Maronite Bishop Gregory J. Mansour of Brooklyn, N.Y., spoke in Nashville, Tenn., to Belmont University students on Oct. 22 about the need for all Christians to respond to persecution with “profound defiance,” which is markedly different from vengeful retaliation or submissive inaction. “Jesus was not a passive victim,” Bishop Mansour said. “Christians are not just asked to be nice people and doormats.” Bishop Mansour told the students that they are called to stand in solidarity with the persecuted Christians in the Middle East and to join forces with people of goodwill to raise a voice against “the worst injustice you can imagine,” that is currently taking place at the hands of Islamic State militants. Bishop Mansour noted the historical divisions among Christians but said that “amazing unity is happening today” because of the threat to Middle East Christians. He championed the art of nonviolent resistance. This requires “much prayer, much fasting, much building of solidarity,” he said. “Peace is possible, but it takes a lot of hard work.”
Maronite Bishop Urges 'Profound Defiance'
Show Comments (
)
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
The latest from america
Pope Francis' continued "gradual, slight improvement" is a sign that he is responding to the therapy he is receiving at Rome's Gemelli hospital, his doctors said.
Pope Francis had “a restful night and woke up shortly after 8 a.m.,” the Vatican said on Friday morning, March 7. It was his 22nd night in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
Just as Popes John Paul II’s and Benedict’s final days revealed their understandings of the papacy, Francis’ illness has revealed him once again as the world’s parish priest, suffering close to his people.
A reflection for the First Monday of Lent, by Ashley McKinless