So the Vatican's issued a statement on my new favorite topic, supporting the Christians of the Holy Land -- in connection with the annual Good Friday collection for same. Yay! If you care to read volumes about it, go to my February 2006 archive, scroll to the bottom and read away. This news story, however, ends on a bizarre note.
The exodus has been particularly notable since the 6-day war of 1967; 35% of the Palestinian population has left the region. Today there are about 150,000 Christians in the Holy Land, of whom roughly half are Catholic.
"Particularly noticeable" for 40 years! Was anyone counting before then? Not to mention the fact that "Palestinians" are not the same as "Christians" necessarily. I'd say it's a little more dramatic to note that the Palestinian Christian population has declined 10% each year from 2000-2004, as a result of the intifada of 2000 & the security fence/wall.
