From: Catholicosate of Cilicia <info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org>
Subject: ANTELIAS: Not Correct To Blame Religion As A Root Cause Of Violence

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: info@armenianorthodoxchurch.org
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

"IT IS NOT CORRECT TO BLAME RELIGION AS A ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE"

Stated His Holiness Aram I in Barcelona

BARCELONA – In a context of a long intervention at an International
inter-religious conference taking place in Barcelona, His Holiness Aram I
addressed on the inter-connection between the religion and violence. He
said: "There is a growing tendency particularly in the western societies to
blame religion, as the cause of violence. This is an incorrect approach. We
should not blame religion as the cause of violence. We should rather blame
those, who exploit religion for their personal and political agendas by
using religious feelings to generate violence. Leaders of religion have a
responsibility not to allow religion to be misused or abused".

According to His Holiness "the root causes of violence are in global
governance, injustice, impunity, corruption, poverty and in abuse of power.
When religion is identified with power and powerful, with oppressive and
unjust structures and ideologies, then it becomes part of conflict".

Considering religion as a source of spiritual and moral values and
principals, Catholicos Aram I called for religious leaders and stakeholders
of civil society "to work together as partners to make use of the rich
potential of religion for peace building". Within this framework, Catholicos
Aram I spelled out three critical issues that needs to be given deeper
reflection. These are: Lack of mutual trust, decay of moral values, the
necessity of living together as a community.

In his concluding remarks Aram I said: "We have enough declarations,
messages, statements, communiqués on the importance of the inter-religious
dialogue. This is the time to translate our common word to common action.
Therefore, we need to initiate people oriented action processes aimed at
living together peacefully, by creating partnerships, establishing networks
of advocacy and by developing shared values".

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View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos232.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos233.htm
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.