World and European ecumenical bodies appeal for peace in Kosovo, warn against misuse of religion in conflict
Cf. WCC Press Update PU-02-24 of 20 August 2002
Churches and religious communities "must reject any attempt, from any quarter, to use religion as a motivating factor for conflict," and should "raise their voice" to confront the "new wave of violent intolerance and extremism" in Kosovo, the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) say in a joint letter.
In the letter, sent today to His Holiness Pavle, Orthodox Patriarch of Serbia, the WCC and CEC general secretaries Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and Rev. Dr Keith Clements, respectively, report that the violence is "affecting the life of thousands and bringing destruction to the cultural and spiritual heritage". They express their grief "at this outbreak of conflict which is not only inflicting immense suffering here and now, but threatens to create even more difficulties for the long-term peace of Kosovo and the region".
The letter supports the "appeals for peace and prayer" made by the patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. "We pray with those who are mourning for the victims of the violence" and with "those who have been forced to leave their homes or see them destroyed by hatred," the general secretaries state.
Following the series of attacks on Orthodox churches in Kosovo, they also uphold the appeal of the patriarch for "respect to be paid to all religious and sacred buildings", and for "protection to be ensured for them by the authorities", mentioning in particular efforts to protect a mosque in Belgrade that was attacked in response to the events in Kosovo.
The letter mentions the "dismay" of "all who have worked, hoped and prayed for the building of peace and stability in Kosovo since the conflict of 1999", and says it is "shameful" that, once again, people are being "driven from their homes to join the thousands who have still not been able to return home". It also joins in the prayer of the patriarch for people not to give in to the "desire for revenge, which will only strengthen the cycle of violence and deny hope for the future".
The full text of the WCC-CEC letter is available on our website:
www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/wcc-cec-letter.html
More information on "The churches and the Kosovo crisis" (1999) is available on our website:
wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/kosfol0.html
