A retrograde step for ecumenism.
A scene reminscent of The Life of Brian.
An illustration of religious devotion carried too far.
A new approach to church cleaning.
A sign that when it comes to loving and following Jesus, the church still doesn’t "get it".
An alternative approach to spiritual warfare.
Or just one more reason why a Gospel of peace and reconciliation lacks credibility in an age long past skepticism and cosily habituated to cynicism.
The story is carried by AOL. Judge for yourself – then perhaps find time to pray…..
Priests Fight at the Site of Christ’s Birth
Broom-wielding priests fought each other at the site of Christ’s birth after rows broke out between rival factions as they arrived to clean the shrine.
The robed Greek Orthodox and Armenians clashed inside Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity.
The basilica, built over the grotto 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 area can lead to vicious feuds.
Dozens of priests and cleaners went to the fortress-like church to scrub and sweep the floors, walls and rafters ahead of the Armenian and Orthodox Christmas, celebrated in the first week of January.
But the cleaning session turned ugly after some of the Orthodox faithful stepped inside the Armenian church’s section, setting 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.
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