"As the genocide in the Strip continues, voices like yours are critical in breaking this silence and calling institutions to account, especially those that claim to speak in the name of faith."
May 1, 2025
Dear Mr. Chidiac and the Chronicle Journal newsroom,
On behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), I wish to extend my sincere thanks for your recent op-ed, “Church falling short of mission,” published in the Chronicle Journal.
Your commentary offers a rare and much-needed reflection on the moral crisis facing the Catholic Church and broader Western institutions in the face of global suffering, particularly in Gaza.
As you rightly point out, Pope Francis consistently called for an end to the slaughter of innocents and recognized the disproportionate suffering endured by the Palestinian people.
I myself come from a Christian Lebanese family. I was baptized in St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, which was built by the Syrian and Lebanese community that immigrated to Montreal throughout the 20th century. And yet, even I cannot help but feel the silence from my community when it comes to Gaza.
As the genocide in the Strip continues, voices like yours are critical in breaking this silence and calling institutions to account, especially those that claim to speak in the name of faith.
Thank you again for your honest and principled stance.
In solidarity,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East