Resources
Lebanon’s ‘Pillar’ of Catholic Education at Risk of Collapsing
Author: Doreen Abi Raad
Publication Date: 29/5/2020
Source: National Catholic Register
Catholic education — long one of the pillars of Lebanese society — is in danger of collapsing due to the country’s dire economic crisis.
A public letter to the president of Lebanon, signed by the General Secretariat of Catholic Schools in Lebanon sounded the alarm, warning that 80% of the country’s Catholic schools are at risk of closing for the coming school year “because of the economic situation and the neglect of the state in the performance of its duties.”
Iraqi priest: Infections aside, COVID-19 is sinking the economy, helping the Islamic State
Publication Date: 29/5/2020
Source: AsiaNews.it
The virus of hunger “could be worse" than COVID-19 and there is a strong risk that the economic crisis triggered by the novel coronavirus "could fuel a crime wave and give new impetus to terrorist groups,” said Fr Samir Youssef, parish priest in Enishke, Diocese of Amadiya, Iraqi Kurdistan, speaking to AsiaNews.
In Lebanon, a growing rift between Hezbollah and their long-time Christian ally
Author: Mona Alami
Publication Date: 27/5/2020
Source: Al Arabiya
In Lebanon, Iran-backed Hezbollah and their Christian allies have heavily swayed internal politics for years, but now, there appears to be a growing rift within the Christian bloc, threatening the cohesion of in the once-solid alliance.
For years, the pairing allowed Hezbollah to dominate the Lebanese political system and influence major decisions related to the country’s foreign and defense policies.
Bishop Aoun: The economic crisis has made the Lebanese 'desperate'; the Church is providing food and medicine
Publication Date: 21/5/2020
Source: AsiaNews.it
People are "desperate" because the government has "made so many promises" but can show no "concrete results,” said Bishop Michel Aoun of Jbeil-Byblos of the Maronites.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the prelate noted that one of the reasons for the existing inertia is the “high level of corruption” in government institutions; in fact, some of the people responsible for it are “still in power”. The net result is that Lebanon’s situation remains serious with an economy on its knees, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maronite Church to launch food and social assistance plan
Author: Fady Noun
Publication Date: 7/5/2020
Source: AsiaNews.it
Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi yesterday announced that the Maronite Church, alarmed by rising poverty in the Lebanese population, will undertake an ambitious country-wide plan to provide food and social assistance to families without income as a result of the current economic crisis.
The plan will be based on a survey conducted by parishes, bishoprics and monasteries as well as Caritas-Liban, the Church’s official charity, coordinated by the Maronite Center for Documentation and Research under Patriarchal Vicar Samir Mazloum.
Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem describe life under Israeli occupation
Publication Date: 3/3/2018
Source: TRT
After the Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed its doors in protest of Israel's new tax law, we spoke with Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem and learned the realities of living in a Jewish state.
Palestinian Christians under Israeli occupation speak out
Publication Date: 13/12/2017
Source: TRT
We went to Bethlehem, home to an ancient Palestinian Christian community to hear what they have to say about Christians in the West supporting Israel, Donald Trump’s move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and to see what life is really like for Christians living in the occupied West Bank.
Christian Adversary ignores Israeli efforts to combat covid-19
Author: Dexter Van Zile
Publication Date: 24/4/2020
Source: Camera
If there was any hope that the COVID-19 pandemic would get anti-Israel commentators in the United Church of Christ to dial back or tone down their animus toward the Jewish state, it was dashed on the afternoon of Thursday, April 17, 2020.
It was dashed when Rev. Dr. Peter Makari, Executive for the Middle East and Europe for the Common Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples of Christ, gave a video briefing about the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on countries in the Middle East. The folks who logged onto the Zoom webinar were served up the all-too-predictable “Israel bad, everyone else innocent” narrative about the Middle East that Makari has promoted for years.
