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STATEMENT ISSUED BY COUNCIL OF CHURCH LEADERS IN JORDAN
PETRA Jordanian News Agency
Feb 15 2008
Jordan
Amman, Feb.15 (Petra) - The Council of the Church leaders in Jordan
expressed its surprise regarding an article published by an American
News Agency, "Compass Direct News" about Christians in Jordan. The
article contained falsities that distort the truth and harm relations
between Muslim and Christian citizens in Jordan.
The Council added that it is puzzling that certain small groups, whose
memberships number only few hundred people and which are foreign to
Christians in Jordan and to the history of Muslim-Christian relations,
permit themselves to speak in the name of all Christians and appoint
themselves as the guardians and protectors of Christianity as if
Christianity were in danger.
The statement clarifies the proportion of Jordanian Christians
nationals currently residing in the country comes to about 4 per cent
and rise to 5 per cent if the Christian nationals residing abroad
were included. The statement added that Christian citizens are not
imported from abroad; they are Jordanian citizens deep-rooted in
this land since the days of the prophets and the first Christian
generation. There is a Council of Church Leaders residing in Jordan
grouping the Bishops of Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, (Melkite),
Roman Catholic, and Armenian Orthodox Churches. Ninety-five per cent
of Christian citizens in Jordan belong to one of these churches. Due
to the small numbers of the followers of other churches their religious
leaders reside in Jerusalem.
The statement underlined the Christian nationals in Jordan live
a normal life, in various towns and villages, in secure and safe
environment where they maintain good social relations with their
Muslim compatriots. The two different religions did not produce two
split communities: Muslim and Christian. Christian contribute to the
social, economic, cultural and scientific life in Jordan, and serve
in the army and in various front line with other intellectual, and
arte educationally qualified in various fields. Christian leaderships
enjoy good relations with both Muslim religious leaders and government
officials.
The statement added Jordanian Christians do not fear at all that
the government might regress on its traditional policy of religious
tolerance. Muslim and Christians, as well as the government itself,
are all subject to the Jordanian Constitution. Amendment and changes
are not effected to the constitution as a result of a shift in mood
here and there. According to the constitution, Islam is the state of
religion; it's therefore only natural that some laws, such as personal
status laws, stem from Islam. They are applicable to Muslims, but
not Christians. To ensure equality, the Constitution and the laws in
force stress the right of the churches to establish their own courts,
which their own jurisdiction-on par with the Muslims' Shari'ah Courts,
in matters of Personal Status and Waqf. A Christian citizen, in such
a case, has the right and indeed an obligation, resort to his/her
Church Court; and the civil authority is obliged to implement relevant
church court decision. The churches are exempted from taxes just like
the mosques and places of worship for Muslims.
Christians have the right to build their own churches and schools and
to establish charity organizations and hospitals; and they have the
right to exercise their religious rites with complete freedom. If
problems do arise, as they do in all societies, countries and
religions, we, Jordanian Christians are more than capable of solving
them with the relevant parties, and within our Jordanian home. We
are citizens here and not strangers; therefore, we would never ask
an outsider to interfere in our internal affairs, speak in our name,
or defend us.
The Statement added any Christian national has the right to join
the army, the police, the security forces, any other government
institution. The law also preserves a number of seats in the Lower
House of Parliament for Christian citizens. One or more Christian
ministers serve in any Jordanian government and Christian senators
sit in the Upper House of Parliament. All of this is a proof of the
Authorities' interest in seeing Christian citizens play an active role
in government and in various political fields. The Will of the Lord
had chosen us, the Christians of this Land which was sanctified by
Jesus and the Disciples, as well as the Prophets of the Old Testament,
to carry the Message of love and peace. The Jordanian people, Muslim
and Christians alike, have an ages-long experience of living together
in peace and love, protecting their national unity constantly working
to further solidify it. Jordanian Christians have never been exposed
to violence or terrorism; to the contrary, they always lived an
ordinary and peaceful social and political life alongside their Muslim
compatriots. The Hashimite Family, as well as the government protect
with total care the Christian religious sites in Jordan, particularly
Mount Nebo, Prophet Elya, John the Baptist at the Makawer, and the
Baptism site; the government has generously given Churches places of
land for free, in order for them to build churches and abbeys.
