Purely Commentary
Archbishop Raya's
Passion for Justice
Views of an eminent Catholic dignitary
on religion and politics in Israel, made
available from the text of an interview he
had given before leaving the Jewish state,
emerge into special significance at this
time, especially
because of the
dispute that is
still being kindled
by the Vatican.
After seven
years as Greek
Catholic Arch-
bishop in Haifa,
Nazareth and
other communi-
ties in Israel,
Msgr. Joseph
Raya left to re-
side in a monas-
tery in Toronto,
Canada, and
teach at Canadian
universities.
Before leaving
Israel, he was In-
terviewed on his
Archbishop Raya
experiences in,
,impressions of and attitudes on religion and
politics in Israel. The interview was re-
printed in the Swiss magazine Maccabi in
French. From the French text an English
translation has been prepared and it un-
doubtedly serves as one of the most valu-
able documents on Christian relations with
Israel and a noted cleric's opinions on major
issues.
Msgr. Raya was critical of Israel's ex-
pulsion of Arabs_ from villages bordering on
Lebanon. It was an act taken as a security
measure, but the Catholic Archbishop was
a leader in the protests against such actions.
He also was critical of Israel failure to pro-
vide housing for impoverished in whom the
eminent Christian became personally inter-
ested.
There were Israelis who disagreed with
Msgr. Raya's criticisms, yet he also had
strong support for his views in Israel. Re-
gardless of the differences, his attitudes on
all subjects deserve as much of a platform
as his supporting sentiments of Israel. In
its totality, the Raya statement comprises
a declaration that should be rated among
the most important relating to Israel's role
in the society of ,mankind and the world
political community.
WHO LIVED IN JERUSALEM?
Discussions about the future of Jeru-
salem too often ignore the fact that for
a century-and-a-quarter - as far back
as we have any reasonably accurate sta-
tistics - this ancient city had a majority,
or at least a plurality, of Jews in its
population.
Year
1844
1876
1896
1905
1913
1922
1931
1948
1967
1968
Jews
7,120
12,000
28,112
40,000
48,400
33,971
51,222
100,000
195,700
210,000
Moslems
5,000
7,560
8,560
7,000
10,505
13,413
19,894
40,000
54,963
55,000
Christians
Total
3,390
15,510
5,470
25,030
8,748
45,420
13,000
60,000
16,750
75,200
14,699
62,578
19,335
90,503
25,000
165,000
12,646
262,309
13,000
278,000
The table is •ased on census figures,
the Calendar of Palestine, the Encyclo-
pedia Britannica, several books, and fig-
ures provided by the Israel Central Bu-
reau of Statistics and the city of Jeru-
salem.
Especially* on the subject of Jerusalem,
Msgr. •aya's experiences are vital to all
the discussions still raging in many quar-
ters, and especially in the Vatican. Msgr.
Raya fearlessly exposed the feuds among
Christians in the Holy City. He courageous-
ly upheld Jewry's rights in Israel. The in-
terview is too vital not to be given fullest
consideration. That is why it is presented
here in the English translation from the
French (prepared by the World Jewish Con-
gress Institute for Jewish Affairs) after the
eminent theologian's statements to the He-
brew newspaper Ha'aretz.
2 Friday, January 31, 1975
-
Monsignor, what do you think of the role
played • by the Christian Church in the
search for a just solution to the Middle-
Eastern conflict?
In my opinion, the Christian Church has
failed totally in everything concerning the
Israel-Arab conflict. Because she has stray-
ed very far from the teaching of Our Lord
Jesus. She no longer obeys his command-
ments, and as for her activity in this part
of the •world, she is 'busier playing politics
than trying to create a good basis for under-
standing and fraternity. I hope that things
will evolve with time. I don't forget that
during the two, even three first years of my
service here, priests who were subordinate
to me spat upon the. Because I was preach-
ing love •and brotherhood: tru e love for
Israel and true brotherhood with the Jewish
people. And then their attitude changed,
towards me and towards•the state, at least
I hope so. And some among them, who
were insulting me and denouncing me for
taking sides, come to me and say "Is it
possible?", and I answer them: "The will
of God triumphs, but you, you too, must
want and act accordingly."
But it is evident that your non-conformist
opinions are not supported in the Vatican.
Pope Paul VI, having heard your recrimin-
ations against the ecclesiastical establish.
ment, said drily "Have you gone mad?" As
for your predecessor in Haifa, the Patriarch
Hakim who is now in Damascus, he tried
more than once to put a spoke in your
wheel. Do you think that an isolated
"regional commander" would have a chance
of modifying the opinions and acts of a
complicated ecclesiastical administration,
hundreds of years old? Let's take as an ex-
ample your declaration concerning the fu-
ture of Jerusalem.
