Article on Pope's Visit Omits Durban II, Cause of Christian Decline

"Pope, Hope in Hand, Is Heading to Mideast"
A4, Friday 5/08/09
By Rachel Donadio

“Benedict is expected to make a speech calling attention to a pressing concern of the Catholic Church: the rapidly declining number of Christians in the Middle East. Although Christians have remained about 2 percent of Israel’s population since its founding, their presence in places like Bethlehem has decreased radically in past decades.”

While this issue was granted a paragraph, Donadio does not offer an explanation as to the “radical” decrease. This may have included the following:

In the Palestinian territories, notably in Bethlehem, Christians are victims of attacks, intimidation and extortion. Most have fled to Israel, which has the only growing Christian population in the Middle East.

While Donadio cited the Pope’s revoking Bishop Williamson’s excommunication, she should have also briefly cited another recent cause for concern among Israel and Jews: Durban II. Despite the knowledge that it would be a stage for incitement against Israel and would feature Ahmadinejad, the Pope sent his delegation, and offered blessings to the participants, never registering an iota of concern. As Ahmadinejad spoke of the evils of Zionism, and others walked out in protest, the Pope's delegation remained seated.

Bishop Williamson's Holocaust denial, and the Vatican’s latest deafening silence in the face of the world’s most noted Holocaust denier, should have been given space in this article.