Patriarch Rai meets with delegation of friends of Mansour Labaki

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Boutros Rai met on Thursday with a delegation from the International Community, where they discussed several issues mainly the issue of a new electoral law that guarantees just representation for all the factions of the Lebanese society.

On another note, Rai received the German ambassador to Lebanon Christian Clages with talks featuring high on bilateral relations between the two countries.

Separately, Cardinal Rai met with a delegation of friends and families of Maronite Father Mansour Labaki who briefed the Patriarch on the latest developments concerning Labaki’s case.

On Tuesday October 8th, French Magazine La Croix published a report whereby it said that Maronite Father Mansour Labaki was charged by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith with sexually abusing three minors, adding that he was sentenced to a “life of penitence,” after the Vatican office charged him with the sexual offenses on June 19, 2013.

Labaki (73) will be also banned from exercising his ecclesiastical duties and participating in media and public appearances.

According to the magazine, the investigations into Labaki’s case started two years ago after the Vatican envoy ordered the French Catholic authorities to probe into the alleged abuses of Labaki that had taken place in France.

Labaki reportedly appealed the sentence, but his appeal was rejected by Rome. Father Mansour Labaki is a well-known figure in Lebanon, he is the founder of a spiritual movement, wrote several books, and composed famous hymns.