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Pressing needs in Lebanon include more solidarity at the humanitarian level as well as strong advocacy among political leaders to underscore “that Christians cannot be the sacrifice of any policy, that Christians need to be protected.”
That was the assessment of Father Paul Karam, president of Caritas Lebanon, as he outlined the country’s plight during a Nov. 18 press conference at the headquarters of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) at the New York Catholic Center in Manhattan.
Caritas Lebanon, in collaboration with CNEWA and Catholic Relief Services, addresses the needs of the poor in Lebanon. Such needs include those of Iraqi and Syrian refugees.
Father Karam, who is from Kartaba, Lebanon, was accompanied by Bishop Gregory Mansour of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn.
The Christian presence in the Middle East “is very dynamic in Lebanon,” Bishop Mansour said.
“For years they’ve been serving the native poor Lebanese. Now, on top of that, they’re serving perhaps 1.6 million Syrian refugees, as well as the Iraqi refugees,” he said. “It’s the symbol of Christ’s presence for the poor that Pope Francis has been talking about, and Father Paul is doing it.”
Christian-Muslim dialogue is a reality in Lebanon not just theologically and spiritually but also practically, Bishop Mansour said. “It takes place when Caritas … is serving every day Muslims and Christians from the same hand—they don’t distinguish.”
The same day as Father Karam’s visit, CNEWA announced that its president, Msgr. John Kozar, had rushed an additional $382,011 in emergency funds to alleviate the suffering of Iraqi and Syrian refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan, Jordan and Lebanon. In addition, funding partners in Germany have awarded CNEWA an initial grant of $124, 522 to assist its work with displaced families in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The funds will target those most in need served by local church partners. An allocation of $36,150 will help the Good Shepherd Sisters feed and clothe 155 refugee children in Lebanon for a three-month period.
An agency of the Holy See, CNEWA works throughout the Middle East, with offices in Amman, Beirut and Jerusalem. CNEWA works for, through and with the Eastern churches, rushing aid to refugee families; providing maternity and health care for the poorest of the poor; assisting initiatives for the marginalized, especially children, the elderly and disabled; and offering formation and supporting the education of seminarians, religious novices and lay leaders.
Lebanon’s Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops has called for the international community to work toward peace in Syria and Iraq and for putting an end to terrorist organizations.
At their annual meeting Nov. 10-15 at Bkerke, the patriarchal seat of the Maronite Catholic Church, north of Beirut, the prelates addressed pastoral, national and regional issues. In its final statement, addressing the presidential vacuum that has plagued Lebanon for six months, the council said lawmakers “must assume their responsibilities and elect a president.”
Lebanon has been without a president since May, when the term of Michel Suleiman ended, because legislators have failed to agree on a successor. Under Lebanon’s power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Catholic, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of the parliament a Shiite Muslim.
The political fragmentation comes amid increasing instability in Lebanon, with sporadic clashes in the north between Islamic State-inspired militants and the army.
The patriarchs and bishops called on officials “to rise above their disputes and support the army and all other security agencies in Lebanon.”
Despite the difficulties, “We still have hope,” Father Karam added. “We are people of hope.”
Catholic News Service contributed to this report.
