CV NEWS FEED // Catholic and Orthodox Church leaders in Jerusalem this week spoke out in opposition to the Municipality of Jerusalem’s foreclosure order against the Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate.
The foreclosure would enable the municipality to seize and auction the Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate’s property, which the patriarchate has owned for centuries, according to the Massis Post. The municipality plans to foreclose the property because of a “disputed municipal tax debt that [has] allegedly accrued since 1994,” the Massis Post reports. The Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate is appealing the foreclosure in court, and a session on the matter is set for Feb. 24.
In a Feb. 19 statement, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem said that “[t]he actions taken against the [Armenian] Patriarchate, based on an unverified and exorbitant Arnona Tax debt, are legally dubious and morally unacceptable.”
“It is inconceivable,” they continued, “that Christian institutions, whose mission for centuries has been to safeguard faith, serve communities, and preserve the sacred heritage of the Holy Land, should now face the threat of property seizure under Israeli administrative measures that disregard due process.”
They said it was especially concerning that the municipality has not gone through a judicial process or governmental committee negotiation.
“This reckless move jeopardizes the Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate and sets a perilous precedent that could imperil Christian institutions throughout the Holy Land,” the leaders continued. “This action undermines the freedom of religion, which is the foundation of all other rights, since through a confiscation of assets, attempts to the right of existence of the Orthodox Armenian Church, depriving it of the necessary economic resources to live and operate and depriving the local Armenian people of the pastoral care of their Church.”
The leaders emphasized their solidarity with the Orthodox Armenian Patriarchate and called on Israel government leaders to act immediately and halt the foreclosure so that negotiations can properly and justly proceed.
“May righteousness prevail,” they concluded, “and may the Holy Land remain a beacon of faith for generations to come.”
>>Christian leaders react to Jerusalem municipality’s latest tax imposition on local Churches<<