The Statement affirmed there is nothing a Christian national must
fear from his/her Constitution or Government. He/she is a citizen
enjoying all pertinent rights, just as Muslim does. Different in
faith and multilateralism are legitimate matters protected by law.
Relations between Muslims and Christians are very good and so are
the relations between the Christian leaders and all the Jordanian
authorities. Christians are confident about their lives and futures in
the country, and enjoy rights stipulated in the Jordanian Constitution,
which Christians in Europe and America do not.
Regarding non-Jordan Christians, the statement clarified that
non-Jordanian Christians who come from other countries and who belong
to such demonstrations and the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and protestant,
receive their spiritual services at the local churches.
For example, the Roman Catholic Church maintains prayers in various
languages for the Christian communities which speak English, Italian,
French and Spanish. The Egyptian Orthodox Copts have their own church
in Amman. Other churches address the spiritual needs of foreigners
belonging to the same demonstration.
Regarding the foreign missionary groups that come to Jordan, the
Statement said the number of foreign missionary groups comes to under
social education or cultural cover, has increased in recent years;
there are currently around forty groups. Jordan has provided them
with the necessary facilities to perform the humanitarian services
which they ostensibly have come to deliver. These groups which came
under the guise of charitable organizations, have started to call
themselves as churches-which they are not-and ask for the same rights
that the Constitution stipulates for formal churches. They also have
proselytized among Jordanians, in a manner that has given rise to the
religious animosity, disrespecting the freedom of conscience, and thus
disturbed relations among Christian and Muslim citizens. These groups
are financially and politically supported by certain countries. It
is worth mentioning here that Arab Anglican Episcopal Church and
Anglican Lutheran Church do not recognize these missionary groups as
churches. The Statement pointed out that the Council of the Churches
Leaders has warned successively the Jordanian Government of the danger
these groups pose to Christianity in Jordan to the Christian-Muslim
relations; we wrote many times to various officials in order to
explain their true nature; and we condemned their radical practices
which create strike among citizens. The most recent of such letters
was addressed to His Majesty King Abdullah II on September 29, 2007,
in which the Bishops explained to His Majesty that the objective of
these groups, which are known for their religious radicalism, is to
sow the seeds of religious animosity among citizens. The Bishops also
asked in the above mentioned letter that the government not allow
those groups to establish a "theological institute" to which they
attract poor and unemployment youths, drawing them from our churches
and tempting them with facilitations and missionary jobs in Jordan
and send them to various Arab and Muslim countries, thereby causing
needless trouble for Jordan and churches in those countries.
On issue of deportation, the Statement elucidated that the issue of
deporting certain numbers of those radical groups is one security,
and deportation should not be surprising when radical practices that
give rise to religious strife. It is natural that the State should
exercise its sovereign right to protect its citizens from harm
and harassment by foreigners. Foreigners are subject to the law of
the country where they reside, irrespective of their religion, and
must respect the regulations regarding their residency permits. If a
foreigner breaches the law, then the State has the right to ask that
person to leave. This is an act of sovereignty.
The statement called on those groups to stop acting as self-appointed
guardians of Christians and Christianity in Jordan, stop describing
themselves as churches and respect the Jordanian State, its laws,
and its citizens. They should stop being the cause of strife,
problems and worries to Christians and Muslims alike. We do not need
their religious extremism or activities that harm national unity
and historical Christian-Christian and Christian-Muslim relations
existing among all citizens. We have made our position regarding
these groups clear to their leaders, offered them our honest advice,
and asked them not to be the cause of strife or destabilization in the
society, but they did not heed our message. The Statement was signed
by Bishop Benedicts, Bishop of the Greek Orthodox and Bishop Yaser
Ayyash Bishop of Greek Catholic (Melkite), the Roman Catholic Bishop,
Bishop Vahan Tobolian, Bishop of Armenian Orthodox and Bishop Salem Al
Saigh Bishop Latins and the secretary of the Council Bishop John Noor.
