During a Christmas Day CNN interview, a Catholic priest asserted that Jesus was a victim of persecution and that the events surrounding his birth had similarities to current events in the Middle East.
Regular contributor Father Edward Beck spoke with the anchors on Monday morning about how to maintain faith throughout the holiday season in light of everything going on in the globe, particularly the conflict between Israel and Hamas and the Palestinian people caught in the midst.
He asserted that the Christmas tale was, in fact, the story of a “Palestinian Jew,” pointing out how unusual it is to hear those two terms combined. Father Beck continued by stating that Jesus was born into an occupied nation and that his parents—Mary/Joseph—were compelled to escape as refugees into Egypt, which is historically accurate according to the Bible.
Beck continued, stating that the same kind of situation exists in 2023. Although he didn’t state as much that he was in favor of Palestine, that is how his comments were interpreted.
In a series of online back and forths, Father Beck has defended his statements. Once more, some interpreted his remarks to suggest that Jesus was more Palestinian or Arab than Jewish, but Beck claims that his actual message of peace and togetherness is being obscured and that his words are being misinterpreted.
Additionally, he has published essays discussing the historical usage of the term “Palestinian” and how it has presumably been used to refer to Muslims, Jews, and other people who have been in that area for millennia.
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