Patriarch's New Year Message: Elephants Still in the Room

On the morning of January 1st, also traditionally known as the World Day of Peace, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Msgr. Foual Twal presided over the Mass of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God in the concathedral of the Latin Patriarchate in the Holy City.

In his homily, the Patriarch shared his wishes of hope and peace for all. Echoing recent statements made by the Holy Father, Msgr. Twal expressed the need of "educating young people in justice and peace."  He mentioned the recent interreligious dialogue in Assisi, the "Arab Spring," the situation in the Holy Land, as well as some upcoming Church events, congresses and synods that will take place in 2012.

Despite its generally positive, irenic and friendly tone, the substance of the Patriarch's message was disappointing and disturbing. A few months ago, Catholics for Israel published an open letter to the leaders of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land entitled Elephants in the Room? The Hidden Roots of the Crisis of the Church in the Holy Land. As the title indicates, the piece pointed out some issues of serious concern which, despite having a debilitating effect on the work of the Church in the Holy Land, remain virtually ignored and unaddressed by its  leaders.

Sadly, the Patriarch's New Year message is an indication that these "Elephants" are still roaming about freely in the Church in the Holy Land - still ignored and unadressed by the leadership.  Evidence for each one of the ten "elephants" was manifest in the homily. Obviously, it would not be fair to expect that the Patriarch should have addressed each one of these issues in one homily.  But that fact all of them were ignored is a characteristic illustration of the theological malaise that continues to afflict the local Church.

1. Neo-Marcionism, Replacement Theology and the “Great Disconnect” between Israel and the Church

The homily was characterized by the usual silence regarding the Jewish origins and roots of the Gospel. Despite the occasion of the Solemnity of the Mother of God, there was no mention that Mary was and remains forever a Jewish woman, daughter of Israel and daughter of Zion. No word was said about the vital connection and bond between Israel and the Church, about the role of Jesus and Mary as bridges between Judaism and Christianity, about the debt of gratitude that the Church owes to Judaism, or even about the first reading of the Mass, from the Book of Numbers, on the Aaronic blessing.

2. Anti-Zionism and Anti-Israel Bias

The Patriarch also said that "a generation of young Israelis and Palestinians were born and grew up under occupation and in an atmosphere of violence. They experience the checkpoints and the walls that separate people." As usual, the only problem mentioned by name is the Israeli "occupation," as if it were the only culprit behind the "atmosphere of violence."  No word was said about the ongoing Palestinian refusal to negotiate with Israel, let alone accept the existence of the Jewish State. As usual, "checkpoints," "barbed wires" and "towering concrete walls" just exist for no other reason than to "separate people," with no word said about the constant threat of terrorist and rocket attacks that has made these checkpoints and walls necessary for the sake of saving both Israeli and Palestinian lives.

Moreover, no word of gratitude or appreciation was said about the freedom of religion and worship, and the full security that Christians enjoy in Israel, a privilege that is rather rare in the Middle East.

Of course, there was also no mention of the biblical and theological bond and attachment of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel - and this, despite the increasingly aggressive and strident delegitimization and hatred of Israel, not only from hostile neighboring countries but also from the world at large. The name "Israel" was barely mentioned in the message, as usual replaced by the more politically correct expressions "Holy Land" or "Land of Jesus."

3. Palestinian Liberation Theology

The theme of the homily was justice, reconciliation and peace. While this is indeed an important topic, it has become almost a mantra in the Church of the Holy Land, ceaselessly repeated with a marked accent on socio-political aims rather than on solid biblical and doctrinal catechesis. There was the usual call for the creation of a Palestinian State, and the usual silence about the culture of anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish hatred and incitement in Palestinian society (including, for example the recent praise of Hitler in a PLO youth magazine because he murdered Jews), the Palestinian Authority's rapprochement with Hamas despite the latter's continued avowed goal to work towards the total destruction of Israel, or the PA's praise and glorification of terrorists (illustrated, for example, by  President  Mahmoud Abbas openly meeting with convicted terrorists and appointing them as advisors in his government).

4. Dhimmitude: the Surrender to Islam

The Patriarch called the so-called "Arab Spring" a "reawakening of consciences for democracy, peace and social justice" where "Muslims and Christians took to the street side by side," generating "real enthusiasm and great expectation." His only caviat was a strikingly weak reservation that "doubts arise on the form of government that will be implemented."  It is hard to grasp how an educated spiritual leader can arrive as such delusional conclusions about the violent revolutions that have already claimed thousands of lives (and counting) in numerous countries, causing the rapid rise of radical islamist forces and a widespread increase in Muslim persecution of Christians throughout the Middle East.

Despite his complete silence on the problems generated by the "Arab Spring,"  the Patriarch recalled that "the Pope asked the young and old to stay away from extreme nationalism or exacerbated fundamentalism" - as if the violence and killings in the Middle East were but the fruit of random and generic "fundamentalism" to which everyone is prone - certainly not related to any particular religion at all.

