Beirut?s Daily Star newpaper reported on the statement issued by the Council of Maronite Bishops, which called for equality for Lebanese Christians. The statement said, according to the Star, ?that the nation?s economic and social crises would not be solved as long as certain people remain marginalized and prohibited from participating in political life.?
The meeting at which the statement was drawn up was headed by Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, who also stated, ?Certain Christians feel marginalized and excluded from public life, which pushes a lot of them to emigrate, feeling they do not have a role to play in their country, whether on the political, economic, social, legislative, administrative or cultural levels.? In a broad allusion to the recent crackdown on Christian loyalist parties and activists in Lebanon, the Beirut daily reported, the Maronite priest ?called upon the government to stop characterizing the nation as good citizens and traitors...? Going further, Sfeir is reported to have ?criticized the interference of security agencies in politics and denounced illegal detention and the violation of people s human rights.?
Then, Sfeir complained, government regulations and red tape ?discourages expatriates from investing in Lebanon?. It is thus not surprising if the Lebanese economy deteriorates, factories close down and Lebanese laborers fail to find jobs, young university graduates emigrate to where they can find a job that satisfies them, the prelate said.?
The meeting at which the statement was drawn up was headed by Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, who also stated, ?Certain Christians feel marginalized and excluded from public life, which pushes a lot of them to emigrate, feeling they do not have a role to play in their country, whether on the political, economic, social, legislative, administrative or cultural levels.? In a broad allusion to the recent crackdown on Christian loyalist parties and activists in Lebanon, the Beirut daily reported, the Maronite priest ?called upon the government to stop characterizing the nation as good citizens and traitors...? Going further, Sfeir is reported to have ?criticized the interference of security agencies in politics and denounced illegal detention and the violation of people s human rights.?
Then, Sfeir complained, government regulations and red tape ?discourages expatriates from investing in Lebanon?. It is thus not surprising if the Lebanese economy deteriorates, factories close down and Lebanese laborers fail to find jobs, young university graduates emigrate to where they can find a job that satisfies them, the prelate said.?