www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Melkite Bishop Comments on his Latin Correligionists

But Elias Chacour was keen to stress that “Rome should not be forgotten. But more importantly, we must not forget that it was here that it all started, not in Rome. When my priests go on pilgrimages to Lourdes and Medjugorje, I always say to them: “Tell Mary it’s time she comes home.” People tend to forget Mary is from Nazareth and that Jesus was the man who lived in Nazareth; he’s my fellow countryman.”

The Melkite archbishop also talked about the Latin Rite Catholics. “There are fewer of them compared to us. The community of Arab Catholics under the Latin Rite is composed of 10 thousand people but they have a Patriarch, four bishops, hundreds of priests and numerous women religious: lucky them! We need to do more in terms of sharing not just communion. It is not just our problems we should share. You will know that every year we hold a Good Friday collection for the Holy Land’s Christians. I can assure you that although I am Catholic, I see nothing of these offerings.” The collection Chacour was referring to, is traditionally split between the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land and the Latin Patriarchate.

When my priests go on pilgrimages to Lourdes and Medjugorje,

You will know that every year we hold a Good Friday collection for the Holy Land’s Christians. I can assure you that although I am Catholic, I see nothing of these offerings.” The collection Chacour was referring to, is traditionally split between the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land and the Latin Patriarchate.

I can't believe that a Melkite Bishop would allow his priests to go to the so called apparitions of Medjugorje.