Why the silence on these persecutions? Why, if mentioned at all by Christian clergy, are the persecutions always carried out by nameless perpetrators? And why continue to use the ludicrous term "Arab Spring" when the reality on the ground does not even remotely resemble a "spring" but rather an "Islamic Winter"?

Surely such a combination of misguided statements and conspicuous silence cannot be the result of ignorance or malice. So what is left? Wishful thinking? Or perhaps a fear of openly saying the truth, lest this make things worse? Here we have again the spirit of dhimmitude, the fear of saying anything against Islam lest this causes yet greater violent anti-Christian backlashes on the part of Muslims.

5. Dialogomania and Practical Relativism

Another ever-recurring catch word, supported by the ever-popular "Spirit of Assisi," is "dialogue." The Patriarch invited the faithful to follow St. Francis in engaging in "peaceful dialogue between believers" and creating "bonds of friendship and solidarity."  Although this is a good and noble ideal, almost nothing was said about the Church's mission of evangelization and about the urgent need that Christians pray and work for the conversion of sinners and those who do not know Christ.

Msgr. Twal did say that "peace has its basis in the heart of man, in his conversion and reconciliation with God and family," but there was no word on how to practically arrive at this conversion and reconciliation. He gave the impression that anyone, from any religious tradition, can reach this conversion and reconciliation, with no need at all to believe in Christ or be baptized.

The result is that Christians, once again, are inoculated against giving a clear witness of their faith in words and deeds to non-Christians. They are given the impression that being a Christian essentially consists in being a "nice person" who gets along with everyone - including the Muslims who are persecuting them and driving them out of their homes and countries.  And so, with this underlying practical relativism, the Lord's commission and the Church's mission of making disciples of all nations is given a crippling blow and effectively neutralized.

6. Blurring the Doctrine: The Catechetical Crisis

In his homily, the Patriarch did not talk - even briefly - about the readings from the Word of God that were read during the Liturgy of the Word - not from the first reading, not from the Psalm, not from the second reading, nor from the Gospel. The homily was largely devoid of catechetical or doctrinal content, apart a few sentences exhorting the faithful to look to Mary who in her humility was "peaceful, pure and gentle" and at the same time "strong, vigorous, and full of hope."

Moreover, Jesus was almost entirely absent from the homily.  He was mentioned only three times, and two of these were indirect, passing mentions of the "land of Jesus" and "mother of Jesus." Only in his very last sentence did Msgr. Twal wish that Mary's son, "Jesus, the Prince of Peace give us His peace."

7. Battling Evil: Spiritual Warfare and Dormant Soldiers

With the homily focused on peace, dialogue, and social justice, and with no call or encouragement to share the Gospel with others for the purpose of their conversion and salvation, all appeals to prayer were calls to a generic and amorphous "prayer for peace." The element of prayer as spiritual battle and warfare for the salvation of souls was wholly absent from the message.

8. Lack of Prophetic and Eschatological Vision

The homily was also uninspiring in its complete lack of prophetic and eschatological perspective. Its stated aims and goals were mostly horizontal and humanistic - calling for peace and co-existence here on earth, now in this life. Nothing was said about the risks and dangers of a humanly orchestrated peace that is not based on Jesus Christ. Nothing was said about the eschatological vision of the Scriptures (confirmed by recent prophetic locutions) speaking of the rise of evil in the world, manifested by an increasing hostility of the nations against Israel.

9. The Eery Silence of Political Correctness

All of the above issues demonstrate once again that political correctness reigns supreme in the Church in the Holy Land: silence on the Church's theological and biblical roots and foundations in Israel and Judaism; silence on the anti-Israel bias of the clergy; silence on the Palestinian culture of incitement and shared Palestinian responsibility in the perpetuation of the conflict; silence on the growing Islamic oppression and persecution of Christians; silence on the Lord's commandment and Church's mission to lead all people to Christ; silence on the Church's biblical and doctrinal catechesis; silence on the need to pray for the salvation of the world and against spiritual forces of evil; and silence on the prophetic and eschatological vision of the Bible and of the Church.

10. Ignoring the Messianic and Evangelical Communities

Finally, there was also no mention in the Patriarch's New Year message of the growing impact of the Messianic Jewish communities in Israel - a prophetic movement that deserves not only the attention but also the support, help and encouragement of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land.

