Middle East churches respond

The Middle East Council of Churches' Executive Committee is strengthening its unity amid the region's political upheaval.

At its Feb. 18 meeting in Cyprus, members discussed how they can improve their "unity in a situation [of] such political upheaval, in a situation where extremism and fanaticism is growing," said Munib Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and president of the Lutheran World Federation.

"We are all for political and economic reforms, but at the same time our message is very clear: [grassroots movements that] are supporting [the protests] should always be moderate [and] promote human rights, freedom of religion and speech," he said.