Middle East Bishops Appalled at Massacres
Episcopal News Service. October 7, 1982 [82213]
LONDON (DPS, Oct. 7) -- The bishops of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East have issued a statement in which they express their horror at the recent massacres near Beirut and "emphasize that in no way can the perpetrators of these atrocities be regarded as Christians."
The Anglican prelates said that if these persons are called Christians, "this is merely to identify them as non-Muslims or non-Jews. The followers of the way of Christ," they assert, "could not possibly participate in such evil acts."
The bishops called on Christians to pray for the Anglican Church in the Middle East "that in our small way we may in love and service deepen our friendship with our brethren of the other great religions of the Middle East."
The statement was signed by Bishop H.B. Dehqani-Tafti of Iran and President Bishop of the province; Bishop Faik Haddad of Jerusalem; Bishop Leonard Ashton of Cyprus and the Gulf; and Canon Brian de Saram, vicar general of the Diocese of Egypt.
The full text of the late September statement follows:
"The Bishops of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East cover vast territories which extend from Libya, Ethiopia and Somalia, from Cyprus to Iran.
"They are fully aware of the tension and conflicts and suffering which tear apart some of the countries within their dioceses, and probably no Province of the Anglican Communion is in greater turmoil.
"The Bishops however, are particularly appalled by the recent massacres in the Beirut and Palestinian camps, and wish to emphasize that in no way can the perpetrators of these atrocities be regarded as Christians. If they are so called, this is merely to identify them as non-Muslims or non-Jews. The followers of the way of Christ could not possibly participate in such evil acts.
"We implore our fellow Christians to support the Churches of the Middle East in their prayers, that in our small way we may in love and service deepen our friendship with our brethren of the other great religions of the Middle East."