The blanket bombing of civilian populations in Gaza cannot be justified and must end, Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran has said.
“It seems to me that present war in Gaza calls for a very clear response from Christians. Without denying to the State of Israel the right to actively defend its people and its territory, I think it has to be said very clearly that the blanket bombing of civilian populations and the destruction of everything that is necessary to sustain life simply cannot be justified. It must end and it must end immediately. This is a message which we can all communicate respectfully to those who need to hear it,” said the Bishop in his Homily for the Mass of the Nativity.
He said the present violence in the Holy Land is the result of decades of sectarianism, racial intolerance, and greed. Against that background, it seems almost impossible to build trusting relationships.
"We are blessed to live in a society where we can come and go in peace, and where we do not have to see our sons and daughters going off to war. But peace cannot be taken for granted in any society. We know that from own history. It needs to be constantly worked and, and we do that by building up the common good, which is the good of each and of all. That includes basis essentials like equal access to healthcare and to adequate housing,” he said.
“In recent times, unfortunately, we have seen signs of racism, sectarianism and greed in our own communities, which undermine trust. We cannot afford to ignore that. We need to actively promote respect for every person in our society and make sure that nothing we say or do would in any way contribute to undermining it. In that way, we allow Jesus Christ to enter again into our human history, to bring the healing of God to a fractured world, and to bring the lasting peace of which Isaiah spoke."