."
#6. To: Itistoolate (#4)
#7. To: Itistoolate (#4)
#8. To: noone222 (#5)
Like
#9. To: purplerose (#2)
Not only can Scripture justify the fact that the Jews have a right to their land but that they are the apple of His eye. They are His chosen people. All one needs to do is re-read the history of how Israel triumphed over the Roman occupation to four wars following that.
#10. To: purplerose (#2)
#11. To: abraxas (#9)
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams 
#12. To: christine (#8)
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