Holy Land religious leaders condemn Christian Zionism as false, a
corrupting influence
8/31/2006
Catholic Online
JERUSALEM (Catholic Online) Christian Zionism is a false and
extreme theological and political philosophy that is has become a
corrupting influence in the politics of Israel and the United
States, said a Catholic patriarch and three other religious leaders
here, urging Christians churches to break their silence.
The statement, "The Jerusalem Declaration on Christian Zionism,"
released by Aug. 22, was signed by Catholic Latin-rite Patriarch
Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem and other leaders of Christian churches
in Jerusalem, Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad of the Syrian
Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem, Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal of the
Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East and Bishop Munib
Younan of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy
Land.
Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement
that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism,
thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and
Israel, the religious leaders said.
Christian Zionism, the statement said, is an ideology that views
the gospel through the prism of empire, colonialism and militarism
identifies, emphasizing in its extreme form apocalyptic events
leading to the end of history rather than living Christ's love and
justice today.
We categorically reject Christian Zionist doctrines as false
teaching that corrupts the biblical message of love, justice and
reconciliation, the four leaders said.
The Holy Land leaders condemned the influence that Christian
Zionism is having in American and Israeli policies concerning the
Palestinian Territories.
The leaders reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist
leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of
Israel and the United States that are presently imposing their
unilateral preemptive borders and domination over Palestine.
Christian Zionism, they said, facilitate and support policies
that advance racial exclusivity and perpetual war rather than the
gospel of universal love, redemption and reconciliation taught by
Jesus Christ.
They added that such policies undermine the security of the Middle
East and the rest of the world.
We call upon all people to reject the narrow world view of
Christian Zionism and other ideologies that privilege one people at
the expense of others, Patriarch Sabbath and the three religious
leaders said, warning that Christian Zionism and its alliances are
justifying colonization, apartheid and empire-building.
The Holy Land leaders urged the worlds Christian churches to pray
for the Palestinian and Israeli people, both victims of occupation
and militarism where Palestines impoverished ghettos surrounded
by exclusive Israeli settlements.
Rather than condemn the world to the doom of Armageddon, the
heads of Jerusalem faith communities called upon everyone to
liberate themselves from the ideologies of militarism and
occupation. Instead, let them pursue the healing of the
nations!
They said that the establishment of illegal settlements and the
construction of a wall in the confiscated Palestinian Territories
undermine the viability of a Palestinian state as well as peace
and security in the entire region.
Christian churches that have remained silent must break their
silence and speak for reconciliation with justice in the Holy
Land, the four said.
They committed themselves to non-violent resistance to end the
Israeli occupation, affirmed that Israelis and Palestinians can
live together in peace, justice and security, and rejected all
attempts to subvert and fragment the oneness and unity of Muslim
and Christian Palestinians.
All people are created in the image of God, they said, and
called to honor the dignity of every human being and to respect
their inalienable rights.
God demands that justice be done, the four religious leaders
said. No enduring peace, security or reconciliation is possible
without the foundation of justice. The demands of justice will not
disappear. The struggle for justice must be pursued diligently and
persistently but without violence.
This is where we take our stand, they said. We stand for
justice. We can do no other.
Justice alone guarantees a peace that will lead to reconciliation
with a life of security and prosperity for all the peoples of our
land, the Christian leaders stated. By standing on the side of
justice, we open ourselves to the work of peace and working for
peace makes us children of God.
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21089