Conclusion

For 2012, let us pray that the Lord may grant our leaders and all Christians in the Holy Land the grace, strength and courage to be more faithful to the Lord's calling as expressed in the Sacred Scriptures and in the Church's teachings!  As we pointed out in Elephants in the Room, we suggest that this should include the following:

1. decisively rejecting neo-Marcionism, replacement theology, and rediscovering the Jewish roots of Catholicism and of the Christian faith;
2. decisively rejecting anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, and fostering among Catholics a true appreciation and love for Israel;
3. decisively rejecting anti-Israel Palestinian Liberation Theology, and supporting the Palestinian people in a way that is more respectful of Israel’s prophetic calling;
4. decisively rejecting the dhimmi mentality and stop being silent or in denial about the increasingly aggressive threat of radical Islam;
5. decisively rejecting religious relativism, and returning the role of dialogue to its proper place as a subset of the Church’s mission of evangelization;
6. establishing vigorous programs of catechesis and doctrinal formation for the faithful;
7. raising the awareness of the need for spiritual warfare, and train and equip the clergy to pass on this awareness to the faithful;
8. restoring the prophetic and eschatological vision in the Church, and translating this vision into action;
9. decisively rejecting political correctness and describing the reality in the Holy Land as it truly is.
10. restoring a genuine ecumenical openness in the Church, with a welcoming outreach to Messianic and Evangelical believers.

Christmas at the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem

Fr. Elias is the Benedictine Monk responsible for the Church at the Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion.  On the first Saturday of Advent, he shared his thoughts about how his community is preparing for the coming feast of the Nativity of Christ.

“During Advent, we light four candles on the Advent crown, symbolizing the four weeks before Christmas.  Every week, we light one more candle.  We have special songs, special prayers, and special readings, especially from the prophet Isaiah because he expresses a message of comfort and hope.”

Fr. Elias explains that the Benedictine community cherishes a particular German tradition: a special liturgy, every Friday evening of Advent, when they use no electric lights but only candle light to experience the darkness characteristic of the longing for the Messiah.

“Advent is not Christmas” says the Benedictine monk, “it’s a time of longing, of hope, of expectation, of desire.”  For this reason, the community doesn’t sing Christmas songs until Christmas itself.  Before that, only Advent songs are sung.”

“Then, on Christmas Eve, we have a party with all our volunteers and all our guests.  At midnight we have our solemn liturgy with Christmas decorations and typical German songs such as “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

After the liturgy, at about 2:30am, the whole community, including the volunteers and students, walk to Bethlehem.

“So I guess you don’t sleep much that night?” I ask him.

Fr. Elias smiles: “We sleep in the morning.  We go to the grotto in Bethlehem to pray there, then we go home, sleep a bit, and then we have the solemn Mass at 11 am on Christmas day.”

The Dormition Abbey is known to attract hundreds of curious Israeli visitors every year on Christmas Eve, so I asked Fr. Elias about them.  His first comment was that they have so many visitors that they really need a bigger church on that evening, as space is very limited.

But why so many Israeli guests, especially considering that the liturgy is celebrated in German? Why is it so attractive to them?

Fr. Elias shrugs with a smile:

“Don’t ask me. It’s the same thing in the Lutheran church.  We have the same liturgy in this form every day throughout the year, but this night is really a particular night because we sing the typical Christmas songs that everyone knows and loves.  People like our style of liturgy, and we have an organ, a choir, singers.  We also speak a bit in Hebrew, but the people really want to see and experience how we celebrate a German Christmas.”

The Benedictine monk then underlines the universal attraction of Christmas:

“Also in Germany the Masses are full, because there is a special atmosphere during this period.  Christmas time is touching: it’s a time of longing, a time for the family, with deep, universal symbols that everyone can understand.  The story of Mary and Joseph finding no room at the inn, giving birth to a baby in poverty… this is a touching story that speaks to everyone.

Fr. Elias has been 13 years in the Holy Land.  Has he seen any change in the celebration of Christmas over the years?

“It’s more or less the same.  In the last years it has become more commercial.  People have started to come with red and white caps, but this is not German: it comes from the United States and from Coca Cola.  We try to preserve the Christmas traditions and focus on the real story of the Bible, and not what is done with Santa Claus, or in advertizing and commercials. People here in Israel have some ideas of Christmas that they get from TV, but it’s not the true picture of Christmas.”

I asked Fr. Elias whether Israelis might be more open to the Gospel on Christmas or whether they just come out of curiosity.

“It’s mostly curiosity,” he replies.  “We also, our volunteers and students, are also interested in how Jews celebrate.  Sometimes we go to the synagogue, we pray the psalms every day, and we try to understand their customs.  We welcome the people, but we know that they are not Christians, and some things in our liturgy are only for Christians.  We don’t have papers where they can apply for baptism, and they are free to come and go without any obligations.”

Because of the wide cultural differences between Jewish and Christian forms of worship, between the Synagogue and the Church, the Benedictines need to instruct their Israeli guests on the basics of church etiquette:

“At the beginning of the celebration, we have to explain to them how to behave, because many people don’t know what to do in this setting.  And so we have to tell them: ‘please do this, and do this…’ Usually it works.  We have a different style of prayer, yet our liturgy is very close to the Jewish liturgy.”

