From Glasgow to Gaza

Archbishop William Nolan, Archbishop of Glasgow, and Rev. Sally-Foster Fulton, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, have signed a declaration prepared by Justice & Peace Scotland, SCIAF, and the Church of Scotland to mark the occasion of Fr Gabriel Romanelli’s visit to Glasgow.

Fr Gabriel is the parish priest of the only Catholic church in Gaza, the parish of the Holy Family. He visited Scotland on Friday, April 26th to share his testimony and wishes for peace amidst the ongoing violence in The Holy Land.

Read the full statement.

In recent months, millions of innocent people have suffered the consequences of violence and war. Families and communities have been devastated. Many have lost hope for a peaceful future. Men, women and children have been robbed of their innate human dignity and their right to survive and thrive. Our cry is “Enough is enough”.

• We stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Gaza and across the Holy Land. May they feel our solidarity and Jesus’ loving embrace.
• We stand in solidarity with all the sons and daughters of Abraham, the peoples of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths in the Holy Land, that all may know deep peace and reconciliation in their lifetimes.
• We stand in support of agencies and individuals who are serving those suffering at their time of greatest need. May they be rewarded for their courage and compassion.
• We stand united with all people of good will who are campaigning for an end to this violence. May we never lose hope and may our resolve not falter.
• We stand together as disciples of Jesus Christ, who, in the very lands that are lacerated by hostility and violence today, called on his followers to be peacemakers. In the name of God, we call for an end to war, closure of heart and hatred to be replaced with dialogue, reconciliation, and peace.

Today we cry out to all people in positions of power to end this senseless violence. We pray to Almighty God that their hearts may be turned towards compassion and that they may have the courage and wisdom to pursue the path of justice and peace for all who call the Holy Land home.