Israel threatens to cut off water supply to Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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**Israel threatens to cut off water supply to Church of the Holy Sepulchre **
by Arieh Cohen

For nearly a century, various governments in the Holy Land gave free water to the basilica and pilgrims as a sign of courtesy. Now the Jerusalem Municipality also wants it to pay for past consumption of water. Confusion and concern among the Christian Churches: we agreement among all the groups who use the water at the Holy Sepulchre.

Tel Aviv (AsiaNews) – The Churches of Jerusalem are perplexed and concerned by the municipal authorities threat to cut off water supplies to the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. Since water supplies were first operational in the area, successive governments have always provided access to the Holy Sepulchre free of charge as a public service to the pilgrims and act of courtesy to the religious, Catholic and non-Catholic, who custody the sanctuary.

LINK: asianews.it/news-en/israel-threatens-to-cut-off-water-supply-to-church-of-the-holy-sepulchre-19074.html
 
According to the article, the city of Jerusalem wants to bill the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for water that it uses. If the shrine does not pay the water bill, the water will be cut off.

I dunno… maybe I am missing something, but one the face of it, this seems reasonable. At least to me. If I don’t pay my water bill, my water will be shut off. I think that is true for churches and shrines across the US (I can’t speak for other countries.)

The only problem would be the fractious nature of the different monastic groups which control sections of the Holy Sepulcher. Apparently floor space is very carefully split up, with certain zones controlled by one religious order and forbidden to other orders. Fistfights between monks of different orders are not uncommon when one group feels its space has been infringed upon.

As the article points out:
the article:
However, in order for this to be applied to the whole of the Holy Sepulchre, specific agreements must be reached between first among the different users regarding the splitting of costs for the consumption of water in common areas, and then you will have to install separate water metres so that it can be demanded that each group of monks pay for what they consume.
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But surely working this out isn’t the responsibility of the city of Jerusalem? When I had roommates, I remember quarreling over excessive use of electricity by one person and the rest of us resenting an even split of the bill. Still, we worked our differences. Perhaps the monks should be expected to do the same? 🤷
 
Yeah, but they also want the “church” to pay for past water use too…going back 40 years? And taxes…

What the heck?
 
Garyjohn2 said:
Yeah, but they also want the “church” to pay for past water use too…going back 40 years? And taxes…

What the heck?
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That’s exactly what I said to myself… How can they now expect the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to pay up AFTER 40 YEARS with the divisions of the various Churches at the site. What will they do… give 20% of the bill to the Copts… 40% to the Catholic’s… 30% to the Greeks…etc

It’s really ridiculous.
 
What this sounds like to me is that Jerusalem is probably strapped for cash, just like thousands of other municipalities around the world. Somebody did a little figuring and thought that if they started charging for water they could make up some of this short fall. Somebody else said “hey we charge everybody else, why not them? This sounds like a good idea.” The idea made it past the appropriate bureaucrat and they made the announcement. Now, everybody is squawking and a hornet’s nest has been kicked over, this idea will be rescinded and everything will go on as normal, but maybe the churches will kick in a little money as a token gesture for the services they receive.

I agree trying to retroactively charge them for 40 years of service is just a money grab.

I don’t see how any of this will fly.

ChadS
 
Garyjohn2 said:
Yeah, but they also want the “church” to pay for past water use too…going back 40 years? And taxes…
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Oh, I missed that. 😊

Yes, retroactive billing on a policy that was just changed is outrageous.
 
I agree Chad. Some silly bureaucrat had another silly idea. This particular silly idea will be shot down quickly.
 
I think it is ridiculous that Jerusalem could try to charge them for the past 40 years worth of water plus taxes. They gave the water to them for free. It is not right to give a gift and then expect payment for it. That said, I could understand requiring them to pay for future water usage.
 
Perhaps you are unaware that using the word “retarded” as a term of derision is insulting and extremely hurtful to those with mental retardation? My son has Down syndrome, and his condition is how God made him, beautiful and perfect in His eyes. That his disability should be used as term of derision, as a bad and nasty statement against someone or some group of someone, is extremely painful.

Perhaps you meant “ignorant” or “stupid” or “uneducated” or “dumb”?

My fellow parents of special needs kids, as well as the many adults with special needs, refer to it as the “R” word. Hearing it has reduced many a dear friend to tears.

I’m sure you were merely unaware of the pain you cause others by this choice of word.
 
sojo said:
Perhaps you are unaware that using the word “retarded” as a term of derision is insulting and extremely hurtful to those with mental retardation?
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This.

