www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Maronite Patriarch Sfeir promotes human values on the eve of Lent

Maurice Kaldawi
Daily Star staff

BKIRKI: Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, in a wide-ranging message addressed to his followers on the eve of Lent, stressed the importance of promoting human values in building a prosperous homeland and the establishment of �clear cooperation characterized by transparency� between citizens and their rulers.

In his message, released on Friday, the prelate also said that for a democratic system to be sound, the people should enjoy the possibility of bringing their rulers to account, but all this could not be achieved as long as they were unable to take any �free decision.�

Sfeir began his annual message, entitled �Regarding the Homeland and Values,� by pointing out the need for advancing human values among the people, in the family, school, society and homeland �in order to spare these institutions collapse.�

On the people�s level, the patriarch spoke of four main virtues, namely intelligence, justice, courage and contentment, saying these played a �pivotal role� as they gathered around them all virtues.
Dealing with the �plagues� prevailing in present-day society, he cited the dangers of profligacy spread by the visual media and drug addiction, gambling and alcoholism.

�As to the spread of bribery, embezzlement, lies and corruption, in official departments in general, the best proof of this is reports about what happened in (the financially troubled) Al-Madina Bank, as well as about the Benin plane (crash) and the list published recently containing names of some beneficiaries from these violations, among them a good number of Lebanese,� Sfeir said.

After underlining the importance of successful marriages, the patriarch touched on the role of schools in upbringing children, saying this comes after the role of parents. He reiterated that it was the state�s duty to respect the beliefs of citizens and enable them to send their children to schools of their choice.

Sfeir also referred to attempts, �threatening not only schools, but Lebanese culture as a whole,� to join Lebanon to the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) without heeding the fact, he said, that there are two religions, cultures and civilizations, namely Christianity and Islam, in the country, but grouping one people.

On the subject of institutions, the patriarch said: �If citizens are required to abide by laws enacted by the existing authorities, these too should seek the citizens� interest and ensure for them a quiet and comfortable life.�

The Patriarch speaks profoundly of some of the problems of power vs. morality that exist in all societies, but especially where minority citizens feel intimidated by an occupying or repressive power.

The problems of how to approach elections was recently addressed by the Ukrainian Bishops, pointing out the need to first believe that God is with us in the real world.