Posted by Sadie from ? (160.129.109.128) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 at 5:45PM :
In Reply to: This men have the right idea posted by Sadie from ? (160.129.109.128) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 at 5:43PM :
CHRISTIANS IN JORDAN REMAIN AGAINST US-LED ATTACK ON IRAQ
Courtesy of Jordan Times (23 March); by Natasha Twal
(ZNDA: Amman) The Christian community in Jordan is uniting its voice to condemn the globally controversial US-led war now under way on Iraq.
From conducting special prayers for peace to issuing statements against the war, Christians from different denominations all agree in their stand against the war.
Latin Bishop of Amman Salim Sayegh said the ongoing war in Iraq is "unjustified" and "unjust" adding that the Latin Vicariate of Amman has issued a statement calling for peace and is collecting funds to assist Iraqi refugees and third country nationals.
According to Sayegh, the stand of the Latin Vicariate, which includes all Latin churches here, complies with that of Pope John Paul II.
Speaking on the Italian religious channel, "Telepace," the pontiff said Saturday the war was threatening "the fate of humanity ... Violence and arms can never resolve the problems of men," exclaimed the Pope.
Head of the Melkite Catholic Church Father Nabeel Haddad issued a statement denouncing the war, calling on those involved to listen to their "conscience" and respect human rights.
"We are saddened and frustrated by the military action against Iraq that could not be stopped by the cries for justice," Haddad said.
Haddad, whose church is conducting continual prayers for peace, particularly during the Lent season, said: "We stand here as a single nation from different origins — both Christian and Muslim — to stop these ugly actions."
A call for peace also came from the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) that is arranging a `prayer day' on Monday, which will include readings from the Holy Bible, the singing of hymns and children lighting candles.
"We have sent invitations to all of our 125 associations around the world to join us in prayers Monday and to light candles for peace," head of the YWCA, Reem Najjar, explained to The Jordan Times.
The vigil is to be held at Saint Mary of Nazareth Church in Sweifieh and "is open to both Muslims and Christians," said Najjar.
In addition to the condemnations of war in Iraq, Evangelical churches in Amman are cooperating with the Red Crescent in providing aid to third country nationals in the Ruweished camps.
Through the Jordanian Evangelical Committee for Relief and Development, established during the first Gulf War, the churches are providing $8,000 worth of daily food assistance, according to the committee's spokesperson Issam Hijazeen.
"A total of 30 young volunteers left for Ruweished last Friday to help provide food to displaced nationals crossing the border," Hijazeen said, adding that the committee has set up its own kitchen towards that end.
Retired Christian teacher and mother of four, Suad Shatara, expressed her condemnation of the US-led war.
"Of course I do not support this unjust war, where both young and old are being massacred for no specific reason," said Shatara, adding that Christians and Muslims here are "one nation that suffers the same pain from this injustice."
Mother of two and active member of the Roman Orthodox Church in Sweifieh, Sawsan Sahhar, strongly condemned the war as well.
"I am against the killing of innocents and against the disruption of a sovereign country by outside forces," said Sahhar, saying any change in Iraq, if it must occur, should happen from within.
Jordan is presently home to some 170,000 Christians, representing five per cent of the country's five million citizens.
-- Sadie
-- signature .