Religious Intelligence: Israel chides US Presiding Bishop

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Claims that the Israel discriminated against Jerusalem’s Anglican and Lutheran bishops by blocking their attempt to enter Gaza last month are unfounded, the Israeli government has declared.

On March 10, the Israeli Embassy in Washington released a statement chiding US Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and Lutheran Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson for erroneously concluding the two bishops had been singled out.

The two church leaders wrote Ambassador Sallai Meridor on Feb 6 to express their “grave concerns” and to seek an explanation for “the denial of entry to Gaza” on Feb 4 of the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, the Rt Rev Suheil Dawani, and the Lutheran Bishop of Jordan and the Holy Land, the Rt Rev Munib Younan.

Read it all.

Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori • * International News & Commentary • Middle East • Israel

5 Comments
Posted March 13, 2009 at 3:15 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. dwstroudmd wrote:

Baseless ECUSA/TEC accusations, as usual.  Has the PB made a move to depose the Israeli government yet?  Poor Lutheran guy, following the crowd, too.

March 13, 3:33 pm | [comment link]
2. Terry Tee wrote:

From this very terse report I do not see why the Israeli government is vindicated.  Why did three other members of the delegation proceed?  Was it because they were not residents/citizens of Israel?  And why should this be sufficient reason to allow some to proceed into Gaza, and others not?  Moreover, surely the later visit on March 10th could have been a response to earlier the complaints of discrimination, so that is not a vindication either.  Journalism ain’t what it used to be.  All kinds of loose ends left in the story.

March 13, 5:20 pm | [comment link]
3. TomRightmyer wrote:

The Israeli government story leaves me confused.  Why were Israeli citizens and legal residents excluded?  And what is the status of the two prelates?

Tom Rightmyer, Asheville NC

March 13, 7:45 pm | [comment link]
4. Intercessor wrote:

Refreshing to hear an Episcopal missive not rattling the Peter Akinola cage. Must have run low on spin.
intercessor

March 13, 11:39 pm | [comment link]
5. Albany+ wrote:

Never before has there been a Church with such moral certitude about matters political and so little of it in matters theological.

March 14, 9:42 am | [comment link]
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