Following the US President’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have expressed their solidarity to the local Churches in Jerusalem and to all Christians in the Middle East. They are very clear in stating that they stand at odds with President Trump’s decision on Jerusalem and its status that goes to the heart of the Israeli conflict with Palestine.
In a letter signed by His Excellency Archbishop of Westminster, the bishops remarked that they count themselves among those who love Jerusalem and have every will to work and make it a land and a city of peace, life and dignity for all its inhabitants. The letter also expressed their fear that the decision and consequences will increase the already deep-rooted tensions in the city and the wider region.
The message written on behalf of the bishops by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nicholas also urged religious and political leaders around the world to unite in speaking out against this threat to religious freedom, which he says, would set a dangerous precedent for other faiths in the Holy Land.
