[Peace-discuss] Church Presences in Lebanon

[C. G. Estabrook]

Deeply buried in a NYT report on Thursday was the news that the leader 
of the Catholics in Lebanon (about a third of the population) called a 
meeting or religious leaders, and not just of Christians -- it included 
both Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims.  (Shi'ite Muslims make up well over a 
third of the population, while Sunni are less than a third.)  All of 
these leaders issued a statement of solidarity that condemned the 
Israelis' aggression and hailed "the resistance led by Hezbollah."

The Guardian (UK) reported today, "The Shia organisation [viz., 
Hezbollah] and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, have become symbols of 
resistance even in such unlikely places as the Gulf countries where 
Sunnis and Shias have been spotted waving the yellow-and-green flag. 
Christians are joining in as well. In Damascus yesterday, a Catholic 
church held a special mass. 'Pray for the resistance, pray for Hassan 
Nasrallah. He is defending justice,' Father Elias Zahlawi urged his 
congregation."

--CGE