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PAGE 14 — The Georgia Bulletin, November 9, 1989 Christians Attack, Humiliate Lebanese Patriarch BKERKE, Lebanon (CNS) — About 100 Lebanese Christians broke into the head quarters of Lebanon’s Maronite patriarch late Nov. 5, dragged him out of bed and made him kiss pictures of Gen. Michel Aoun, head of government in the Christian zone. The attack followed Patriarch Nasrallah B. Sfeir’s warning, which appeared to be directed at Aoun, that Lebanon risks disintegration without calm being shown over the election that day of a Maronite president. The president was chosen under terms of a new peace agreement aimed at ending more than 14 years of warfare in the country. Aoun has rejected the agreement and the new president, who is known to be friendly with Aoun’s Syrian enemies. Police said the protesters — chanting slogans in support of Aoun, and waving Aoun posters — drove to the patriarchate in the hills north of Beirut and set fire to tires in the compound. They forced their way into the building and started small tires in several offices before forcing Patriarch Sfeir to kiss a picture of Aoun, police sources said. They also removed a portrait of Pope John Paul II hanging behind the patriarch’s chair and put up a picture of Aoun in its place. A statement from the patriarch’s office said a 40-man unit of Aoun’s troops assign ed to the patriarchate did not try to stop the protesters. It was believed to be the first such attack on the leader of Lebanon’s most powerful Christian church by fellow Christians in the modern history of the country, church sources said. After the incident, the patriarch moved to his summer residence in Diman, in Syrian-controlled northern Lebanon. The incident occurred around midnight, hours after Parliament elected Rene Moawad as president of a national recon ciliation government. Aoun, appointed head of an interim government in September 1988, did not recognize the elec tion and refused to leave the presidential palace. The elections were held as part of the terms of an Arab League-sponsored peace plan. Parliament met in northern Lebanon, out of reach of Aoun’s artillery. Earlier in the day, Patriarch Sfeir said during a homily: “What is happening here (in Lebanon) is grave and extremely dangerous, and no one should underestimate it. If it grows, it will lead to the partition and disintegration of the whole region...the Lebanese are bored with news of violence, fighting and war. They long for security and peace. “We call on everyone to remain calm and appeal to all leaders to handle things slowly and calmly,” the patriarch said. The patriarch — unlike Aoun — did not denounce the election. On Nov. 4, Archbishop Pablo Puente, apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, met with Aoun. Afterward, Archbishop Puente call ed the situation “one of the most critical moments in the life of Lebanon.” “Anything can happen: chaos, partition and a renewal of war,” the archbishop said. “The church cannot remain neutral in the face of the possibility of a repeat of war and suffering. It is a moment for the Lebanese, especially Christians, to be united and to make concessions, because when faced with a minor evil and a total evil, sometimes one must choose the minor evil, even if this involves sacrifices.” That message, or portions of it, are said to have originated with Pope John Paul II. Sources said the pope was told recently by a prominent Lebanese Maronite, Ray mond Edde, to prepare for Lebanon’s burial because of the worsening political situation. At the Vatican, an official who deals with Maronite affairs, Msgr. Luigi Marinelli of the Congregation for Eastern-rite Churches, said the attack on the patriarch’s headquarters was “a very serious act and has made a strong impres sion on us.” But he said it was necessary to remember that these “acts of vandalism and violence are daily facts of life” after 15 years of war. “Unfortunately, the Lebanese people have become used to this kind of violence,” he said. Msgr. Marinelli criticized Aoun, saying it was “too bad that he has been taken in by his own absolutism.” “He should have understood that it is not possible to continue to wage war forever,” he said. He said it also was unfortunate that Aoun decided to oppose the peace pro cess instead of making a contribution to it. Msgr. Marinelli said the peace plan was seen at the Vatican as “the lesser evil.” There was disappointment that it did not immediately resolve the issue of Syrian troops in Lebanon, but he said “it should be accepted” because it has a good chance of stopping the fighting. Moawad, 64. lived in Syria in self-exile in 1957-58 following a conflict with then- President Camille Chamoun. The new president is from northern Lebanon where there are traditional ties of trade and fami ly with nearby Syria. He held the posts of minister of post and telegraph, public works, and education during the 1958-62 administration of President Fuad Chehab. Mahony Protests Israeli Blockade WHITE OAK FARM • Guided Hunts • Season Memberships Local Mass For Weekend Hunters White Oak Farm Rt. 3 Box 454GB Jackson, GA 30233 404-775-2619 Georgia Bulletin Ads Bring Results!! WASHINGTON (CNS) - The head of the U.S. bishops’ foreign policy committee ex pressed dismay over what he called Israel’s unjustifiable blockade of a predominantly Christian village in the oc cupied West Bank. He also expressed the bishops’ support for the Catholic leadership in the area. Archbishop Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, chairman of the Committee on In ternational Policy, said he was particular ly concerned that Christian leaders were barred by Israeli troops from bringing food and other supplies to the village of Beit Sahour. “1 have noted with dismay the reports of the continuing blockade of the village,” he said. “I am particularly concerned that the Christian church leaders, including the Latin patriarch, were prevented by the Israeli military from exercising their pastoral and charitable obligations.” The archbishop made his protest in let ters sent in late October to Israel’s am bassador to the United States, Moshe Arad, and to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs John Kelly. The residents of Beit Sahour, a village of approximately 10,000 people near Bethlehem, peacefully withheld tax payments to Israeli occupation authorities through a six-week blockade of the village by Israeli troops. The blockade ended Oct. 31 in what many saw as a draw. The villagers claimed a victory over Israeli authorities, but the Israelis say they got the revenues they wanted through the sale of villagers’ property they had confiscated. “We will not finance the bullets that kill our children,” Beit Sahour residents said in a statement issued during the protest. The army seized property such as cars and household goods from tax resisters to auction off in an effort to make up for the lost tax revenues. News reports estimated more than $1.5 million in property had been seized. Army officials said that many residents would like to have paid their taxes, but were afraid of being branded as col laborators. CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM INTEGRATING THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY WITH SPIRITUAL FORMATION Preaching Institute Professors: Dates: Paul J. 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