Patriarch Rahi said patriotism is based on the life of brotherhood and unity
A group of ‘independent Christian figures’ on Sunday held a meeting at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa on regional developments and the fate of the Christians as expressed by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi lately.
The meeting discussed national and political affairs and the outcome of the alignments and conflicts in Lebanon, inside and outside state institutes, and in the Arab world, state-run National News Agency reported.
The conferees also discussed “the situations the Christians are going through, especially in the hotspots, and the repercussions of the sudden changes on their freedoms and existence.”
“Given what Lebanon is going through and the dangerous developments in the region, and the concerns they raise, as expressed by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, especially over the fate of the Christians, we believe, as independents, that we have to shoulder the responsibility of drafting an unchained national plan for the future,” the conferees said in a statement issued after the talks.
The plan in question would “tackle the main central issues away from the mentality of alignments, for the sake of a pluralistic civil state and the drafting of a new social contract,” they said. Another meeting will be held on January 20 to discuss a paper that is currently being drafted by a specialized committee.
Rahi: Patriotism based on brotherhood and unity
In Sunday’s sermon, Rahi called for the establishment of a civil and democratic state that takes as its starting point the National Pact which has laid the foundation of the country’s multi-confessional system.
“Lebanon’s political and social system should be fair and respect all the Lebanese. Officials should not search for privileges for themselves or their sects,” he stressed, adding “patriotism is based on the life of brotherhood and unity.”
“Rulers should assume all their national responsibilities and work immediately to come up with a clear and solid economic design based on development,” the Patriarch said.