Advent: Preparing for Christmas in Bethlehem and Jerusalem

Advent is upon us!  Even though the days are getting shorter, the atmosphere is becoming more festive in Jerusalem as both Jews and Christians get ready to celebrate their respective festival of lights.  This year, Hanukkah and Christmas coincide, with the celebration of the birth of Christ falling right in the middle of the week of the Jewish holiday.

Soon Jews will be lighting their hanukkiah while recalling God's Providence and faithfulness (then as now!) at a time of great need in the history of the Jewish nation.  At the same time, Christians will commemorate and celebrate the moment when "the true Light which gives light to every man" came into the world (John 1:9).

If Advent is a non-event in Jewish Western Jerusalem, it is unmistakable in the Old City, where shops of Christmas decorations and artifacts have opened and are already in full swing. Every day, coming out of my home in the Christian Quarter, I am “greeted” by several life-sized Santa Clauses, including a large inflatable one standing alongside another one playing Christmas carols on the saxophone.

Beyond the inevitable Christmas commercialism, the Christian communities are also in full gear in preparing the various Christmas events and celebrations.

As always, the world’s focus of attention will be on Bethlehem.  On Christmas Eve, at 2:30 pm, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, will arrive at Manger Square and make his solemn entry into the Basilica of the Nativity.  There will be effervescence and excitement throughout the afternoon and evening in anticipation of the festive Midnight Mass that will take place in St. Catherine’s Church (the Catholic part of the Basilica).

At the same time, low Masses in various languages will take place throughout the night in the tiny Manger Grotto, believed to be the actual spot where Jesus was born.

Pilgrims are advised that access to these events will not be easy: tickets are required and there will be tight security (Midnight Mass is usually attended by top Palestinian dignitaries and politicians).

For those looking for a more accessible, somewhat calmer and more charming alternative to the frenzy in Bethlehem, celebrating the night of Christmas at Shepherd’s Field in nearby Beit Sahour is highly recommended.  This site is believed to be the place where, according to the Gospel of Luke (2:8-15), the angel appeared to the shepherds and announced to them the birth of the Savior in the City of David.

Holy Masses will be celebrated there in all languages throughout the night, in the various grottoes and chapels lying under the same open sky from which the angel appeared to the shepherds more than 2,000 years ago.

Those staying in Jerusalem will also have plenty of options as to where to go – though for many their choice will be determined by the language they speak.

For English speakers, the Notre Dame Center, located just outside of the Old City’s New Gate, is a popular destination.  As is the tradition, Midnight Mass will be preceded by a half hour of Christmas carols (beginning at 11:30), sung by various groups and choirs from their community.  The event will take place in their conference auditorium because the regular chapel is not large enough to accommodate all the pilgrims, local Christians, and many Israeli visitors who will also want to share in a taste of the Christmas celebrations.

Another popular destination is the Dormition Abbey, rising majestically on Mount Zion on the southwestern corner of the Old City.  The fact that the Midnight Mass there is always packed with curious Israelis is particularly remarkable considering the fact that the liturgy is almost entirely celebrated in German.  The Benedictine Monks have gotten so used to their faithful Israeli visitors that they now integrate into the evening a good number of explanations in Hebrew for them.

On the northern side of the Old City, near Damascus Gate, St. Stephen’s Basilica (on the premises of the École Biblique) is the rallying point for the French Speakers.  Here, Christmas Eve Mass is anticipated at 9:30 pm, celebrated with great dignity and beauty by the French Dominicans.

On the Protestant side, at Christ Church, near Jaffa Gate, visitors can look forward to warm hospitality beginning already at 6 pm in the courtyard with coffee, refreshments and biscuits, along with some carol singing and time for fellowship and discussion.  This will last until the Christmas service at 10:30 in the church, expected to last until well after midnight.

These options are only a small sample of the many celebrations that will take place on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem and Jerusalem (click here for the full schedule of events).  With Masses, services and celebrations occurring at all times throughout the evening and night, those armed with enough strength and courage to face the crowds might want to try some “Christmas Service hopping,” going from place to place to experience as many facets as possible of Christmas in the Holy Land.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2011: Main Catholic Celebrations in Bethlehem
Christmas 2011: Full Schedule of Catholic Celebrations in Bethlehem and Jerusalem

Palestinian Christians: Cutting the Branch on which They are Sitting?

Recently I stumbled upon a Facebook page called "Palestinian Christians." It drew my attention because it posted a shocking eulogy glorifying arch-terrorist Yasser Arafat. Arafat is considered by many to be the father of modern terrorism. The legacy he left behind at the time of his death in 2004 was decades of brutal terror attacks against innocent civilians. As CAMERA reports:

groups under Arafat's direct or indirect command – including Fatah, Black September, Tanzim and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade – were responsible for hundreds of bombings, hijackings, assassinations and other attacks, including the 1972 murder of 11 of Israel's Olympic athletes in Munich, the 1973 murder of the American ambassador to Sudan, Cleo Noel, and the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruiseship (resulting in the murder of wheelchair-bound Leon Klinghoffer).

