Patriarch on mission of peace
Church leader visits Scranton
By Maureen Manzano TRIBUNE REGIONAL STAFF 05/31/2002
The leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church urged the United States to persevere in working to resolve the Middle East conflict.
"I think we have to speed the peace process," said His Beatitude Gregory III Laham, Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem. "We see where generations more and more are growing in terror, in frustration."
Patriarch Gregory, as chief bishop of the Melkite Church, is second to the Pope, who is the chief bishop of the Western Church. He voiced his pleas for peace at a news conference during the first-ever visit by a patriarch to Scranton.
There are 250 million Arabs in the Middle East, he said, which is similar to the United States' population. Most of the Arabs are Muslim, leaving about 50 million Christians.
Patriarch Gregory said he has concern for the Christians in the midst of the conflict and he believes Christians can serve as a peacemaking element.
He said he also believes the Internet can be a powerful tool for promoting peace by offering alternatives to the violence and frustration.
"The future of the Arab World is democracy, a new outlook," he said. "With a new vision, it all depends on the speed of the peace process in the Middle East. Not everything is business and politics. There is a human aspect."
Patriarch Gregory recently issued a plea for peace to both the world and President Bush. He said he also wrote to the president before - following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, and the tragic siege at the Church of the Nativity.
He said the United States has a very important role in the peacemaking process, which is why he often says, "God Bless America."
"It is a very difficult task," he said. "We pray for America. It is a very difficult duty to fulfill the mission of the world."
Patriarch Gregory also took part in the 105th anniversary celebration Thursday of St. Joseph's Melkite Greek Catholic Church in West Scranton. Lackawanna County Judge Robert and Trish Mazzoni and Mayor Chris and Donna Doherty were also among the guests at the anniversary celebration.
The church is the third oldest Melkite church in the country.
"We're privileged to have our shepherd here," said the Rev. Philip Azoon, pastor of St. Joseph's. "Our Holy Father says we have to breathe with two lungs - the Eastern and the Western Church. We are also partners with the Latin church."
The historic day also gave way to a reunion of former classmates, the Most Rev. James C. Timlin, bishop of Scranton, and Archbishop John A. Elya, eparch of the Melkite-Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton. The Newton, Mass., eparchy or diocese includes all Melkite churches within the United States.
St. Peter's Cathedral provided the setting for an ecumenical prayer service to welcome Patriarch Gregory to the area. Also participating were the Most Rev. John F. Swantek, prime bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church; the Most Rev. Walter Paska, auxiliary bishop, Metropolitan Ukrainian Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and the Rev. Gary L. Harke, executive director, Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
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Were there no Orthodox bishops present? Archbishop Herman of the OCA lives only a short drive from Scranton... And no Ruthenian Catholic bishop? (Though granted, the Patriarch is no doubt visiting St. Ann's in West Paterson NJ which is less than a mile from Bishop Andrew Pataki's residence/chancery.)
Too bad the article didn't explain that the Melkites are Byzantine Catholics. Other Byzantine Catholics are numerous in northeast Pennsylvania, while St. Joseph's is the only Melkite church in the whole state. And that line about the Patriarch being "second to the Pope" is rather bizarre.
