English Wall

The 14th annual Conference organised by ICO (Initiative Christlicher Orient – Christian Orient Initiative), an organisation aimed at raising awareness of the situation of Christians in the Middle East, kicked off yesterday in Salzburg with an appeal by Mgr. Ludwig Schwarz to show greater solidarity with Christians in the Middle East. The Bishop of Linz stressed the “great dangers but also the opportunities” for Christians, linked to “political and social changes in the Arab world. It is still unclear whether the ‘Arab spring’ will bring about a change for Christian minorities too or whether they will be overwhelmed by the events”. According to Belgian priest Fr. Frans Bouwen, an expert who has been working in Jerusalem for 30 years, the future of Christians in the Middle East region can be ensured by a “lasting peace” to which “the West too can contribute in a significant way”, he added, appealing to political and Church leaders. “The examples of Iraq and Egypt show that minorities are immediately put under pressure when there is a lack of central state authority”. For “religious, political and ethnic extremists” immediately take advantage of any “power vacuum”, Fr. Bouwen warned.

© www.agensir.it - sept 20th 2011