For a complete overview of Arafat's bloody legacy, see CAMERA's compilation of Yasir Arafat's Timeline of Terror.

Nevertheless, this horrific murderous legacy did not prevent our group of Palestinian Christians from eulogizing Arafat as the true hero of the Palestinian people in the following words:

Palestinian Christians: Yasser Arafat 1929 – 2004, the Freedom Fighter, the Man, the Father, the Hero, the Legend, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner, RIP. We Miss You! We Love You! We Need You! God Bless Your Soul!

The following conversation ensued in the comment thread of that initial post, which we thought was interesting enough to reprint here. At this time you may find the original thread here, though there is no guarantee that the group will not delete part or all of it at some point.

Catholics for Israel: Why do you honor the father of modern terrorism, a man with so much blood on his hands? It is hard to understand how Christians can praise a man with such a tainted legacy. You bring shame on the Palestinian Christians. If you want God to bless and keep the Palestinians Christians, you should dissociate yourself from such terrorists, not praise them. It's really sad to see how Palestinian Christians, despite all their hardships, have lost their moral compass and integrity and stooped down to honoring one of the greatest instigators of violence of the past generation.

Jacko: why do you honor the state of terrorism that was founded over the blood of my Christian family and people? a state that ethnic cleansed more than 750,000 innocent civilians thousands of them were Christians and Catholics... a state that bombed and destroyed dozens of Christian and catholic churches... a state that stole and confiscated our land and is right now stealing and confiscating more land from Christian and Catholic families in Beit Jala including a Catholic monastery and winery... a state that has murdered, inured and jailed hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians including thousands of Christians and Catholics including many clergy and nuns... a state that is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gods name?

How dare you to call urself Catholics or even Christians when you go against the teaching of the Catholic church that recognize Zionism is an anti-Christ heresy.

You have lost all you immorality [sic] and you are no better than any other terrorists and terrorists sympathizers who murder others in God's name and claiming to be doing God a favor and helping Him reaching Hid plans, as if He is unable to do it Himself!

You need also to take some classes in humanity and history to learn to distinguish between terrorism and the right to defend and protect your family and your nation. Yasser Arafat is a Freedom Fighter and he, just like all of us, has every single right to resist the zionist satanic occupation of Jesus Land!

it's our duty as Palestinians to defend and protect ourselves and our families, and our duty as Christians to resist the evil

Palestinian Christians: Catholics for Israel: you are a shame on Christians in general and especially on Catholics. You are not real Catholics or even Christians anyways.

What's your position on stealing and confiscation Christian properties and Catholic monastery in Beit Jala to build a new Zionist colony for the newly non-Semite Zionists?

Catholics for Israel: wow, so many cliches, lies, distortions and exaggerations. Jacko, would you be so kind to list precisely the names and locations of the "dozens of Christian and catholic churches" that Israel has bombed? The tragedy of the Palestinian Christians is undeniable, and Israel is certainly not always without fault, but to ignore or whitewash the constant Arab aggression and denial of Israel's right to exist, to support the falsification of history, conveniently rewriting it by erasing the Jewish connection to the land and inventing a mythical "Palestinian narrative", to glorify Arafat the father of modern terrorism, responsible for the death of not only thousands of Jews but also tens of thousands of Arabs - those things are certainly not "Christian".

We are certainly against Israel's confiscation of Christian properties in Beit Jalla if this is truly happening (unfortunately, very often Palestinian claims tend to be false or largely exaggerated). For example, the claim that the Catholic Church teaches that Zionism is an "anti-christ heresy" is of course completely false. See the statement of Cardinal Schoenborn for example.

And by the way, we are "for Israel" but we are also "for" the Palestinians. We pray for God's blessing and peace upon you and wish you well. We know you have suffered much from the conflict. But we wish to encourage you to stop committing spiritual suicide with your anti-Israel attitude. Israel is the root and foundation of our faith. Do you not read the Bible? Israel appears nearly 3,000 times in the Holy Scriptures, and "Palestine" does not appear even once.

Look at what Muslims are doing to Christians all over the Middle East. Christians are being massacred all over the Muslim countries, yet you persist in blaming the only country in the Middle East where Christians have full freedom of religion and where the number of Christians are growing! (we know, we are Christians living in Israel).

Dear Palestinian Christians, stop bringing this curse upon yourselves by praising terrorists and blaming Israel. Remember that the Word of God itself says "Blessed is he who blesses you [Israel], and cursed is he who curses you" (Gen 12:3, Num 24:9). Remember that St. Paul said "as regards election [the Jews] are beloved for the sake of their forefathers, for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable" (Rom 11:28-29). And the most important of these irrevocable gifts to the Jewish people is the land of Israel.

