Re: URGENT MESSAGE FROM BISHOP RIAH ABU EL-ASSAL

[Louie Crew <lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu>]

Bishop Riah,

You have sent me repeated copies of your public squabble with your
successor.  The rancor is an embarrassment to the Anglican Communion at a
time when the world needs us to be fully engaged in mission.

I call on you to ask the Archbishops of York and Canterbury to appoint a
committee to review your charges and advise you and Bishop Suhail Dawani
privately.

Faithfully,

Louie Crew, PhD, DD, DD, DHL

On Feb 7 3:26am Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal wrote:

> Dear Friends,
> 
> 
> 
> A theologian named Karl Barth was giving a lecture about that scene in the
> Garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Eve.  He was interrupted by one
> question. Professor, someone said: "did the serpent actually speak?" Barth
> replied: "the question is not whether the serpent spoke but rather what
> did
> it say."
> 
> 
> 
> The new Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem did not honor what was agreed upon by
> the Provincial Bishops in February 2007 namely "Dignified Silence."  From
> day one he went ahead issuing different statements with the intention of
> undermining the work and achievements of his predecessor.
> 
> 
> 
> Friends forwarded a copy of a statement which bishop Suhail recently
> circulated.  Bishop Riah, though often chose to stay away from the
> strategy
> of tit for tat, found himself under obligation and challenged to respond.
> 
> 
> 
> PLEASE - do not turn a blind eye.
> 
> 
> 
> MAY GOD HAVE MERCY,
> 
> Rania R.
> 
> Bishop Riah's Assistant
> 
> Nazareth
> 
> 
> 
> ==========================================================================
> ==
> =============================================
> 
> 
> 
> Dear Friends,
> 
> 
> 
> Salaam, grace from our Lord Jesus Christ and greetings from Nazareth - the
> Mother City of our Faith.
> 
> 
> 
> In response to the statement made by Suhail Dawani, Anglican Bishop in
> Jerusalem, may I  respond with the following:
> 
> 
> 
> Bishop Suhail and others may burry the truth for 3 days but the truth will
> rise again.
> 
> 
> 
> 1.	There was never a Diocesan Office in Nazareth.  Certainly not within
> Bishop Riah Educational Campus. The Diocesan offices are in Jerusalem,
> Amman
> and Beirut.
> 2.	The letter referred to in that statement requesting me to vacate a
> Diocesan Office was and is irrelevant. The reference to the other request
> asking for an explanation is groundless.  With all due respect, it is a
> lie.
> As seems it boils down to an office rather than an educational center and
> a
> human ministry.
> 3.	All informed know that many years and long hours during day and
> night have been invested in fund raising locally and internationally, and
> in
> building what became one of the best educational centers in Israel. We as
> a
> family never claimed the dead stones.  The Living Stones were and are on
> top
> of our concern.  Otherwise, if what Bishop Suhail states about us wanting
> to
> possess the school (the stones) is right, why would there be any need for
> a
> Society (Amotah) to run the campus??!
> 4.	It was at the request of the Ministry of Education in Israel that
> the Amotah (Society or Charity) was instituted.
> 
> 
> 
> The following are the Members of the Society; some of whom are Ex-Members
> of
> the old Board and others representing the Parents Guild:
> 
> 
> 
> Dr. Nakhleh Bishara, Medical Doctor I.D. # 020814026
> 
> Dr. Akram Hassoun, Mayor of Carmel City, I.D. # 055178248
> 
> Dr. Sami Dibbini, Psychiatrist, I.D. # 020588166
> 
> Dr. Elias Eidi, Councilor, Academic Advisor to the Amotah I.D. # 056887334
> 
> Mr. Amer Mousmar, Advocate, I.D. # 027633205
> 
> Mr. Mohammad Darawshe, Co-Director - Abraham Fund, I.D. # 058553074
> 
> Mr. Nehru Na'ara, Tax Advisor, Chairman of the Parents Guild I.D. #
> 056952633
> 
> 
> 
> As for Suad my wife, had it not been for her part in my life, much of what
> has been accomplished would not have been realized. To include her in the
> Amotah is simply a gesture to honor her participation in the wonderful
> ministry called Bishop Riah Educational Campus.
> 
> 
> 
> 5. Supported by the parents of the students and the many friends through
> out
> the world, by the grace of God, I managed to raise the necessary funds to
> build the Campus.  I - personally, and NOT as a Bishop or a priest, often
