RELATED:Saudi King to Ahmadinejad: 'We still need Lebanon'US expresses concern to Beirut over Ahmadinejad visit “If he wants to make demonstrations, let him do so back home in Iran. Lebanon must maintain a very difficult and sensitive balance between opposing religious and political factions.”Several of the Arab correspondents covering the Synod questioned the use of the word “Israel” in Pope Benedict XVI’s Sunday liturgy because they felt that this biblical reference could be misconstrued as a reference to the modern Jewish nation.“This is a sensitive term and could be interpreted as referring to the state,” one journalist said.“It means ‘the people of God,’” Audo explained.“Different Catholic liturgies [Coptic, Syrian, Maronite, etc.] will be used day by day,” he added.The bill approved by the cabinet Sunday that would require an oath of allegiance to the “Jewish, democratic state” also sparked debate.“It seems to me to be a contradiction in terms,” said Antonios Naguib, the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria. “This changes Israel from a ‘democratic’ to a ‘theocratic’ state, just like most of its Muslim neighbors, making it impossible for Israel to continue claiming to be the ‘only democracy in the region.’”The 250 Synodal fathers are stressing the need for the separation of religion and state in the Middle East, where Christians are a tiny minority.Instead of “secularism,” generally abhorred by Muslims, they have chosen the goal of “positive laicism” – as opposed to “negative laicism,” which permits what they call “Godless legislation” on issues such as euthanasia and gay marriages.Two weeks of discussions ending on October 24 are aimed at strengthening Christian unity against inroads of Islamic extremism causing massive Christian emigration from the area.The Synod will receive its one Jewish-Israeli guest speaker, Rabbi David Rosen, on Wednesday. Rosen is an adviser to Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and international director for Inter-religious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee.
Syrian bishop: Ahmadenijad’s antics not welcome in Lebanon
Chaldean Catholic Bishop of Aleppo tells 'Post' Lebanon is concerned about the consequences of Iranian President's visit.
RELATED:Saudi King to Ahmadinejad: 'We still need Lebanon'US expresses concern to Beirut over Ahmadinejad visit “If he wants to make demonstrations, let him do so back home in Iran. Lebanon must maintain a very difficult and sensitive balance between opposing religious and political factions.”Several of the Arab correspondents covering the Synod questioned the use of the word “Israel” in Pope Benedict XVI’s Sunday liturgy because they felt that this biblical reference could be misconstrued as a reference to the modern Jewish nation.“This is a sensitive term and could be interpreted as referring to the state,” one journalist said.“It means ‘the people of God,’” Audo explained.“Different Catholic liturgies [Coptic, Syrian, Maronite, etc.] will be used day by day,” he added.The bill approved by the cabinet Sunday that would require an oath of allegiance to the “Jewish, democratic state” also sparked debate.“It seems to me to be a contradiction in terms,” said Antonios Naguib, the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria. “This changes Israel from a ‘democratic’ to a ‘theocratic’ state, just like most of its Muslim neighbors, making it impossible for Israel to continue claiming to be the ‘only democracy in the region.’”The 250 Synodal fathers are stressing the need for the separation of religion and state in the Middle East, where Christians are a tiny minority.Instead of “secularism,” generally abhorred by Muslims, they have chosen the goal of “positive laicism” – as opposed to “negative laicism,” which permits what they call “Godless legislation” on issues such as euthanasia and gay marriages.Two weeks of discussions ending on October 24 are aimed at strengthening Christian unity against inroads of Islamic extremism causing massive Christian emigration from the area.The Synod will receive its one Jewish-Israeli guest speaker, Rabbi David Rosen, on Wednesday. Rosen is an adviser to Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and international director for Inter-religious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee.