The Church of the Nativity marks the place in Bethlehem where Christians believe that the manger stood, the manger where Jesus was born.The church is one of the oldest in Christendom, with various structures in place since the 4th century. The BBC reports that it is now in danger of being closed because the three Christian denominations that share responsibility for church maintenance can't agree about paying for the roof repairs.
Bill Seamans, a former ABC correspondent in the Middle East and now columnist for the Keene Sentinel, reports that, during the time when Israel occupied the region, the Israeli army reservists made some urgent, but temporary, repairs to the roof in the quiet of the night.
The three parties did reach an agreement in September for a plan to repair the roof, but haven't been able to agree on paying for it.
The government of the Palestinian Authority, where the church is located, may have to raise the money itself. If the church closes, tourists won't come. As it is, what with the general uneasiness about travel into the PA (access to which is controlled by Israel, which occasionally closes the borders for security concerns), tourists don't generally stay long in Bethlehem. They don't shop or stay in hotels or talk much to the locals. An opportunity for commerce, cultural exchange and understanding, and, oh, yes, spiritual renewal is being lost because of Christian disunity.
The Palestinians told the Armenian, Greek Orthodox, and Roman Catholic monks who share the administration of the church that the three groups must reach a decision about taking care of the roof. After three weeks, the three groups came back and reported that they couldn't agree.
The maintenance issues have long been fractious. Recently the church was closed to visitors because one monk wouldn't clean a staircase that was owned by another denomination.
As it stands now, the Palestinian Authority, like the Israeli soldiers before them, may have to pay for repairs to a Christian holy site while the Christians quarrel about whose turn it is to take out the rubbish.
Friday, December 24, 2010
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