First, one cannot accept compromise
when it's a matter of questions of con-
science. •I fight for my opinions because I
believe them to be just. If it is true that the
Christian establishment prefers to hide
things, and if it is equally true that in high
places, among us, people don't like to listen
to independent opinions, I cannot, for my
part, make compromises where there is a
question of conscience. Those who demanded
from me explanations about my position
concerning the status of Jerusalem were
numerous and diverse. But among them, it
was the •reek-Catholic patriarch who was
the most insistent. Last month, I explained
myself before the synod of Greek-Catholic
bishops which was held at Ain-Traz.
Could you tell us what you declared to
the synod?
• Yes. My opinion on Jerusalem is based on
the Jewish, Moslem and Christians Scrip-
tures. And I conclude from them that we
Christians must retire from Jerusalem. I
know that annoys many people, but even
anger can do nothing to alter the truth. In
Genesis (12.7) we read: "'God appeared to
Abraham and said: 'It is to your decendants
that I will give this land.' So Abraham built
there an altar to God who had appeared to
him." And in the second book of Samuel
(7:5 and 11-13) we read the word of God that
Nathan brings to David: "Are you the man
to build me a house to dwell in? ... God will
make you a house. And when your days are
ended and you are laid to rest with your
ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of
your body after you and make his sovereign-
ity secure. It is he who shall build a house
for my name, and I will make his royal
throne secure for ever." And this too must
be said: since the exile in Babylon, the Jews
always make this vow: "Next year in Jeru-
salem"; and during the Jewish marriage
ceremony, the husband says "Jerusalem, if
I forget you, may my right hand whither"
(Psalm 137:5).
History and reality prove to us that the
Jews consider Jerusalem as the center of
the world. They fight each other for the
privilege of being buried there. And when
it's a question of Jewish Jerusalem, there is
no longer any difference among Orthodox
Reformed, conservative or liberal Jews. The
fact that Jerusalem-Zion is holy is undeni-
able, even for Jewish socialists. Jerusalem
is the agent which unifies all the parties of
Judaism. For the Moslems too, Jerusalem
has a great religious importance. The mos-
que of El-Alcsa is the third in the order of
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
1 1 . 1 . I. 1 11, 1
Church is Challenged by Churchman in Msgr. Raya's
Expose of Divisiveness Among Clerics and His Firm Defense
of Israel's Right to Jerusalem and Statehood.
By Philip
Slomovitz
importance for Islam, after Mecca and Me- ding night in the same room as their parents
dina. A pilgrimage to Jerusalem assures the and a young brother. This is inhuman, and
soul's immortality for the Moslem. Jerusa- does harm to our cause - the cause of
lem has an important place in the Islamic brotherhood. There is no brotherhood with-
out mutual respect. Also the fact that people
rite.
But there is no obligation for Christians must pay a rent for lodgings they consider
to visit any sanctuary or holy place. We to be a family property causes them not
have no duty to make pilgrimage not even only worries, but a terrible humiliation. We
to Jerusalem. Jesus teaches us, in Matt- know so well that desperation and humili-
hew's words (18:20): "Where two or three ation are very close to violence.
During the Yom Kippur War I gave my
meet in my name, •I shall be there with
them." In John (4:21-24) we read that when blood for Israeli soldiers. When you are
a Samaritan woman had asked Jesus which attacked, you must defend yourself, that is
was the most suitable place for prayer, clear enough. But I am formally opposed
Jesus replied: "Believe me, woman, the to violence and terror as political weapons.
hour is coming when you will worship the After the drama of Ma'alot, I went to the
Father neither on this mountain nor in people there to tell them: "My brothers,
Jerusalem ... God is spirit, and those who your blood is my blood." They were 7, -4
idle words. Jesus never rejected his J
worship must worship in spirit and truth."
Do you mean that the sanctity of Jerusa- ism. Wasn't his blood Jewish blood: _Jo
lem is devoid of meaning for Christians? isn't it just to say that your blood is ours
For almost a thousand years Christians and our blood is also yours?
Monsignor, you have often stressed your
have been fighting each other for the privi-
lege of maintaining certain places in Jeru- love for Israel and your loyalty towards
salem, and no little blood has been shed for its state. How then are we to understand
your participation in the political campaign
that.
This idea has no foundation in the New about the demand of the displaced persons
Testament. On th e contrary, the Gospel from Bar'am and Ikrit who wanted to return
teaches us that the body of the Crucified is to their villages? Set up, from abroad, by
our sanctuary. Of course, the mystical the enemies of Israel, this campaign was
power of Jerusalem has on effect on Chris- above all supported here by leftist Jewish
tians too. For we give importance to all the circles who are hostile to the state and by
Arab extremists who want to destroy it.
places where Jesus lived and taught.
