The Archbishop of York has revealed he was intimidated by Israeli militias during a visit to the Holy Land earlier this year, preventing him from reaching Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank. The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell made the disclosure in his Christmas Day sermon at York Minster.
Cottrell recounted being stopped at multiple checkpoints during his visit. «It was sobering to see this wall for real on my visit to the Holy Land, and we were stopped at various checkpoints and intimidated by local Israeli militias who told us that we couldn't visit Palestinian families in the occupied West Bank,» he said.
The experience formed the centrepiece of his sermon addressing global divisions and fear of strangers. A YMCA charity in Bethlehem, working with what Cottrell described as «persecuted Palestinian communities» in the West Bank, gave him an olive wood nativity carving depicting a wall blocking the three kings from reaching the stable.
Broader message on barriers
The archbishop extended his reflection beyond the Holy Land. He spoke of «all the walls and barriers we erect across the whole of the world» and «the ones we build around ourselves and construct in our hearts».
«We have become, I can think of no other way of putting it, fearful of each other, and especially of strangers,» Cottrell said. He warned that this fear means «we are in danger of even failing to welcome Christ when he comes» when encountering homeless people, refugees seeking asylum, and young people without hope.
Dame Sarah Mullally, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, also addressed division in her Christmas sermon at St Paul's Cathedral. She warned that «our national conversations about immigration continue to divide us, when our common humanity should unite us».
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