So let's pray together that peace, justice and blessing may come to you, the Palestinian Christians. But this blessing must begin with your own conversion from your anti-Israel hatred that is bringing a curse upon you according to the word of God. We know that Israel has made lots of mistakes and we pray also for their own conversion, and that God would give you the strength not only to forgive the Israelis but also to love them like Jesus loves His own people.

May the blessing of the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, come upon you dear Palestinian Christians.

Jacko: wow... so many lies, fabrications, hatred and ignorance in ur response which makes us real doubt ur loyalty and if u really a Catholic or even a Christian as most likely u r a mossad paid agent to spew Zionist propaganda to misinform and mislead naive catholic and to support the racist colonial secular Zionist terrorist anti-Christ state that was founded by terror and over the blood of my Christian family and my people.

as for a list of the churches bombed; it's a well known fact and proven by many international wel-known and credible historians including Jewish & Israeli ones that Israel has ethnic cleansed more than 2/3 of the Palestinian people in 1948, around 750,000 innocent civilians, dozens of thousands of them were Christians. Moreover, Israel has wiped off the map more 550 Palestinian villages and towns, and also many of them were purely Christians like Mujaidel, Ma'loula, Hasake, Iqreth, Ber'im... not to forget the burning and bombing of Christian churches such as the Annunciation Basilica in Nazareth, 2 Baptist Churches in Jerusalem, a Christian Alliance church in Jerusalem, the Nativity church, Saint Anthony Catholic church in Jaffa/Yaffa that was fire bombed and shooted at by a Zionist terrorist militant, Saint Barbara church, a 4th century church in the Christian village of Aboud near Ramallah... not to forget that in the last Zionist war and terror against Gaza in 2008-2009, Israel has murdered 3 innocent Christians, bombed and destroyed many Christian homes and businesses... and also all Gaza's Christians churches and schools were bombed by the Zionists

You also need to spend more time to read the Bible to know that the source of our faith was NEVER Israel... and also to learn the difference between Biblical/Spiritual Israel aka Jacob and Zionist Colonial anti-Christ Israel....Biblical Zion is NOT the same as political terrorist Zionism.

Here are just a small example of the Zionist terror against the Christians and Churches in Palestine:

Christians Discriminated Against by Israel

Orthodox Jewish youths burn New Testaments in Or Yehuda

Israeli settlers burn church in Jerusalem

Gaza Baptist Church Destroyed by Israeli Strikes

Jewish extremists burn Narkis Street Baptist Church in Jerusalem

Church Building in Israel Set Ablaze

Who is the Terrorist: Hamas or Israel?

Greek Orthodox Church in Lebanon bombed by Israel

Enjoy what ur Zionist masters are doing to ur "fellow" Christians & Catholics:

Jerusalem Christians Denied Access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Catholics for Israel: It's sad to see that you prefer to continue in your anti-Israel hatred that is bringing a curse upon yourself and upon your people rather than choosing a better path. If you hate Israel so much and you think you will be much better off with the Muslims, why don't you go live in Gaza under Hamas? You know the Muslim saying "First Sabbath, then Sunday" - meaning that first the Muslims will kill the Jews, and then the Christians. What will you do then, still blame Israel?

You conveniently omit the fact that the ARABS launched the 1948 war and committed their own share of massacres (every day I go by the memorial stone of the Hadassah convoy massacre when 79 civilians, mostly doctors and nurses, were ruthlessly gunned down by Arabs). You also conveniently "forget" the 8,000 rockets launched by Hamas against Israeli cities that caused the tragic 2009 Gaza war.

I don't know why you see "hatred" in our response. We love the Palestinian people and wish them well. Everyone knows that there are Jewish extremists and some serious problems in Israeli society - and it's fine to condemn them. But to condemn the various *incidents* is not the same as just hating Israel like you do.

As for your rejection of Israel as the foundation of our faith, this is like cutting off the branch of the tree upon which you are sitting. Remember what St. Paul writes in the NEW Testament: "They are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ." (Rom 9:4)

 What is "Christian" about your FB page? It's just a forum of anti-Israel hatred and venom. There is very little about it that is edifying or positive. Don't you see that you are cursing yourself and your own people by attacking and hating the Jews who are "beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:28-29)

As for the Israelis "denying access to the Holy Sepulchre" - this is a complete joke. I was there. The reason why they set up roadblocks is because there are so many people trying to get to the church that they would get crushed to death if there were no restrictions. If this farcical accusation is an indication of the other articles you cite, I would have a hard time believing any of them!

 You are very good at hurling insults, but not very good at replying to the facts. What exactly are the "lies" and "fabrications" or expressions of "hatred" in our previous posts? And how do you explain that the cardinal responsible for the Catechism of the Catholic Church agrees that the return of the Jews to their land is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy?

