by Ryan Jones, Israel Today
A Catholic synod called at the Vatican to address the rising persecution of Christian in the Middle East wrapped up on Saturday with a joint statement that focused a lot of attention on demanding Israel end its “occupation” of Arab lands.
The gathering was meant to address the various acts of persecution, intimidation and discrimination that are resulting in a severe dwindling of Christian communities across the region.
But the bulk of the two-week meeting was spent discussing how Israel is the root cause of all the Middle East’s woes, including those faced by its Christians.
The final statement reflected that position. It listed the “occupation” of Arab lands, the building of Israel’s security barrier, military checkpoints, the jailing of terrorists (defined in the statement as “political prisoners”) and the general disruption of Palestinian life as some of the main reasons behind the exodus of Palestinian Christians and Muslim attacks on the Jewish state.
Cyril Salim Bustros, the Lebanon-born Greek archbishop of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Boston, Massachusetts was responsible for delivering the final statement.
In clarifying remarks, he stated that “the Holy Scriptures cannot be used to justify the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of the Palestinians, to justify the occupation by Israel of Palestinian lands.”
He then escalated the situation by declaring that the original promises made by God to the children of Israel “were nullified by Christ. There is no longer a chosen people.”
Bustros rejected the idea of Israel as “the Jewish state,” and insisted that eventually all the so-called “Palestinian refugees” must return to the land, a sure recipe for the demographic destruction of the world’s only Jewish nation-state.
Mordechai Levi, Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican, decried Bustros’ comments and the damage they had done to strengthening ties between Israel and the Church.
The Catholic Church has for years been trying to repair its image as an institution steeped in anti-Semitism. But Bustros’ remarks make fairly clear that the Vatican remains as dedicated as ever to replacement theology – that teaching that says God has tossed aside the Jews, despite is irrevocable promises to them, and that “the Church” has instead inherited those promises.
How far off-base this guy is!!!!!!!!!!! I know he has no biblical kinowledge at all. God never breaks His promises. That land was promised to Isreal many,many years ago. Noone has the power to disolve any of Gods promises. Isreal will come out victorious in the end. When the Prince of Peace returns Isreal will then know true and lasting peace.
As an ex catholic I would say this is how they think. They replaced God with the pope and Jesus with Mary. Read the book The Woman Rides the Beast. They have been corrupt from the beginning. The catholic church sides with muslims because the inner circles of both are connected. Keep an eye on who visits who. Vatican has alot to gain if Jerusalem goes to Palestinians. Say a temple beside the dome. Catholic churches are the only ones that you can find standing beside mosques in the East.
As a former Catholic, the RCC is wrong about many things, especially the Gospel. The Apostle Paul tells us that God has not cast off His people whom He foreknew, they are on hold until the fullness of the Gentiles is saved. God also promised He would return them to THEIR land. The Pope has the Archbishop doing his dirty work for him. I think either this or a future Pope will be the False Prophet of Revelation.
INDEED !!
How illogical. How unwise and arrogant. The Archbishop (and the Pope), take a position of authority which they claim from Scripture. Next they deny the authority of Scripture when it supports Israel and the Jewish people. IF they insist on using JUST the New Testament, what do they do with….
Romans 15:27
“For if the Gentiles have shared in their (Jewish people) spiritual blessings, they should also minister to them in material things.” The Roman Catholic Douay-Confraternity Version
Concerning the prideful leaders )or rather mis-leaders ) of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches in their unscriptural position, Psalm 2:4 applies “He that dwelleth in Heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them”. Douay-Confraternity Version
For my part, as a pastor of a congregation of 5,000 people, I will encourage our people to pray concerning these miscreants, “Let their days of influence be few, and let another (more righteous) take their office”.
Shame on them !!!!!
Supersessionism (or replacement theology) is an unfortunate and un-biblical position of the Catholic church and many (if not all) reformed theology protestant churches. According to Romans, the church has not replaced Israel but is a part of the world’s salvation in God’s plan.
“God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.” (Romans 11:2)
“As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:28-29)
“Defending Christian Zionism” by David Pawson is an excellent biblical resource for those who want to understand Israel’s place in God’s plan and the relationship Christians should have toward the Jewish people.
If God could reject the Jewish people after His promises to them…how could we ever trust Him not to reject the Church…woe to those who teach this lie that could have only come from the father of lies. The Jewish people are and shall ever be His chosen people. According to Genesis 17:7 God said, “And I will establish my covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” What part of “ever-lasting covenant” does the Catholic leadership not understand? May God help those who are being deceived by false teachers. 2 Peter 2:1 says, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
They (RCC) don’t see the two sticks coming together? How sad. The restoration of all things promised in Joel 2:25 and Acts 3:21 are promises for right now! We Gentiles are finally having our eyes opened to the Feasts and the Times appointed by Yahweh all along and have been fulfilled by Yahshua and are putting away the pagan ways that made it almost impossible to provoke any Jew to jealousy, and they are soon going to have their eyes opened to Yahshua Himself, after our time is over. What restoration of the two houses!!! Thank you for your blood, Yahshua. We are forever grateful.
PTL for all the comments written just above here. I would have to say that my stongest point would be that if God could forget His chosen eople and so reject themand replace them then how can we trust Him not to reject us. PTL that there is no shadow of change with God. Blessings to all.