The next Episcopal Synod of the Middle East (10-24 October 2010) for the Eastern Churches “plays an almost historical role. The evangelical message, as it has to be embodied in the socio-political environment, needs margins of freedom for everyone, and therefore also for the so-called Christian minorities that have been rooted in the Eastern land for millenniums”. This was stated in an interview with SIR (on line at www.agensir.it ) by the Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians (Lebanon), Ignace Youssif III Younan, who will chair the Synod, along with card. Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches. Speaking of the subject of the meeting, “The Catholic Church in the Middle East: communion and testimony”, the patriarch insists that, while on one hand “the Eastern Churches are experiencing communion better than in the past, on the other hand the testimony is being increasingly banned by the Islamic majority, and I am speaking in particular of freedom of conscience and the freedom to publicly announce the Gospel without being accused of doing proselytism”.
According to the chairman of the Synod, “speaking in general, calling for instance to peace and mutual openness or being ‘politically correct’, is not enough. Countries and regimes of the Middle East should persuade the Western world that their citizens, all citizens, have the same rights and enjoy, in truth and in practice, freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, which are fundamental rights for the survival of the Christian communities which are entitled, without misunderstandings, to be respected as veritable citizens. Otherwise – the patriarch concludes – the exodus of Christians will go on and will become extremely critical, with no going back”.

© SIR - 11 maggio 2010