For millennia, people of the Jewish faith have been persecuted for seemingly no other reason than their strong and courageous desire to worship God as they see fit. Since 1948, many of these beleaguered people have found comfort, solace, and solidarity, in the rocky existence of the nation state of Israel. Recently, Israel’s long-time adversarial neighbors have been indicating at least some desire for a peaceful coexistence with Israel. That is, of course, until last week.
The Rosemont College Community condemns the atrocities once again committed on the Jewish people, this time, by the terrorist organization known as Hamas. Hamas is a fringe group. We believe that it is important to recognize and emphasize that the vast majority of people in the region, especially Palestinians, are peace-loving people who have had nothing to do with this barbarism. While Rosemont will continue, as it always has, to be a place of safe haven for people of all faiths and people of no faith, we can no longer be silent. We cannot sit idly by and let the unprovoked execution of innocent civilians, beheading of infants, and rape of women be allowed to be described as acts on behalf of God. God’s greatest gift is life, and we are called on as children of God to preserve, nurture, and enhance, in whatever way we can, that gift. The atrocities being committed by Hamas are anything but God-like.
We at Rosemont understand the special blessing of living in the United States of America. We recognize how sacred the guarantees of the first amendment of the constitution are. Our government is prohibited from making laws that would impede the establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof, or to abridge the freedom of speech or the freedom of assembly. With that in mind, we recognize that there are those who have deep-seated and strong feelings regarding these matters. They can, if they wish, gather, and speak out peacefully. Further, we acknowledge that the age-old conflicts around Gaza that have allegedly precipitated this most recent violence, are complex. However, violence, bloodshed, and barbarism, in the name of God, must never be countenanced and should find no home anywhere on the face of the Earth in the 21st century.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has united with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and bishops worldwide in their call that today be a day of fasting and prayer for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land.
In solidarity with the global church, I invite you to join me as we observe the Day of Prayer tomorrow, Oct. 18, when students are back from fall break. We will gather at 11:55 am in the Community Center lobby to pray for all those impacted by the violence in the Middle East. Please also remember the Chapel is open to all, and there is a prayer room on the second floor of the library available for quiet reflection.
Members of the Rosemont community are praying for the deliverance of the people of Israel, the immediate cessation of this unspeakable violence, and peace for all the people of the Middle East.