To love the state of Israel and its people
But what one sees in Jerusalem now is
not the Christian Church in her beauty - does not mean to accept the wrongs that
it is sects disputing imaginary rights and certain officials or ministers can do. But I
little people squabbling over the right to must say it very clearly: I have not made
light a candle at the Holy Sepulchre. Can a political campaign. I placed myself at the
we have forgotten that the tomb is empty? head of a struggle for elementary human
What is happening today in Jerusalem is in rights, rights which are founded among
complete opposition to that simplicity, that other things on a decision of the supreme
spirituality and that pure love the Gospel Israeli court. I have fought for the mem-
speaks of to us. The very fact that we bers of my community-but also for a more
argue and dispute about what we consider just state of Israel. When I realized that the
as sacred would be enough to change pro- struggle was taking a turn that would be
foundly the definition of "our rights" in the harmful to the state of Israel, I acted so
1161y Land. If the Church feels the real as to mitigate it.
But to conclude talking about this sad
desire to be catholic, that is to say universal.
she must renounce everything which makes affair, let me warn those responsible: Open
her lose her unity and her greatness. For your eyes, before it's too late, before reject=
Jesus said (Matthew 5:29): "If your right ing too many people in the camp of the
eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and enemies of 'Israel.
Among the clergy you don't seem to
throw it away; for it will do you less harm
to lose one part of you than to have your have an equal for unleashing spiritual
storms, social struggles and intense theolo-
whole body thrown into hell."
Has your resignation any other motives gical debates: a Catholic prelate in a Jew-
than your opinions on Christians in Jerusa- ish state - constantly submitted to the
pressures of two parties - how is this?
lem?
It is the most edifying experience that a
I'm resigning as a sign of protest against
the distortion of the teaching of Jesus about believer could dream of. Our origin is here,
the establishment of the Church, the distor- isn't it? And aren't My feet treading the
tion which is given concrete form by the ground that our fathers' fathers trod?
politicizing of the problem of Jerusalem. At Wasn't Jesus a Jew, up to his death? It's
the same time, I'm resigning because of the certainly an experience of spiritual uplift
exaggerated and illicit meddling in the af- that could not be degraded by any material
fairs of my diocese and because of the element.
Before arriving at this post, I traveled a
attempt at playing politics with declarations
which claim to be purely moral and reli- long road. I was born in Lebanon. I
studied in Jerusalem for about 10 years,
gious.
Have you enjoyed religious freedom in then 'I was appointed director of a college
Israel and have you found a common for religions in Cairo. I left Farouk's Egypt
for the United States. I studied English at
language with the authorities?
Not only have I enjoyed a complete reli- university for three years. Then 'I decided
gious freedom, but a respectable freedom. to go south, and I was appointed bishop
There are many countries with a religious in Birmingham, Ala bam a. For 19
freedom on the formal level, but in practice years I participated in the struggle for civil
it is linked with a great number of base ac- rights, those of the black people of course. I
tions. That is not the case here. And I would learned many things, I acquired experience.
rather emphasize the correct 'attitude of the Then, when Archbishop Hakim left Galilee
authorities towards myself and my Church. and Haifa to become Patriarch of our
Over the years I have had direct dealings Church in Damascus, he suggested that I
with the Prime Ministers - Eshkol, Golda come to replace him. He thought that I was
Meir and Rabin. Often I have talked to the right man in the right place, becau--- of
them about the problems of my community. the similarities that can be seen lx.
I cannot say that I have always found the situation of the minority in the scali.,, of
a complete comprehension. I •have received the United States and here.
But since then "a black cat has passed
many promises. Unfortunately they have
very often not been kept. One cannot deny between you", and you are no longer in
that there is discrimination in Israel in sev- agreement even on the essence of this im-
eral fields, the right to housing, to work, portant post?
My resignation can serve as your answer.
to a respectable life. The discrimination• be-
tween Jews and non-Jews creates grave feel- But before leaving, I should like to take
ings of bitterness, to which I hav e constant- advantage of this interview to address a few
ly been the witness. I have often tried to words of farewell to the people of Israel:
convince Mrs. Meir of the necessity of chang- I have a vision of the future, that of a great
ing, for example, the law on the properties and strong Israel.
of absentees.
Do not forget-even if you succeed in
Many members of my community live in bringing 20 million Jews here - that the
houses in bad condition belonging to parents Arab world is more numerous. Act in-
who are in the Arab countries. Young mar- telligently, but act quickly, or you will have
ried couples are obliged to spend their wed- lost your chance.