The Syrian Social Nationalist Party by Salim Mujais

Author:Salim Mujais [Mujais, Salim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Syrian Social Nationalist Party
Publisher: Black House Publishing
Published: 2019-02-12T05:00:00+00:00

CONFRONTING A RELIGIOUS BASTION

The confrontation between the SSNP and the leadership of the Maronite church was initiated by the latter. Soon after the discovery of the SSNP, a pamphlet labeling the SSNP as the “enemy of religion and country” was published with the blessing of Patriarch Arida.90

The author of the pamphlet, Louis Khalil, a priest and close confidant of Patriarch Arida, is clearly addressing a Maronite Christian community when he asks, “Do the principles of the SSNP conform to the laws of God and the teachings of the Church?” After defining his medieval context, he goes further to relate the implications of the SSNP First Reform Principle (Separation of religion and state). “The clear meaning is that the state should separate itself from religion in an absolute sense neglecting our obligations and duties to Almighty God. It will not be founded on belief in God and will not respect His Laws. More precisely, it will be a state without religion Ignoring God in its constitution, legislation and the execution of its affairs as if God did not exist. This is the true meaning of the separation of state and religion, a grave matter for it is a major insult to Almighty God”. After more of the same obscurantist drivel, Father Louis Khalil concludes that the SSNP satisfies all the conditions that would bring excommunication on any members of the Catholic Church (Maronites included) who would join its ranks. The modern reader may scoff at the anachronistic language and the medieval concepts in the pamphlet, but in 1936 Lebanon, this was a serious obstacle to confront.

It should not surprise us, therefore, that the Patriarch would take a swipe at the SSNP in his annual homily. The homily of the patriarch was an opportunity for Saadeh not only to defend his party, but also to undermine the legitimacy of political involvement by the clergy. Indeed, Saadeh’s rebuttal and the Patriarch’s speech were published by the SSNP in a pamphlet distributed widely in Syria and the immigrant communities.

Saadeh’s rebuttal was three pronged: first, he offered an unflattering characterization of Patriarch Arida; second, he ridiculed the role of the patriarchy; and third, he showed the incompetence of the Patriarch in the handling of the specific political and civic issues tackled in the homily.

The Patriarch gave Saadeh the excuse to rebut him by inserting the following paragraphs in his homily:

“It is regrettable that a group of Lebanese have enrolled in political parties under foreign influence such as the Syrian Nationalist Party and the Communist Party, working against Lebanese independence, and believing in principles nefarious to religion, country and morality. It is the duty of the government to resist these parties working to undermine Lebanese independence and spreading evil principles under the guise of seeking public good.

It saddens us to see the government ignoring the Communist party while it disbands and resists Lebanese organizations… We do thank the government, however, for its actions against the Syrian Nationalist Party…

The primary duties of the government are the protection

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