I know that people who want to use the word “retarded” to indicate derision will now whine about “political correctness.” But even Sarah Palin (no friend of political correctness) has come out against using the word in that manner.

I realize that this is off topic, but the person who made the comment had nothing else to say, so it is hard to respond in any other way.
 
Besides, it’s not so much retarded as in slowed… it’s just down right backward.
 
sojo said:
Perhaps you are unaware that using the word “retarded” as a term of derision is insulting and extremely hurtful to those with mental retardation?
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Why did you presume that the use of the word “retarded” was intended as an insult against your child? Retarded has other meanings as well.

Are short people to be considered vertically-challenged or fat people horizontally-challenged, etc., etc. to satisfy the demands of Political Correctness? 🤷
 
Firstly, the thought that Jerusalem is somehow cash-strapped is absurd. There is more wealth horded in Jerusalaem than that which is stashed in any other city on planet earth…that is simply a fact. Secondly, Jerusalem is a place sanctified by Christ’s blood, therefore any dictates directed at the legitimate Christian representation there should be viewed as invalid by the faithful.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is sacred ground. The place is the center of the universe because Jesus made it so. Jerusalem is the city which Jesus Christ sanctified with His blood. That is the sole distinction the place posseses…period. Anything which opposes that view must be deemed sacrilege.

Jerusalem, ultimately, is a Christian city. Jesus declared it thus.
 
Christians have long supported Israel so this is a real slap in the face. How much bottled water does the Church of the Holy Sepulchre need, could the Christians of the world send it and how soon can we start?
 
Bob_Aliano said:
Christians have long supported Israel so this is a real slap in the face. How much bottled water does the Church of the Holy Sepulchre need, could the Christians of the world send it and how soon can we start?
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I like your attitude. 👍 If only more Christians in this world would give their support to the holy sites in the Holy Land.

God bless
 
unafraid said:
Firstly, the thought that Jerusalem is somehow cash-strapped is absurd. There is more wealth horded in Jerusalaem than that which is stashed in any other city on planet earth…that is simply a fact.
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Then how do you explain this:
Economically, Jerusalem is the poorest of Israel’s 50 largest towns. Outside of tourism, the private sector is distant rumor. High-tech and finance, the engines of Israel’s economic growth, are in Tel Aviv. Young adults are abandoning Jerusalem.
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A City United Against Itself
Secondly, Jerusalem is a place sanctified by Christ’s blood, therefore any dictates directed at the legitimate Christian representation there should be viewed as invalid by the faithful.
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The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is sacred ground. The place is the center of the universe because Jesus made it so. Jerusalem is the city which Jesus Christ sanctified with His blood. That is the sole distinction the place posseses…period. Anything which opposes that view must be deemed sacrilege.
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Jerusalem, ultimately, is a Christian city. Jesus declared it thus.
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If I may paraphrase your argument here it is “We’re Christians. We shouldn’t have to pay for something as silly as utilities.”

Your post almost single-handedly makes me want to change my opinion on this whole matter and side with those that think they should pay for the water. You can cut the hyperbole, it’s not a sacrilege to make a church pay for its utilities.

ChadS
 
Bob_Aliano said:
Christians have long supported Israel so this is a real slap in the face. How much bottled water does the Church of the Holy Sepulchre need, could the Christians of the world send it and how soon can we start?
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Forgoing a municipal water supply in favor of bottled water, for an institution as active as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, would be insanely expensive. Not to mention the practical problems posed by storage and distribution.

A city government be reimbursed for its water service, I don’t see anything unreasonable about that. Whether that city is in Israel or the United States shouldn’t matter. Now, if you want to take a collection to pay, on an ongoing basis, the water bill for the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, that would seem a very reasonable (and charitable) thing to do. And it would likely be far less expensive than the bottled water route.
 
ChadS said:
Then how do you explain this:

A City United Against Itself

If I may paraphrase your argument here it is “We’re Christians. We shouldn’t have to pay for something as silly as utilities.”

Your post almost single-handedly makes me want to change my opinion on this whole matter and side with those that think they should pay for the water. You can cut the hyperbole, it’s not a sacrilege to make a church pay for its utilities.

ChadS
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I agree with you, it’s not at all unreasonable to ask the Church to pay for the water they use. The unreasonable part is asking them to anney up for the water they’ve used in the past 40 yrs!!! That is a ridiculously unreasonable demand. I don’t care HOW strapped for cash they are. Water useage was not part of the agreement to begin with, and now they want to charge them for 40 yrs!!! Not koshier at all.
 
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