Sfeir Doesn’t Object to al-Rahi’s Remarks, Stresses Bkirki Hasn’t Changed

Former Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said Sunday that he doesn’t reject Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s remarks on Hizbullah’s arms and the situation in Syria, stressing that he is “not against” the head of the Maronite church.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3), Sfeir said: “We are with what he says and we are not against him.”

“I used to be the patriarch but I have resigned and I am out of the game,” he said in response to a question.

“I have my opinion and I express it inside the council of bishops … There is another patriarch now and he leads the patriarchate,” Sfeir added.

Asked if al-Rahi made his controversial statements upon orders from the Vatican, the cardinal told VDL: “I don’t know if there are instructions or not.”

However, he stressed that Bkirki hasn’t changed and doesn’t think it would change now.

Al-Rahi sparked controversy during his visit to Paris when he linked the fate of Hizbullah’s arms to the liberation of the remaining Israeli-occupied Lebanese territories. He also said Syrian President Bashar Assad should be given the chance to introduce his promised reforms.

Al-Rahi fears that the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood to power would threaten the existence of Christians in the region.