PETRA Jordanian News Agency
Feb 15 2008
Jordan
Amman, Feb.15 (Petra) - The Council of the Church leaders in Jordan
expressed its surprise regarding an article published by an American
News Agency, "Compass Direct News" about Christians in Jordan. The
article contained falsities that distort the truth and harm relations
between Muslim and Christian citizens in Jordan.
The Council added that it is puzzling that certain small groups, whose
memberships number only few hundred people and which are foreign to
Christians in Jordan and to the history of Muslim-Christian relations,
permit themselves to speak in the name of all Christians and appoint
themselves as the guardians and protectors of Christianity as if
Christianity were in danger.
The statement clarifies the proportion of Jordanian Christians
nationals currently residing in the country comes to about 4 per cent
and rise to 5 per cent if the Christian nationals residing abroad
were included. The statement added that Christian citizens are not
imported from abroad; they are Jordanian citizens deep-rooted in
this land since the days of the prophets and the first Christian
generation. There is a Council of Church Leaders residing in Jordan
grouping the Bishops of Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, (Melkite),
Roman Catholic, and Armenian Orthodox Churches. Ninety-five per cent
of Christian citizens in Jordan belong to one of these churches. Due
to the small numbers of the followers of other churches their religious
leaders reside in Jerusalem.
The statement underlined the Christian nationals in Jordan live
a normal life, in various towns and villages, in secure and safe
environment where they maintain good social relations with their
Muslim compatriots. The two different religions did not produce two
split communities: Muslim and Christian. Christian contribute to the
social, economic, cultural and scientific life in Jordan, and serve
in the army and in various front line with other intellectual, and
arte educationally qualified in various fields. Christian leaderships
enjoy good relations with both Muslim religious leaders and government
officials.
The statement added Jordanian Christians do not fear at all that
the government might regress on its traditional policy of religious
tolerance. Muslim and Christians, as well as the government itself,
are all subject to the Jordanian Constitution. Amendment and changes
are not effected to the constitution as a result of a shift in mood
here and there. According to the constitution, Islam is the state of
religion; it's therefore only natural that some laws, such as personal
status laws, stem from Islam. They are applicable to Muslims, but
not Christians. To ensure equality, the Constitution and the laws in
force stress the right of the churches to establish their own courts,
which their own jurisdiction-on par with the Muslims' Shari'ah Courts,
in matters of Personal Status and Waqf. A Christian citizen, in such
a case, has the right and indeed an obligation, resort to his/her
Church Court; and the civil authority is obliged to implement relevant
church court decision. The churches are exempted from taxes just like
the mosques and places of worship for Muslims.
Christians have the right to build their own churches and schools and
to establish charity organizations and hospitals; and they have the
right to exercise their religious rites with complete freedom. If
problems do arise, as they do in all societies, countries and
religions, we, Jordanian Christians are more than capable of solving
them with the relevant parties, and within our Jordanian home. We
are citizens here and not strangers; therefore, we would never ask
an outsider to interfere in our internal affairs, speak in our name,
or defend us.
The Statement added any Christian national has the right to join
the army, the police, the security forces, any other government
institution. The law also preserves a number of seats in the Lower
House of Parliament for Christian citizens. One or more Christian
ministers serve in any Jordanian government and Christian senators
sit in the Upper House of Parliament. All of this is a proof of the
Authorities' interest in seeing Christian citizens play an active role
in government and in various political fields. The Will of the Lord
had chosen us, the Christians of this Land which was sanctified by
Jesus and the Disciples, as well as the Prophets of the Old Testament,
to carry the Message of love and peace. The Jordanian people, Muslim
and Christians alike, have an ages-long experience of living together
in peace and love, protecting their national unity constantly working
to further solidify it. Jordanian Christians have never been exposed
to violence or terrorism; to the contrary, they always lived an
ordinary and peaceful social and political life alongside their Muslim
compatriots. The Hashimite Family, as well as the government protect
with total care the Christian religious sites in Jordan, particularly
Mount Nebo, Prophet Elya, John the Baptist at the Makawer, and the
Baptism site; the government has generously given Churches places of
land for free, in order for them to build churches and abbeys.
