Sheikh Hassan Al-Masri’s reply to Bishop Al-Rahi launches condemnations

 

The reply of Sheikh Hassan Al-Masri, a member of the Amal Movement’s politburo, to the statement of Maronite Bishop Bechara Al-Rahi accusing Aoun of being the opposition’s tool has launched a series of condemnations by politicians.

 

Masri accused Rahi of not caring about his parish and becoming a constitutional expert. “If you don’t know the constitution as well as your parish, we advise you to keep your mouth shut.”

 

Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad denounced Masri’s statements and called on Berri and the Amal Movement to apologize to the Church and Christians.

 

“We do not invade Beirut’s streets over a television show, but we do not tolerate our beliefs and religious symbols being touched,” Mouawad said, referring to Hezbollah members’ reaction to a television show that imitated the party’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah.

 

“When Bishop Rahi strongly criticized the government’s activities, the government convened and took into consideration his remarks,” she added.

 

“I wish Speaker Berri had greeted Christians by supporting the Maronite Patriarch and opening the parliament’s door instead of thwarting the highest Christian office in Lebanon,” Mouawad said.

 

“Yet, it seems that Berri decided to greet Christians through mocking one of the Maronite Church’s prelates and describing himself – God forbid — through the statements of Amal official Sheikh Masri, as the Virgin Mary.”

 

MP Hadi Hobeich of the Future bloc expressed his rejection of the Virgin Mary being compared to anyone. “I don’t think that Speaker Berri wants to be compared to the Virgin Mary.”

 

“If the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ calls for tolerance, this does not mean that we will accept that the

Maronite Church be mocked,” Hobeich said.

 

“We will ask Speaker Berri for clarification, for what happened is totally objectionable,” he added.