Once again, we plead with you to stop bringing a curse upon your own people and upon the Palestinian Christians. Repent from your anti-Israel hatred! Choose LIFE and BLESSING for the Palestinians by blessing and loving the people of Israel. As hard as this might be, this will do infinitely more for your people than all the anger and hatred that you are expressing now. You know the Lord is calling you to forgive and to love your enemy. DO IT! Renounce your way of hatred and choose life and blessing for the sake of your people and your children!

Jacko: Bla Bla Bla... typical Zionist propaganda that no one believes in anymore, even Israelis and Jews do not buy it as we all know better... you asked for a list of Zionist crimes against Christianity, and I see that u did not even comment on them or even condemned such satanic terrorist acts or showed sympathy to the victims of the Zionist crimes and terror... which proves that u r not a catholic or even a Christian; but as I said it before you are a mossad paid agent that is using naive Catholics to misinform and mislead them and have them to support the anti-Catholic and anti-Christ state that was founded by atheists, Christ-deniers and terrorists over the poor of the poor indigenous Palestinians and Christians of Jesus Land

it's sad that u r going against the teachings of the Catholic church! u r a hypocrite and a Zionist who follows the heretical teachings of the anti-Catholic Dispensational Theology that was founded last century by anti-catholic heretics!

James: Zionism is anti-Judaism and anti-Christ! it's heresy

Mansur: The jews of Jesus's time are not the same Jews of today. The israel of 2000 years ago is not today's israel. The name was stolen and used to get people to support the modern state. "God's Chosen people" who are they? What is Israel of the bible? these are two very important questions to answer. God's chosen people are people who believe in God and not a religious group or an ethnic group. Israel of the bible refers to the people of God in the entire world and not a state that was build on the blood of palestinians. The modern state of Israel does not follow the word of God. Many of its citizens are secular jews and do not believe in the God of Abraham. We the palestinian christians are the first people to receive the message of the lord and we have been faithful to that message through ages. Why do we not support the modern state of Israel "if the bible says so"? because the modern state of israel is not the israel of God. The Israel of the lord is his church and people all over the world and not a state that was build against the very basic fundamentals of both Judaism and Christianity.

Christian Zionism differs from church doctrine, due in part to its being developed by anti-state church clergymen and theologians in England. Today its views find significant support among the charismatic, Pentecostal and independent Bible churches in Protestant fundamentalism. Christian Zionists often view mainline Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic denominations with hostility and have at times considered the World Council of Churches and related bodies to be tools of the Antichrist. In the Holy Land, Christian Zionists have been hostile toward Palestinian Christians and generally detest Muslims as evil forces worshipping another God. Recent comments by Christian Zionists such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham (the son of evangelist Billy Graham) have added to the suspicion with which many Muslims view the Christian West.

Catholics for Israel: Jacko prefers cheap insults to rational discourse, so there is not really anything more worth saying to him, except that of course we condemn the incidents he mentions - at least those that are true. Some are isolated incidents that were condemned by the Israeli government and the majority of Israelis (burning of NT in Or Yehuda, shooting in church in Jaffa, attack on Baptist church); others are tragic accidents of wars provoked by Hezbullah and Hamas (Lebanon, Gaza), and others are complete bogus (Israel blocking access to Holy Sepulchre). We can only hope for Jacko to repent from his hatred so that he may stop being a curse to his own people, and choose instead forgiveness and reconciliation so that he may instead be a blessing to the Palestinians.

Mansur's position is the classic idea of 'replacement theology', the idea that the Church has replaced Israel as God's chosen people.  The Catholic Church now clearly rejects this false teaching, as clearly expressed in Nostra Aetate 4. Affirming God's eternal election of the Jewish people is not a idea that is limited to dispensationalism, it is also the clear teaching of Scripture and of the Catholic Church.

Many Palestinian Christians, including many of the clergy, still embrace the heresy of replacement theology because they think that supporting Israel means to support injustice against them, or to approve of every single action carried out by Israel, or to be generally against the Palestinians.  These claims are completely false - at least in our case: as "Catholics for Israel", we love the Palestinian people and wish the best for them. We also think that some actions of the Israeli government, army or individuals are wrong, and have no problem in criticizing them in some cases.

Unfortunately, many Palestinian Christians are completely fixated on their own agenda of Palestinian liberation theology. They hijack the Gospel to achieve political aims, while at the same time constantly spewing anti-Israel venom and hatred (like Jacko). In other words, they are Palestinian first, and Christians second.

Mansur's position that "Israel" is in fact the Church cannot be substantiated in any way by Scripture.  The NT uses the word "Israel" over 70 times, and in all cases (except one or two which are ambiguous), "Israel" always means the Jewish people - never the Church.  God's election of Israel never depended on whether Israel was faithful to God or not: the prophets constantly condemn Israel for their sins, but NEVER do they say that God has definitely rejected them.  The Church is grafted into the root of Israel, as St. Paul writes (Romans 11), and he warns us not to become arrogant against our root, Israel, because if we do, God can cut us off from grace.

