BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

On a Sunday morning Christian ministers and priests love to thunder out the Sermon on the Mount. Some of the sentiments seem to be laudable enough. It is difficult to disagree with "blessed are the peacemakers", but during wars such sentiments are soon forgotten by these holy men. Here is an example from Bethlehem, where some holy men seem to be unable to "turn the other cheek". "Bearded and robed Armenian and Greek Orthodox priests fought each other with fists, brushes and iron rods during cleaning of the shared Church of the Nativity. The Armenians believed that the Greeks were encroaching on their section of the church." (Times, 28 December) RD