Attachments to holy places should not be a cause of bloodshed, hatred or violence, said the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land.
Council members, who include Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders, said in a statement on November 9 that they were concerned about increased violence around the site in the Old City known as Haram al-Sharif by Muslims and that Jews refer to as the Temple Mount.
“(We) lament that the site … has become a major focus of the conflict in the Holy Land,” the statement said. “Holy places must remain dedicated to prayer and worship only.”
“Holy places are there for believers to draw inspiration to strengthen their acceptance and love of the Almighty and all his creatures, from all religions and all nationalities,” it said.
The site is considered holy by Muslims as the location of Muhammad’s journey to Jerusalem and the site of his ascent into heaven, and by Jews as the place where two biblical temples once stood. It is also revered by Christians as the site where Jesus surprised Jewish rabbis with his theological knowledge and the place where he confronted the corruption of those who used the temple as a place of commerce…Read More
Source and Original Content by Catholic Herald