Al-Rahi Slams Politicians for 'Destroying' the Nation, Causing Arms Proliferation
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday urged officials to have loyalty to their country by ending its crises and keeping it at a distance from the sectarian turmoil, accusing them of having a “destructible” behavior.
“Politicians should respect Lebanon as a state and people, and only have loyalty to it,” al-Rahi said in his sermon during a mass he held in Bkirki.
He said the officials should work on resolving the country's political, economic and security crises in addition to distancing it from “confessional conflicts and regional axes in accordance with the National Pact and the Baabda Declaration.”
Al-Rahi pleaded for coexistence so that the Lebanese could be united.
The people should work on making the nation meet the expectations of the international community and mainly friendly countries similar to what President Michel Suleiman did when he met with world leaders and addressed the U.N. General Assembly, he said.
The patriarch felt regret at the death of Lebanese asylum-seekers in a boat accident in Indonesia.
“They were after a good livelihood in Australia which they couldn't find in Lebanon,” he said.
The vessel, carrying an estimated 120 asylum-seekers from Lebanon, mainly from the town of Kabiit in Akkar, Jordan and Yemen, sank in rough seas Friday. The death toll rose to 28 people on Sunday after more bodies were found in the sea.
They were heading for Australia's Christmas Island.
Al-Rahi blamed the “neglect” of the authorities and political leaders for the death of the asylum-seekers.
“They are obstructing the formation of a new all-embracing and capable government … and paralyzing constitutional institutions,” he said.
He also accused them of worsening the differences among the Lebanese and creating bad economic conditions.
Al-Rahi condemned what he called the “destructible political behavior” that tarnishes the nation's image.
“The proliferation of illegitimate arms that lead to security chaos are caused by their neglect and the differences between political parties,” he said.
29 September 2013, 14:10
76
Batrak, if you despise them so ,much as we do, please refrain from hanging out with them. Instead, hang out with the faithful people, the believers....
29 September 2013, 18:45
35
unfortunately politicians will stay deaf to the patriarch wisdom words...
not a single one cares about lebanon or its citizens. not a single one!
but citizens keep on supporting them and happy to be effed by them! so i guess lebanese have the politicians they deserve as no one opposes them, each one saying the party i support is the best blah blah blah...
29 September 2013, 19:22
24
if rahi is against weapon proliferation, corruption, thugs, drugs, lawlessness, assassinations, bombs, threats, rebellion then why doesnt he just speak directly and name bachar assad, hasan nasrallah, michael aoun, sleiman franjieh, SSNP, and the likes of march 8 ?!1 stop speaking generally while turning a blind eye to the real enemies of the state!
29 September 2013, 20:30
02
This is why Men of Cloth do not belong in politics. You'll have an imposter working under the color of religion.
29 September 2013, 21:20
23
unfortunately an arms race starts when one party arms itself and forces other parties to catch up. in lebanon's case, hizb iran didn't do itself any favors starting the war with israel in 2006 and the takeover of beirut in may 2008, not to mention being implicated in the hariri assassination.
actions have consequences and blowback--up to now, hizb iran has refused to accept any consequences and their involvement in syria blown holes in their 'resistance' defense.
29 September 2013, 21:27
13
When are we going to have our country before anything else. I have left Lebanon 25 years ago because I thought this country could never be fixed and indeed I was right. I still love Lebanon and will always be in my heart. What I don't like is seeing all these religious people inciting violence and upheaval. when are we going to take care of economics and finding jobs for the masses instead of engaging in meaningless war and division. ironically, I believe Lebanon should not have existed in the way it was created by the superpowers. The multiple religions have proven to be unsustainable. Poor Lebanon.
30 September 2013, 11:39
00
If the Lebanese were united one could have penetrated them. The Lebanese are a scattered nation without compass or aim. They always were like that and will always be the same. A country with no plan and aim. A country with fighting religious sects. If you're unable to see that, I can't change you nor can I change your mind. My opinion is that lebanon as it stands is not viable. From our independence, we had more than 60% of our years fighting each other. I know that most Lebanese are sentimental and me included; but since I left for Canada, I became more realistic because I saw how religion in this country doesn't count. In my opinion, religion is the cause of all evil.
