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Pope Addresses Status of Arab Christians
Pope Benedict XVI has declared that he will be convening a Synod of Bishops in the Holy Land in October 2010, to discuss the problems faced by Christians in that area. The Synod, or assembly of clergy, will be the first regional Syond held in modern times, according to Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, who is the acting secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops.
The focus of this Synod will be to promote healthy inter-religious dialogue in an area of the world known for its explosive inter-religious tension. Moreover, the Church has expressed concern at the dwindling number of Arab Christians in the Middle East, a demographic that could be an invaluable asset at promoting peace between Western Christians and Muslims.
The percentage of Arab Christians in Israel and Palestine, those Christians living for the past 2000 years in the areas where Jesus walked preaching his ministry, has dropped from 13% in the late 1800’s to just 2% today, according to Don Belt, senior editor for foreign affairs with National Geographic Magazine.
Faced with horrific unemployment rates, many Arab Christians have emigrated to better job markets in other countries. Further, Arab Christians are often identified with Christians of the West, those Christians who have waged war against Muslim nations in the Middle East, and are therefore treated with hostility. Indeed, many Arab Muslims have viewed the Western presence in the Middle East a another Crusade against their religion and against their holy lands.
At a time when Christian-Muslim relations hang by the most delicate thread, it is crucial for the Arab Christian population to remain strong. The idea of such a Synod on the current status of Christians in the Middle East is not new; however, October 2010 will mark the first time such a Synod has convened.
Thomas Porter
Baltimore Religion Examiner