4 February 2009

Communique

On Wednesday February 4, 2009, Their Excellencies the Maronite Bishops held at Bkerkeh their monthly meeting
which was presided over by His Beatitude and Eminence Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Cardinal Sfeir. They
discussed church and national matters and issued, at the end of the meeting, the following communiqué:

1 – The general political atmosphere in Lebanon does not give rest. The language of the political speech has
dropped down to a level Lebanon had not been used to before. We did draw the attention to this, but in vain, the
procedure is still the same, pelting each other still continuous. This is very regrettable. We do call upon all to
create an atmosphere of loyal cooperation to save the homeland out of the miserable situation it is enduring.

2 – Some Directors General who had been held back from exercising their function and were put at the disposal of
the Prime Ministry, visited Bkerkeh. They appealed before the court which did them justice and ordered their
return to their posts, but the authorities ignored this judgment as if there were no courts nor judgments. This leads
to the disruption of the state.

3 – We hope that the next elections, which campaign has already started, bring forth those who best represent the
Lebanese People and not chosen according to the scale of what’s paid and cashed, or to other crook ways which
vitiate the election procedure. This would revert regrettable results upon the homeland.

4 – Saint Maron’s feast which we celebrate in five days from now, must remind us of this Saint’s virtues:
detachment, sincerity and loyalty. Let’s work at imitating his good example in daily life, away from zigzagging and
ambiguity.

5 – The coming lent period is a holy period. May we take advantage of it to clean the soul from its defects and
come back to each other with forgiveness, pardon and loyal cooperation, for the benefit of the homeland and its  
citizens.
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