Archbishop of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of occupied Jerusalem, Atallah Hanna, denounced the media use of the so-called “Christian-Zionism,” affirming that true Christian Churches and Christianity as a whole do not recognize such descriptions and allegations, as Zionism contradicts Christianity and its message to the world.
Father Hanna said media outlets around the world have widely been using the term; however, it is a faulty expression that does not express the true nature of Christianity that calls for love, peace, and equality, not for colonialism, oppression, and occupation.
“We call on journalists and media outlets to stop the use of this term because it has no place in the Christian Church and theology,” He said, “Just because a group in America calls itself Christian and advocates for Zionism, does not mean they represent Christianity. It also does not mean we should adopt this false terminology in our writings and teachings.”
“We do not recognize this so-called Christian Zionism because Christianity is a religion that calls for love, peace, and for siding by the oppressed and the dispossessed wherever and whoever they are,” Father Hanna added, “However, Zionism is a completely different thing; it is a racist ideology and movement that has been the reason behind so many injustices and catastrophes inflicted on our Palestinian people….”
“We denounce and reject all attempts to link Christianity with Zionism; how can Christianity, a religion that calls for compassion and love, be combined with a racist ideology, responsible for all this suppering in the Holy Land and the region…” he stated, “How can this movement claim to represent Christianity while it advocates for wars and destruction that did not spare anybody, including Christians.”
Father Hanna also said that such groups are imposters and have no place in true Christianity, adding that writers and journalists need to find another term to describe this racist movement because it alleges to be Christian yet advocates for injustice and colonialism.
“We can, for instance, refer to them as Zionist groups that allege being Christian, especially since their beliefs contradict the peaceful message of Christianity,” Father Hanna added, “These groups are harming Christianity; they can call themselves whatever they want; however, this doesn’t mean we should adopt their false terminology and ideology.”
In addition, Father Hanna said the self-prescribed Christian-Zionism was founded by fanatic Zionist groups in the West and has nothing to do with the message of Christianity.
