Maronite Bishops Council condemns hostile sentiment towards LAF

Following a meeting held in Bkerke on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Rai, the Council of Maronite Bishops held a press conference whereby it announced that participants discussed the electoral law and called on all political factions to expedite the process of finding suitable electoral law.

"The electoral law should be harmonious with the Lebanese constitution and safeguard the rights of all Lebanese groups."

On another note, Maronite bishops condemned the recent attacks against the LAF and the expression of hostile sentiment towards the military institution, calling on the Lebanese to respect legitimate security institutions.

On civil marriage, the council announced that the issue has two facets: a constitutional one and a religious one, considering that ratifying civil marriage requires the amendment of article 9 of the Lebanese constitution.      

“Marriage is a sacred bond created by God and deemed by Jesus Christ as one of the Church’s secrets,” the council announced, adding that it is unacceptable that civil marriage replace this Secret.   

The bishops called on all those who marry via civil union to refer back to the church for a religious “blessing.”

The meeting was held in the presence of Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir and was later joined by Dr. Joseph Tarabay and the three candidates for the Council’s presidency: Captain Samir Abi Lamaa, Captain Antoine Klimos and Ambassador Abdallah Bou Habib.