The Statement affirmed there is nothing a Christian national must
fear from his/her Constitution or Government. He/she is a citizen
enjoying all pertinent rights, just as Muslim does. Different in
faith and multilateralism are legitimate matters protected by law.
Relations between Muslims and Christians are very good and so are
the relations between the Christian leaders and all the Jordanian
authorities. Christians are confident about their lives and futures in
the country, and enjoy rights stipulated in the Jordanian Constitution,
which Christians in Europe and America do not.
Regarding non-Jordan Christians, the statement clarified that
non-Jordanian Christians who come from other countries and who belong
to such demonstrations and the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and protestant,
receive their spiritual services at the local churches.
For example, the Roman Catholic Church maintains prayers in various
languages for the Christian communities which speak English, Italian,
French and Spanish. The Egyptian Orthodox Copts have their own church
in Amman. Other churches address the spiritual needs of foreigners
belonging to the same demonstration.
Regarding the foreign missionary groups that come to Jordan, the
Statement said the number of foreign missionary groups comes to under
social education or cultural cover, has increased in recent years;
there are currently around forty groups. Jordan has provided them
with the necessary facilities to perform the humanitarian services
which they ostensibly have come to deliver. These groups which came
under the guise of charitable organizations, have started to call
themselves as churches-which they are not-and ask for the same rights
that the Constitution stipulates for formal churches. They also have
proselytized among Jordanians, in a manner that has given rise to the
religious animosity, disrespecting the freedom of conscience, and thus
disturbed relations among Christian and Muslim citizens. These groups
are financially and politically supported by certain countries. It
is worth mentioning here that Arab Anglican Episcopal Church and
Anglican Lutheran Church do not recognize these missionary groups as
churches. The Statement pointed out that the Council of the Churches
Leaders has warned successively the Jordanian Government of the danger
these groups pose to Christianity in Jordan to the Christian-Muslim
relations; we wrote many times to various officials in order to
explain their true nature; and we condemned their radical practices
which create strike among citizens. The most recent of such letters
was addressed to His Majesty King Abdullah II on September 29, 2007,
in which the Bishops explained to His Majesty that the objective of
these groups, which are known for their religious radicalism, is to
sow the seeds of religious animosity among citizens. The Bishops also
asked in the above mentioned letter that the government not allow
those groups to establish a "theological institute" to which they
attract poor and unemployment youths, drawing them from our churches
and tempting them with facilitations and missionary jobs in Jordan
and send them to various Arab and Muslim countries, thereby causing
needless trouble for Jordan and churches in those countries.
On issue of deportation, the Statement elucidated that the issue of
deporting certain numbers of those radical groups is one security,
and deportation should not be surprising when radical practices that
give rise to religious strife. It is natural that the State should
exercise its sovereign right to protect its citizens from harm
and harassment by foreigners. Foreigners are subject to the law of
the country where they reside, irrespective of their religion, and
must respect the regulations regarding their residency permits. If a
foreigner breaches the law, then the State has the right to ask that
person to leave. This is an act of sovereignty.
The statement called on those groups to stop acting as self-appointed
guardians of Christians and Christianity in Jordan, stop describing
themselves as churches and respect the Jordanian State, its laws,
and its citizens. They should stop being the cause of strife,
problems and worries to Christians and Muslims alike. We do not need
their religious extremism or activities that harm national unity
and historical Christian-Christian and Christian-Muslim relations
existing among all citizens. We have made our position regarding
these groups clear to their leaders, offered them our honest advice,
and asked them not to be the cause of strife or destabilization in the
society, but they did not heed our message. The Statement was signed
by Bishop Benedicts, Bishop of the Greek Orthodox and Bishop Yaser
Ayyash Bishop of Greek Catholic (Melkite), the Roman Catholic Bishop,
Bishop Vahan Tobolian, Bishop of Armenian Orthodox and Bishop Salem Al
Saigh Bishop Latins and the secretary of the Council Bishop John Noor.