HCEF will be representing the Palestinian Christians in support of Christians of different denominations in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Palestine and Israel.
The situation of Christians in this region has been growing increasingly unbearable. Christian leaders have been speaking out against it and, as Christians; we cannot stay silent any longer. In speaking out, we must not lose sight of what our religion teaches–tolerance and charity–when faced with adversity.
HCEF’s very own Sir Rateb Rabie will be speaking at the In Defense of Christians Summit that will take place September 9th through the 11th. Serving on the panel “Changing Policy through Awareness and Advocacy,” he will address the plight of Christians and how we, as Christians, can work with other Christians to extend a hand to moderate Muslims. His presentation will be from the standpoint of Middle East Christians who have been raised in an Arab and Islamic culture.
This three-day gathering will feature human rights experts, public officials, policy makers, diplomats, and representatives from across the Middle Eastern Christian Diaspora. The IDC Summit will also feature Christian leaders, religious and secular, from the region. Among the speakers are Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church; His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church; His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Greagory II, Patriarch of the Church of Antioch; His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and all the East; Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and Cardinal of the Catholic Church; Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C.; and His Beatitude Moran Mor Ignatius Youssef II Younan, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syriac Catholic Church. The principal venue will be the Omni Shoreham Hotel, with special events and organized visits to Capitol Hill.
The plight of Middle East Christians is unacceptable, but so is the demonization of Islam and the dehumanization of Muslims in the ongoing conversations. At times like these, we must forget political agendas; this is a humanitarian matter. We must be careful not to generalize when watching the media coverage of these issues. Not all Muslims are bad just as not all Christians are good. Human beings are capable of falling regardless of what faith tradition they follow. We must all work together for the common good. We encourage all HCEF supporters to attend the IDC Summit in order to break the silence of many political and religious leaders around the world on what is occurring.
For more information on the summit please click here.
To register for the Summit please click here.
