Latest news with #MaroniteChurch
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 hours ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Rai stance on expat vote isolates FPM on Christian scene
On Sunday, for the very first time, Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai expressed a firm position on the issue of expatriate voting in the 2026 legislative elections.'Lebanese from the diaspora must be able to vote freely based on their original constituencies,' Rai said in his Sunday sermon, in the presence of President Joseph the 'exclusion' of the diaspora, the head of the Maronite Church openly called for the repeal of Article 112 of the 2017 electoral law, which grants expatriates the right to elect six members of Parliament in a special constituency created just for them. Context Rai: Diaspora voting for only 6 MPs instead of all 128 'form of exclusion' Less than a year before the elections, Rai appears to have aligned himself with those advocating for expatriates to vote for all 128 MPs. In doing so, he positioned...
L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Rai: Diaspora voting for only 6 MPs instead of all 128 'form of exclusion'
Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai took a stand on Sunday during a Mass in Anaya, in the heights of Jbeil, in favor of Lebanese expatriates voting for all 128 members of Parliament, rather than for six additional MPs elected exclusively by the diaspora. During a Mass celebrating Saints Charbel and Elias, the head of the Maronite Church argued that Article 112 of the electoral law, which provides for these six extra seats, "annuls the right of Lebanese abroad to vote in their original constituencies" and constitutes a "violation of the Constitution and the principle of equality." The Mass took place at the Saint Maron Monastery, in the presence of the head of state, Joseph Aoun, his wife Nemat and several political leaders. Patriarch's meeting with prime minister yesterday Salam received by Rai Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri blocked on June 30 an amendment to the electoral law that would have allowed the diaspora to elect the 128 MPs in their original constituencies, as was the case in 2018 and 2022, rather than six parliamentarians specifically for emigrants. Lebanese expatriates had a significant influence on the overall results in the 2022 elections, which saw the election of approximately a dozen MPs from the substantial 2019 protest movement. 'Contrary to equality principle' between Lebanese residents, expatriates "While Lebanon faces existential threats, we are now witnessing divisions among political leaders concerning Article 112 of the current electoral law, which was suspended in the 2018 and 2022 polls," Rai said in his homily. He argued that "the creation of six constituencies reserved for expatriates goes against the principle of equality between residents and emigrants, guaranteed by the Constitution." In Rai's view, "limiting expatriates to six parliamentary seats undermines their connection with their homeland and their families and deprives them of participating in political life. What we see in Article 112 is a form of exclusion." He called for "Lebanese from the diaspora to be able to vote freely based on their original constituencies," thus urging the abolition of Article 112. 'Few words, many deeds' Addressing the president, Rai said that his "visit to the tomb of Saint Charbel is a sign of hope. Lebanon needs leaders like Saints Charbel and Elias: few words, many deeds." "Your presence today confirms that Lebanon, despite everything, remains built upon two fundamental pillars: God and his saints. We pray that God grants you patience and wisdom to lead Lebanon, which is currently going through a delicate and challenging period, requiring deep reflection to overcome. You believe in it and you work for it," he continued. Saint Charbel, born Youssef Makhlouf, was a 19th-century Maronite monk and priest. He is celebrated on the third Sunday of July by the Maronite Church and on July 24 by the Latin Church. He is among the most venerated and popular saints in Lebanon. Saint Elias, meanwhile, commemorates the Old Testament prophet Elijah every July 20.
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Salam received by Rai
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met Saturday evening in Dimane, northern Lebanon, with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, according to a post on the Grand Serail's X account. Patriarch Rai is currently residing at the summer headquarters of the patriarchate, located in the Bsharri region. On this occasion, Salam emphasized the importance of the role played by the head of the Maronite Church in ''consolidating national principles and strengthening partnership among the Lebanese.'' In recent days, Lebanon has witnessed a resurgence of sectarian tensions linked to clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups in southern Syria. These confrontations have led to the involvement of regular Syrian government forces under Ahmad al-Sharaa, as well as Israeli airstrikes, raising fears of the conflict spilling over into Lebanon. Meanwhile, the issue of state monopoly over arms — and particularly the disarmament of Hezbollah — continues to stir unrest on the domestic political scene. The party refuses to relinquish its arsenal and advocates for dialogue, while its opponents are calling on President Joseph Aoun — who is concerned about the risk of internal destabilization — and the Salam cabinet to enforce disarmament.
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Family's heartache at funeral for tradie executed in Condell Park in suspected case of mistaken identity
A young innocent tradie who was gunned down in the driveway of his family home as he got out of his ute has been remembered as a 'cheeky' man who was 'fierce and full of heart'. John Versace, 23, was shot at 10 times outside his parent's Condell Park home in Sydney's south-west on Monday night, in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity. The young plumber, who worked for his dad's business, was farewelled in a traditional Maronite ceremony at St Charbel's Parish in Punchbowl on Friday morning. The funeral heard about Mr Versace's close relationship with both his father and his mother, as a eulogy was read out. 'More than father and son they were best friends,' a speaker said. Mr Versace also 'never walked past his mum without kissing her, hugging her or spinning her around and telling her that he loved her.' 'She didn't just raise a boy but raised a man…a real one. A cheeky one. 'Fierce…and full of heart.' The funeral also heard how Mr Versace was 'raised in love and strength with good value'. He also 'loved football' and 'shared that passion with his family and friends'. 'He was affective, protective and full of love.' Mr Versace's mother is from Lebanon and his father is Italian, with the family deciding to farewell the young plumber at the Lebanese Maronite Church next to his former school. His coffin was taken to the church in escort of about a dozen motorcycles. Police are still trying to determine how Mr Versace was so brutally caught in the crossfires of Sydney's gang wars. The 23-year-old had no major criminal past and no known links to gangs. 'What I can say in this very early stage is that the victim and the holdings that we have on the victim and his family is that he is not known to police,' Superintendent Rodney Hart said. 'He does not have a criminal record. His family members do not have criminal records. And he, at this stage, I believe, has one traffic offence.' Police said they possess 'good quality' CCTV footage that shows the 23-year-old victim - arriving at his home where he lived with his parents and two sisters. Moments later, a silver hatchback parks across the driveway and a hooded male dressed in all black exits the rear driver's side door armed with a small Glock-style hand gun. Superintendent Hart said a taskforce had been established to further investigate the incident. 'We believe that this has the hallmarks of a targeted execution – very brutal, very distressing,' Hart said. 'So, I want to reassure the community that we are treating this not as a random attack, but what I will ask from our community here is – please, anybody that has any information to assist the investigators to please call Bankstown Police Station or Crime Stoppers.'
