Lisburn councillor meets with Jerusalem church leaders

LISBURN Councillor Ronnie Crawford recently met with leaders of the three main churches in Jerusalem during their visit to the City Hall in Belfast.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Apr 2013, 12:12 BST
From left:The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Rev. Dr. Peter Madros; the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Archbishop Theodosius Hanna and Rev. Canon Dr. Naim Stifan Ateek, from the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.From left:The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Rev. Dr. Peter Madros; the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Archbishop Theodosius Hanna and Rev. Canon Dr. Naim Stifan Ateek, from the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.
From left:The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Rev. Dr. Peter Madros; the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Archbishop Theodosius Hanna and Rev. Canon Dr. Naim Stifan Ateek, from the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.

“It was a great privilege to meet leaders of the three main churches in Jerusalem in Belfast City Hall recently,” said Mr Crawford.

“Each of them outlined the difficulties faced by Christians living in an increasingly divided society dominated by Israeli forces and their concern at the continued decline of the indigenous Christian population in the very land in which Christianity was born.

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“The continuing compulsory acquisition of land by the Israeli government to accommodate foreign immigrants in what have become colonial settlements in the occupied territories is also a matter of concern, as are the daily abuses of human rights and the ever-growing security walls which are creating a state of apartheid which the international community needs to condemn.

“The leaders are anxious that Christians everywhere give priority to prayer for peace and justice in the Middle East,” added Mr Crawford.

Related topics:JerusalemLisburnCity HallBelfast