Maronite Bishops Renew Army Support, Condemn Desecration of Religious Symbols

The Maronite Bishops Councils condemned on Wednesday the recent desecration of religious symbols in Lebanon, describing such acts as “irresponsible.”

It said after its monthly meeting: “The authorities should put an end to such incidents and take action against the perpetrators.”

It voiced its fears that such violations “may lead to a vertical divide in Lebanon that may have dangerous repercussions.”

In addition, the Maronite Bishops Council expressed its support to the Lebanese army and its confrontation of extremists.

“We demand the release of the remaining soldiers and policemen held by the extremists,” it continued in reference to the kidnapping of the security personnel in August in light of clashes with Islamists in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The Council, which was chaired by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi at al-Diman, voiced its solidarity with the relatives of the captives and expressed its support with whatever measures the government deems suitable to ensure their release.

It also condemned the persecution of Christians and other minorities in Iraq at the hands of the Islamic State militant group, saying that the organization “does not reflect the real Islam.”

Islamists allegedly burned crosses in the northern city of Tripoli over the weekend in retaliation to the burning of a flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh's neighborhood on Saturday.

Reports said however that the flag was burned last month and not over the weekend.

Several threats were written on the walls of Churches in the northern city of Tripoli, the latest of which was on Tuesday when assailants vandalized the walls of Mar Elias Church.

They vowed to “slaughter the worshipers of the Cross."

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi called on Sunday for an investigation to be carried out into the burning of crosses in Tripoli.

M.T.

G.K.