It's bad enough that the world is in the midst of the Third Jihad against the West, fought by lunatic-fringe Muslims against what they see as a Judeo-Christian conspiracy to keep them poor and ignorant. (They should really look into the various kleptocracies and mullahcracies that supposedly lead them instead.) But now we have the spectacle of internecine Christian riots at one of Christendom's holiest sites, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, reflecting shame and immaturity on all involved:

Greek Orthodox and Franciscan priests got into a fist fight Monday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Christianity's holiest shrine, after arguing over whether a door in the basilica should be closed during a procession. Dozens of people, including several Israeli police officers, were slightly hurt in the brawl at the shrine, built over the spot where tradition says Jesus was crucified and buried.

Four priests were detained, police spokesman Shmulik Ben-Ruby said.

Any time a news story starts out by talking about fistfights between Franciscan and Greek Orthodox priests, you know you have a head-shaker. What caused these competing Christians to violently brawl with each other in the place where Jesus Christ was buried after sacrificing himself to absolve us all from sin? A dispute over a door:

Monday's fight broke out during a procession of hundreds of Greek Orthodox worshippers commemorating the 4th century pilgrimage by Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, to Jerusalem. Tradition says that during the trip, Helena found the cross on which Jesus had been crucified.

Church officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that at one point, the procession passed a Roman Catholic chapel, and priests from both sides started arguing over whether the door to the chapel should be open or closed.

Club-wielding Israeli riot police broke up the fight, witnesses said. Afterward, the procession continued.

Both the Franciscans and the Greek Orthodox priests should be ashamed of themselves. As a Catholic, I'm appalled. It appears pride and vanity have taken over the efforts of both groups of priests at the Holy Sepulcher; otherwise, a door left ajar could have been reasonably resolved.

I note with wry irony that the resolution of the riot was left to our Jewish "elder brothers in faith", as the Pope has described the Christian relationship to Judaism. One can only imagine their irritation and amusement at having to crack the heads of these ostensible Christian officials to keep them from tearing each other to pieces.

Embarassing.

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» Fist Fight at Holy Sepulcher from Sha Ka Ree
Captain's Quarters notes a story about a fight between the Francisans and Greek Orthodox priests at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher: Both the Franciscans and the Greek Orthodox priests should be ashamed of themselves. As a Catholic, I'm appalled. It a... [Read More]

Tracked on September 27, 2004 12:37 PM