Anybody Catch This X-Mas Story ??? - Priests Brawl At Jesus' Birthplace

[WillyT]

Priests brawl at Jesus' birthplace

<snip>

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) -- Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests attacked each other with brooms and stones inside the Church of the Nativity as long-standing rivalries erupted in violence during holiday cleaning on Thursday.

The basilica, built over the grotto in Bethlehem where Christians believe Jesus was born, is administered jointly by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic authorities.

Any perceived encroachment on one group's turf can touch off vicious feuds.

On Thursday, dozens of priests and cleaners were scrubbing the church ahead of the Armenian and Orthodox Christmas, celebrated in early January. Thousands of tourists visited the church this week for Christmas celebrations.

But the clean-up turned ugly after some of the Orthodox faithful stepped inside the Armenian church's section, touching off a scuffle between about 50 Greek Orthodox and 30 Armenians.

Palestinian police, armed with batons and shields, quickly formed a human cordon to separate the two sides so the cleaning could continue, then ordered an Associated Press photographer out of the church.

Four people, some with blood running from their faces, were slightly wounded.

<snip>

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/27/clashing.clergy.ap/

Ah... celebrating the Prince of Peace indeed.

:wtf:

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Hypocrisy and self-serving power grabbing know no religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

[saltpoint]

2. Just a little holiday fun in the Holy Land.

In Larry McMurtry's THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, he town's mayor scolds Duane and Sonny for fighting over a popular girl outside the town's holiday party venue.

"You boys cut this shit out," the mayor says. "It's Christmas!"

[potone]

3. Unfortunately, this is not unusual.

The oldest churches at the most holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem are often the scenes of sectarian conflict. This squabbling and fighting is unseemly, to say the least, but it does reflect the deep divisions in the ancient Christian communities there, exacerbated by their increasingly endangered existence.

[rateyes]

4. Hey, priests...

How's that "Prince of Peace" thingy working out?

[spanone]

5. earth must be the comedy channel for jesus et al

[saltpoint]

6. And what says 'Christmas' better than a factional brawl and police intervention?

[Sal Minella]

7. W.W.J.T?

[pocoloco]

8. "No religion too"

[undeterred]

9. At first I thought it said priests "bawl"...

which would have made more sense.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

10. The fighting between Christian sects at the holy sites has been so bad for centuries that Muslims

managed and administered the sites as acceptable neutrals.

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. LOL! That's HILARIOUS! Peace, Love and Goodwill to all!

:rofl:

[Uncle Joe]

12. Now that's the "War Against Christmas". n/t

[earth mom]

13. WWJD?

:eyes: