Religion Roundup
Irish Church Leaders Barred from Western Wall Because they Wore Crosses
Associated Press
May 2, 2008
JERUSALEM - Irish church leaders have been barred from praying at Jerusalem's Western Wall because they refused to remove the crosses they were wearing.
Ireland's Roman Catholic Cardinal Sean Brady and leaders of the Church of Ireland and the Irish Methodist and Presbyterian churches are on a four-day visit to Israel and the West Bank to promote peace and show solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land. But Brady told Ireland's RTE network that when they arrived at the wall to pray, "There was a difficulty about us wearing our crosses."
The rabbi of the Western Wall said Judaism's holiest site is open to all faiths, but worshippers are expected not to offend Jews by displaying symbols of other religions.
The Western Wall, in Jerusalem's walled Old City, is a remnant of the Biblical Jewish Temple.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
