Maronite bishops call for return of displaced Syrians to their homeland

The Maronite Bishops held their monthly meeting under the chairmanship of Maronite Patriarch, Mar Bishara Boutros Rahi, in Bkirki. They statement issued in the wake of the meeting dwelled on his Beatitude's pastoral visit to the United States, "where he participated in the fourth annual summit of the Foundation for the Defense of Christians. The aim of this summit was to focus on the importance of the Christian presence, and its constructive cultural and civilizational role in the Middle East. It also underlined the need to stop the wars and end the ongoing disputes by diplomatic and political means, what allows the return of all refugees, displaced persons and abducted persons to their countries."

"All the while maintaining humane and social solidarity with the displaced Syrians, bishops stress the need for their return to their homeland, because they are losing their identity and they have become a heavy burden on Lebanon at all levels. This displacement also has great consequences on the Syrians themselves, especially those who were born on Lebanese soil. If the crisis continues, there will be a generation of displaced people, with no citizenship. How can they participate in Syria's future? Therefore, every delay in the return of Syrian refugees to their country, in safe conditions sponsored by international forces, separates them from their vital rights, and thus their national dignity and their future," the statement read.

On a different note, fathers feared that the taxes approved to finance the salary scale would be a combination that cuts the way to a real tax reform based on a desired shift to a productive economy, as called for in the recent Baabda document. "What is required is a tax reform that will lead to a greater social dimension in our national economy and will establish a true social justice that will benefit the poor and those with limited incomes," the statement said

Source: NNA