Al-Rahi Urges Expatriates to Invest in Patriarchate’s Land
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged Lebanese expatriates to make investments in lands owned by the patriarchate, saying the dispute on territories in the town of Lassa was exaggerated.
Addressing Christian parties and Lebanese associations in the city of Los Angeles in the U.S. state of California, al-Rahi said he would preserve the historic line of Bkirki.
He said the dispute over the Christian lands in the predominantly Shiite town of Lassa in the Jbeil district “were exaggerated politically and on the sectarian level.”
“This shouldn’t have taken place,” al-Rahi said.
A dispute over church property has flared up in recent months, leading to clashes between residents and members of the church and TV crews.
An agreement was reached in July between al-Rahi and Lassa residents, including a Hizbullah delegation, to suspend construction on controversial properties.
The patriarch reiterated that Lebanese officials should become real statesmen and sit at the dialogue table to resolve their differences.
Ahead of his statement, al-Rahi celebrated a mass at the Lady of Lebanon church in Los Angeles.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/17715 |