WASHINGTON-Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, sent a letter to His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, Latin
Patriarchate of Jerusalem, expressing concern over the recent escalation
of violence in the Holy Land and calling for a peaceful solution to the
conflict.
"Our Conference supports your leadership in rejecting the path of violence
and in calling for the negotiation of a just peace that provides security
for Israelis and a viable state for Palestinians," Bishop Skylstad wrote.
"The cycle of violence must be broken in order to open up the path to
justice and peace in the Holy Land."
The text of Bishop Skylstad's letter follows.
His Beatitude Michel Sabbah
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
P.O. Box 14152
91141 Jerusalem
Israel
Your Beatitude:
The tragic and escalating violence in the Holy Land is of profound concern
to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. On behalf of our Conference, I
want to express our fraternal solidarity with you as you lead and serve
your people at this difficult time.
In a particular way we are deeply distressed by the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in Gaza. We reject all acts of violence and terror,
especially those that target civilians on both sides of the dispute and
that destroy the infrastructure that serves the civilian population.
Our Conference supports your leadership in rejecting the path of violence
and in calling for the negotiation of a just peace that provides security
for Israelis and a viable state for Palestinians. The cycle of violence
must be broken in order to open up the path to justice and peace in the
Holy Land. Please be assured of our continuing prayers as you comfort your
people and seek a just peace.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend William S. Skylstad
Bishop of Spokane
President