> guaranteed the school account when it went in the red by hundreds of
> thousands of shekels. The director of Mercantile Discount Bank - Mr. Riad
> Dibbini - is prepared to testify to this.  His telephone number is: 972 4
> 6575918.
> 
> 
> 
> 6. The reference about people highly respected in the community who
> offered
> to mediate is true. However, while I gladly and thankfully accepted and
> committed myself to complying with whatever settlement they would reach
> at,
> Bishop Suhail always declined.  The following may be reached at the
> telephone numbers below for you to ascertain this fact:
> 
> 
> 
> Patriarch Michael Sabbah - R.C. 972 2 6282323
> 
> Bishop Paul Marcuso - R.C.  972 4 6554075
> 
> Bishop Mouneeb Younan - Lutheran 972 2 6266800 or 972 546345192
> 
> Muwaffaq Tarif - Head of the Druz Community 972 505 40840
> 
> Fahoum Atif - A Moslem Dignitary 972 4 6554506
> 
> Parents Guild C/O Chairman Nehru Na'ara 972 505400972
> 
> Mr. Wajeeh Awad - Anglican Member of the School Board 972 522256300
> 
> 
> 
> *Perhaps I should indicate that the first attempt came while I was still
> the
> Diocesan, in February 2007, when His Grace Archbishop Rowan Williams,
> having
> become aware of difficulties in relationships, named Bishop Michael of
> Exeter as an Honest Broker to bridge the gap. I thankfully accepted and
> made
> the necessary booking to fly to England while bishop Suhail bluntly
> declined.
> 
> 
> 
> 7. Relations deteriorated between the School Administration and bishop
> Suhail. The Parents Guild became alarmed about the future ministry of the
> school.  At one of their meetings they resolved that whatever
> contributions,
> fees for improvement, etc made by them, be entrusted to the Amotah. Only
> then, an account was established. Such monies deposited in this new
> account
> are under the direct supervision of the Registrar of Amotas as well as the
> State Comptroller.  Not a single penny was used to benefit any except the
> school children and their teachers.
> 
> 
> 
> 8. When I received a Power of Attorney from the Church Missionary Society
> (CMS) I put it to good use to guarantee the ongoing wonderful ministry of
> the Campus, never seeking any personal benefit but endeavoring to promote
> the work of the Campus and make it the first College in Nazareth.
> Discussions with the Teachers College in Haifa and the University in
> Jordan
> about a joint project have already begun.
> 
> 
> 
> 9. When Bishop Suhail received a similar Power of Attorney he went
> straight
> to the Israeli Courts and with it banned me and the Amotah from stepping
> into the premises of C.M.S.
> 
> 
> 
> The damage done as a result of the ban to me and the Amotah is beyond
> words.
> We have received reports of students registering in other schools for the
> next academic year. To build takes years. To destroy takes minutes. That
> is
> how Bishop Suhail starts his ministry in relation to the Campus which
> received the Highest Award from the Ministry of Education in the State of
> Israel.
> 
> 
> 
> Years ago, the Government of Israel made me serve the longest travel ban
> in
> its history, simply because of the dream I always had: how to bring about
> peace between us Palestinians and the Israelis, the Arabs and the Jews.
> There was no charge whatsoever.  That ban was meant to hush me.
> 
> 
> 
> This time it is a successor of mine who is bringing about a precedent -
> which my predecessors and I avoided for reasons of common sense if not
> complying with Christian values. The ban and the legal procedure aim to
> defame and not only lay hands on the Campus. The Court case is still in
> the
> beginning. This negative energy will serve neither the Diocese nor our
> Palestinian people and certainly not the family of the Campus. Only the
> unwise will congratulate Bishop Suhail for taking that route.
> 
> 
> 
> Is it true that the Ecclesiastical Canon Law requires of any ordained to
> withdraw from his Ecclesiastical order should he choose to take another
> ordained to Civil Courts?
> 
> 
> 
> May God have mercy.
> 
> 
> 
> + Riah H. Abu El-Assal
> 
> 
> 
> CC:
> 
> His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury
> 
> Lord George Carey
> 
> The Provincial Bishops
> 
> Anglican Communion Headquarters
> 
> Support Council of the Campus
> 
> All parties mentioned above
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>