The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-07-25

Maronite Catholics; IA Sunnite
Moslems; IL Shiite Moslems;
seven Greek Orthodox; four
Druses and four Greek Catho-
lies Melkites). In addition,
there are three Armenian Or
thodox; one Armenian Catholic,
and one Representative of the
minorities."
Under such a confessional
system, the Maronite plurality
automatically makes the Mar
onite Patriarch a key figure in
the Lebanese Mosaic.
But even if the Maronites
were not the preponder-.
ant community - and there is
an increasing indication that
through Christian emigration,
high Moslem birth rates and the
influx of Moslem refugees from
Palestine after the establish
ment of Israel a decade ago,
the present quota system is no
longer representative the
traditions and prestige Of the
Maronite patriarchate would
perforce continue its influence.
In past ages, the patriarch was
temporal as well as spiritual
head of his people, and the pa
triarchate has always been ex-
pected to play a predominant
role in the politics Of the coun-
try.
The personality and the
broad experience of the pres
ent Patriarch, His Beatitude
Paul Meouchi, have if anything
added to the Importance Of this
tradition. Now "a, Patriarch
Meouchi was born near ancient
Sidon in southwestern Lebanon.
Educated in Rome and ordained
there in 1917, he went to the
United States with the visiting
Maronite Archbishop of Tyre in
1920 and remained there to
serve Maronite communities
briefly in Michigan City, Ind,
then as pastor of Our Lady of
Purgatory church in New Bed
ford, Mass, and later as pastor
of Our Lady of Lebanon church
in Los Angeles.
Although . natural lied
American citizen, hs was nam
I'd Archbishop Of Tyre In
1894 and returned to Lsh.
anon. His predecessor in the
pstrisrchats. Patriarch An
toine Arids, who was In his
ninssiss when he died, was in.
capseifstsd for much OF The
last decade Of his life, thus
creating special pro bIsms
within the Msronifs Church.
On Patriarch Arida's death in
May, 1855, the Holy See set
aside the traditional right Of the
Maronite Synod to elect its own
patriarch. The then Apostolic
Delegate to Jerusalem, Arch
bishop Silvio Oddi, informed the
Maronite bishops that His Holt
ness Pope Plus XII had decided
to name Archbishop Meouchi to
the post. It was promised at the
same time that the right Of cleo
ton remained in effect and was
only being suspended for that
time, not cancelled. The en-
thronement of Patriarch Meou-
chi that June put an end to
press reports that the appoint
ment had split the Maronite
community.
From The beginning, Patrl.
arch Msovehi has maintained
close rsIsfions with his Mos
lem fellow eovntrymsn. Be-
lisvins that Lebanon should
remain . symbol Of brothsrIy
cooperation between ell ifs d.
verse peoples and IN exam
pie for other countries which
are spiritually hstsressns-
Gus. he has kept fhs doors Of
his pstriarehaI palace ~
Bksrks open TO oil. "Anyens
who cares to come, Christian
or MosIsm, 10 . son Of mins."
he hes said.
In the initial period following
his enforcement, the Patriarch
was on cordial terms with Pres
ident Glamour, who had been
in office since 1852. When Mr..
Glamour let 1t be known that
he hoped to amend the Consti-
tuition 80 that he could succeed
himself in office, Patriarch
Meouchi openly opposed him.
He accused the President of
falsifying last years parlia-
mentary elections and packing
the Chamber Of Deputies rs
part Of = maneuver to remain
In 0ffice The snirifual leader il