“The truth hurts:” Sfeir stands by indictment of politicians

 

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir fired back at his critics on Sunday after some took offense at his condemnation of the Lebanese political scene two days earlier.

 

National issues, he said during his sermon at Notre Dame Church in Bkirki, were not “a silly game and ought to be taken seriously.”

 

“It is always advised to say the truth, even if it might hurt … and it”s known that saying the truth is healing,” he added.

 

In a statement issued on Friday, Sfeir had urged the opposition to end its boycott of the presidential election and elect a successor to former President Emile Lahoud. He warned the vote must be held “before it”s too late.”

 

He also implied that all sides in the power struggle were paying too much attention to partisan politics and too little to the national interest. 

 

In response to the groups which had criticized his statement, Sfeir said Sunday that he refuses “to hurt the feelings of other people,” adding that everything he mentioned in his statement was “aimed at rectifying rather

than scolding.” 

 

Echoing one of his themes from Friday, the patriarch also quoted the late former US President John F. Kennedy, urging the Lebanese “not to ask what their country can do for them, but to ask what they can do for their

country.”

 

“The present situation is dangerous and we wonder if any of those in charge, and those who avoid going to Parliament when an electoral session is called, appreciate the seriousness of the situation,” Sfeir said.

 

He said those who have closed Parliament “bear a huge responsibility,” in clear reference to Speaker Nabih Berri, pointing to Parliament as “the natural place for MPs to gather to discuss national issues and take the necessary decisions.” Sfeir further chided the opposition”s resigned Cabinet ministers who boycott Cabinet sessions while continuing to run their respective ministries.
 

“The Lebanese people are sick of these acts that contradict reason and law, and they wait for their

representatives whom they elected to focus on people”s daily concerns, provide jobs for people so they can take care of their families and provide them a secure and dignified life,” Sfeir said.

 

The Higher Shiite Council was the first to respond to the statement, saying that constitutions “usually give the

right to lawmakers to either attend or boycott parliamentary session … because this is all part of the democratic game.”

 

In a statement issued Saturday, the council said Sfeir”s comments from Friday were “biased and laid the responsibility on the wrong people.”

 

“The statement issued by the Maronite Patriarchate holds one sect responsible for all the disasters in the country, while overlooking the disastrous behaviors adopted by a huge number of political groups,” it added.

 

The council also expressed its surprise at “the hostility displayed” against Berri, adding that “it is by now clear to all that the speaker worked hard to promote candidates whose names figure on the list compiled by the patriarch and to support the patriarch”s choices concerning the presidency.”