Serious dialogue officially launched with Hezbollah, Rai says

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai revealed on Monday that “serious dialogue has officially been launched with Hezbollah in order for all matters to be laid out in the open at the national dialogue.”

Rai said on Monday that the possession of arms outside the state’s authority is unacceptable, according to a report by Voice of Lebanon radio station.

He also told reporters: “The time when Hezbollah lays down its arms would be a great day.” (more…)

Christians, Druze question Hezbollah’s controversial land purchases

The question of controversial land purchases by Shia businessmen with links to Hezbollah is back in focus following a New York Times front page piece last month which focused on Hezbollah’s alleged money laundering practices. (more…)

Hezbollah and Patriarch Rai call for dialogue

A Hezbollah delegation held a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai Monday in the presence of former patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir in Bkirki, the seat of the Maronite Church, north of Beirut.

Following the meeting Sheikh Mohammad Amr, head of the Hezbollah delegation (more…)

Hell on Christmas Day: Nigeria’s Deadly Bombings

Nigeria’s Christmas from hell began around 7.30 a.m at St. Theresa’s church in Madalla, a suburb of the capital Abuja, just as worshipers spilled outside from the popular service. “A man with a motorbike dropped a bag just outside the church,” (more…)

Pope Urges End to Syria Bloodshed

Pope Benedict XVI called for an end to the bloodshed in Syria and the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in his Christmas message Sunday, an appeal for peace that was challenged by deadly attacks on Nigerian churches. (more…)

Patriarch Rai: The State is obligated to guarantee people’s safety

Maronite Patriarch Beshara Al Rai said during the Christmas mass that was held at Bkirki that the state is obligated to guarantee the people’s safety to ensure an arms-free Beirut and arms-free Lebanon.

“The state is obligated to guarantee the people’s safety, gather all arms, and limit security duties to the state, which will therefore ensure an arms-free Beirut and arms-free Lebanon.” (more…)

Reaction to the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering

Lebanese Forces bloc MP Antoine Zahra praised the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering and said it is the “best” solution for easing sectarian tensions in the country.

The electoral law proposal by the Orthodox Gathering, calls for each sect to elects its own lawmakers to ensure fair representation at the parliament . (more…)

Patriarch Rai denies meeting with Syria’s top spy in Anjar

Lebanon’s Christian Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai met with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Saturday to discuss the latest development.

During the meeting he slammed a report published by Ad-Diya newspaper, describing it as a “false” report aimed at misleading the public opinion. (more…)

Egyptian cabinet to meet over violence that kills 24

Christians clashed with military police, leaving at least 24 people dead in Cairo, and the cabinet called an emergency meeting for Monday, vowing the violence would not derail Egypt’s first election since Hosni Mubarak was toppled. (more…)

Patriarch Rai says “does not follow any party”

During a ceremony in the US city of Saint Louis, Missouri , Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai said on Sunday that he does not follow any party, but on the contrary he is followed by them.

“The patriarch does not follow any party; he is followed by them ,” he said (more…)