Al-Rahi Calls for Soul-Searching on Strikes, Illegitimate Arms, Vote Law
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday criticized the procrastination of the government in referring the new wage scale for the public sector to the parliament and urged politicians for some soul-searching over the proliferation of illegitimate arms and the controversial electoral law.
“Are your consciences clear to the strike of teachers and the closure of schools?” al-Rahi asked politicians in his sermon.
The Syndicate Coordination Committee set on Saturday a plan highlighting its measures for the second week of its open-ended strike.
The SCC, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, vowed to go ahead with its strike until the government refers urgently the new scale to the parliament.
“Where is your conscience from the increasing spread of illegitimate arms that is limiting the role of the state by the day?” al-Rahi wondered.
He also criticized the kidnap-for-ransom phenomenon that has recently spread in Lebanon. The latest abduction was that of a 12-year-old schoolboy in Beirut.
Al-Rahi also slammed politicians for “threatening the (Lebanese) entity and putting the fate of the entire nation at stake.”
On the controversy on the electoral draft-law, the patriarch said the officials were making proposals that would serve their interests instead of the nation.
“Where would your consciences be when God forbids the elections are not held on time?” he wondered.
Al-Rahi travels to Russia on Tuesday on a three-day pastoral visit during which he is scheduled to meet with the Russian Speaker Sergey Naryshkin and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill I.
24 February 2013, 11:44
108
Where is YOUR conscience in supporting Bashar Assad while he slaughters 90,000 people? Take care of YOUR conscience, FIRST, ya Patriarch, before you question anyone else's. Shame on you!
24 February 2013, 11:45
811
for all the above ask your friends fpn and hizbushaitan. they are the government.
24 February 2013, 11:48
94
Geha, I am not surprised by your comment. FPN and Hizb are not my friends. Decency and compassion are. Are you justifying the Patriarch's support of Bashar Assad and his slaughter of so many innocents, for the only reason being for him and his family to stay in power? If so, then you need to examine YOUR conscience, as well.
24 February 2013, 12:42
47
just woke up, i've got ko5a in my eyes and get to read such wonderful news... the religious meddling with politics.Amen ;)
24 February 2013, 13:44
310
is he? it looks like he is directing his talk to the cabinet :)
24 February 2013, 15:26
28
while I agree with you that Asir should be arrested, but at the same time where are the arrest warrents against hizbushaitan members for what they did and still do in Beirut?
24 February 2013, 13:49
01
What he says is the cause for all of our ills as a nation. Soul searching is needed if we ever going to become a respected nation. Arms free country is the most important of all. Those how want to carry arms, should go to Iran or even Syria and carry whatever arms they want. Holding Lebanon hostage to Iran, Syria or to any other nation is flat wrong. If the ones who hold arms want to remain armed, then maybe they should be given a part of Lebanon to live on and be a nation that wants to be perpetually armed against Israel. In this way, Israel and this new nation will know they are at war with each other. Holding more than two thirds of the Lebanese hostage to the armed groups who have nothing in their lives except fighting and killing is unequivocally unfair.
24 February 2013, 14:23
01
he is chritian maronite,he is talking about the maronites only..orthodox way.(by the way take my mufti to ur parking,i dont feel anything for him to say the least)
24 February 2013, 15:17
25
does not surprise me that he says that this M8 gvt has no conscience nor dignity....
they are just the lackeys of syria nothing more...
24 February 2013, 18:13
15
The Batrek is not against anyone or religion, he is a loving leader to the human race and he cares about all Christian and none Christian alike, He is promoting peace and love the best way he knows. I have met him twice and spoke to him, You will be surprised how down to earth a person he is. He listens to you as any other good person you are having a conversation with. what he is doing? is to protect the Christian in this volatile middle East from the extremist in it. Be in his shoe and tell me what could you have done any different? speak up don't bark like a wa3 wa3. The Nade
24 February 2013, 21:00
01
what is his hourly rate,in case we want to hire his eminence as a consultant to our mufti?
25 February 2013, 05:44
03
My IQ has just plummeted from reading these fatuous comments.