This is in continuity with Gen 12:3 and Num 24:9: He who blesses Israel will be blessed; he who curses Israel will be cursed. Jacko is a sad example of the latter: full of hatred and anger against Israel and hardly reflecting the love of Christ at all, unable to engage in rational discourse and only capable of hurling insults.

Mansur continues with some bizarre claims that are unfortunately quite common among Palestinian Christians. Although false and quite unprovable, they find it necessary to constantly repeat them in order to substantiate their delegitimization of Israel:

"The jews of Jesus's time are not the same Jews of today" - how should this be proven? Apart from a trickle of conversions throughout history, it is clear to any serious historian that the Jewish people have been extremely strict in keeping and protecting their identity throughout the ages. And once again, the fact that they have tragically rejected Jesus does not cancel out God's election or his purposes for His people. The Jewish people remain the Jewish people.

Mansur also claims that "we the palestinian christians are the first people to receive the message of the lord" - with all respect, this claim is nonsense. The first Christians were all Jews - JEWS!  Just read the Acts of the Apostles. There was no such thing as "Palestinian Arab Christians" in the first century in the land of Israel - but rather Jews, Samaritans, Romans... and then later Byzantine (Greek) Christians. Arabs came much later.

Enough said. Again, we wish the best to our Palestinian Christian brothers, but find it very sad that they continue to sabotage their own cause by disrespecting and undermining God's eternal covenant with Israel, the root upon which their own faith is grounded.

Frank Sinatra’s Support of Israel & the Jewish People

According to Blue-Eyes.com, Francis Albert Sinatra may have been one of America ‘s most famous Italian Catholics, but he kept the Jewish people and the State of Israel close to his heart, manifesting life-long commitments to fighting anti-Semitism and to activism on behalf of Israel .. Sinatra stepped forward in the early 1940s, when big names were needed to rouse America i nto saving Europe’s remaining Jews, and he sang at an “Action for Palestine ” rally (1947). He sat on the board of trustees of the SimonWiesenthal Center; and he donated over $1 million to Jerusalem's Hebrew University, which honored him by dedicating the Frank Sinatra International Student Center.. (The Center made heartbreaking headlines when terrorists bombed it in 2002, killing nine people.) As the result of his support for the Jewish State, his movies and records were banned in some Arab countries.

Sinatra helped Teddy Kollek, later the long-serving mayor of Jerusalem but then a member of the Haganah, by serving as a $1 million money-runner that helped Israel win the war. The Copacabana NYC nightclub, which was very much run and controlled by the same Luciano-related New York mafia crowd with whom Sinatra had become enmeshed, happened to be next door to the hotel out of which Haganah members were operating. In his autobiography, Kollek relates how, trying in March 1948 to circumvent an arms boycott imposed by President Harry Truman on the Jewish fighters in Eretz Yisroel, he needed to smuggle about $1 million in cash to an Irish ship captain docked in the Port of New York. The young Kollek spotted Sinatra at the bar and, afraid of being intercepted by federal agents, asked for help. In the early hours of the morning, the singer went out the back door with the money in a paper bag and successfully delivered it to the pier.

The origins of Sinatra’s love affair with the Jewish people are not clear but, for years, the Hollywood icon wore a small mezuzah around his neck, a gift from Mrs. Golden, an elderly Jewish neighbor who cared for him during his boyhood in Hoboken, N.J. (years later, he honored her by purchasing a quarter million dollars’ worth of Israel bonds). He protected his Jewish friends, once responding to an anti-Semitic remark at a party by simply punching the offender. Time magazine reported that Sinatra walked out on the christening of his own son when the priest refused to allow a Jewish friend to be the godfather. As late as 1979, he raged over the fact that a Palm Springs cemetery official in California declared that he could n ot arrange the burial of a deceased Jewish friend over the Thanksgiving holiday; Sinatra again — threatened to punch him in the nose.

Sinatra famously played the role of a pilot in Cast a Giant Shadow, the 1966 film filmed in Israel and starring friend Kirk Douglas as Mickey Marcus, the Jewish-American colonel who fought and died in Israel’s war for independence (Sinatra dive-bombs Egyptian tanks with seltzer bottles!) He donated his salary for the part to the Arab-Israeli Youth Center in Nazareth , and he also made a significant contribution to the making of Genocide, a film about the Holocaust, and helped raise funds for the film. Less known is Sinatra in Israel (1962), a short 30-minute featurette he made in which he sang In the Still of the Night and Without a Song. He also starred in The House I Live In (1945), a ten-minute short film made to oppose anti-Semitism at the end of World War II, which received an Honorary Academy Award and a special Golden Globe award in 1946.

A 1975 benefit concert recorded live in Jerusalem was officially released only in Brazil. Frank’s in fine form in STILL another impossible to find cd. Oy Vey !