Patriarch Raï to Maronite synod: Church and government must respond to citizens' needs

Primate's warning to prelates: be men of prayer and mercy, example and reference for the faithful. Concerns about the resumption of the school year and lack of funds. The unresolved issue of Palestinian and Syrian refugees. Consultations to appoint the next premier begin June 23; likely confirmation of outgoing leader Mikati. 

Beirut (AsiaNews) - "Our bad governance disgusts everyone. Now is the time to decide before the eyes of the world whether or not we deserve this country and its pluralistic soul." Strong words from Maronite Patriarch, Card. Beshara Raï, for the political class concluded the two week annual synod of the Maronite Church on June 18.

On the political level, the primate addressed a plea in very clear terms for Lebanon to have a government and for the presidential term to be held within the timeframe stipulated by the Constitution. Consultations with the head of state for the appointment of the new government leader begin next June 23, and, well-informed circles note, there is a good chance that current Prime Minister Nagib Mikati will be reappointed in the post. 

The synod had opened with a particularly trenchant exhortation, addressed in this case to the bishops present. "Our people are criticizing us, they have lost their respect for us and are turning away from the Church because of us," charged the head of the Maronite Church, calling on the prelates to be men of prayer and mercy. "We should not," he added, "blame our priests and our people, but ourselves. 

According to Msgr. Mounir Khairallah, bishop of Batroun, this warning should sound as a wake-up call to the bishops, in reference to the risks they run "of undermining the trust of the faithful, already betrayed by the political class." A European diplomatic source reports that "the call for an examination of conscience and an inner renewal of the Church is never too much, but the important thing is first of all what we do."

The patriarch's disgust at observing the "mismanagement" of the country's government is shared by the people. It adds up to a mounting ire, only partly cooled by the prospect of a promising tourist season, as nearly a million visitors are expected in Lebanon by summer. These are overwhelmingly expatriate Lebanese returning home in the summer season to visit families, but whose financial contribution turns out to be crucial to the survival of a nation in extremis.

However, this contribution remains insufficient for the upcoming school year, which is already of great concern to the synod of Maronite bishops. "The educational mission of the Church," Bishop Khairallah stressed, "is in danger; it must be saved at all costs. For the time being, it is not known how it will be developed, except through international aid, private and public, and with the support of some major Christian ngos, including L'Œuvre d'Orient and the French government. AsiaNews itself has been campaigning for support for Lebanese schools in recent months. The commitment of nongovernmental organizations is crucial, knowing full well that three out of four Lebanese families are forced to choose between eating, taking care of themselves, heating, having electricity or paying school fees for their children.

The final communiqué, released at the conclusion of the synod, places a great deal of responsibility in this area on the shoulders of banking associations held "responsible for the seizure of funds" from account holders. Also in the dock is Parliament itself, which is called upon to legislate in a hurry so that these deposits "become accessible as soon as possible."

In addition, the head of the Maronite Church called on the international community and the United Nations to find "a definitive solution to the presence of refugees and displaced persons, Palestinians and Syrians, on Lebanese soil." The cardinal went on to denounce the "integration, installation and naturalization" projects fueled by some, believing that this could be beneficial to "the independence to the stability and unity of Lebanon" and the "covenant of common life that serves as its foundation."

The patriarch then welcomed the resumption of the activities and funding of the UN refugee agency (Unrwa), but considered it "insufficient" for the state's needs. In reference to Israel's policy, he continued, "which causes more and more displaced people among Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip," the Lebanese state must negotiate with the Palestinian Authority, the Arab League, the United Nations and major powers "the redistribution of refugees to nations that can absorb them demographically and guarantee them a dignified personal and social life."

The Maronite bishops also reviewed the situation of Maronite episcopates abroad in relation to the fact that more and more Lebanese, especially among recent graduates and young couples, are choosing to leave the country, at least temporarily, until the crisis is behind them. According to a church source, the emigration of Lebanese is directed, at the moment, to Gulf nations where there are job offers, as well as, although of a more modest nature, to Canada and Australia. "But it is mainly in the Gulf," the source stressed, "that we need to follow them on the pastoral level.

In principle, the Maronite synod should have taken a position on new movements, groups, communities that have emerged in recent years and live without clear pastoral leadership, that have no bishop of reference and no well-defined statutes. However, the final communiqué does not mention this aspect. The Maronite Church and the Vatican fear that due to insufficient spiritual formation, these groups become frozen in ideologies or narrow visions of the Church, while they want them to be given adequate attention on the pastoral level.