The Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï stated in his Sunday sermon that "we are witnessing, unfortunately, corruption on every level: political corruption, moral corruption, administrative corruption, judicial corruption, and commercial corruption. Minds have lost the truth and turned to lies; wills have lost the energy for good and leaned toward evil, injustice, oppression, and arrogance; humanity has lost its dignity and the glory of God's image in it, resulting in wickedness."
He added: "This is the root of the collapse of political work in Lebanon. Instead of building, we see it demolishing, starting from the failure to elect a president for the republic for eleven months, leading to the paralysis of the parliament, which has become an electoral body lacking the right to legislate, and making the government limited to the caretaker role, thus lacking the right to appoint, culminating in the dismantling of constitutional and administrative institutions one after the other. In addition to the proliferation of hatred, animosity, malice, pride, tyranny, destruction, and taking the country hostage with its people, land, and institutions for the benefit of an individual, group, or plan. Above all, and what is more dangerous, is that they set aside God, His words, His rites, and His commandments as if He does not exist, despite the false and deceptive religious appearances."
Raï questioned: "Is there anyone who can explain to us why the parliament does not convene in consecutive sessions to elect a president according to Article 49 of the Constitution, and there are two qualified candidates as demonstrated in the session of June 14? Either one of them succeeds or no one does, but after three consecutive sessions at most, an agreement should be reached on a third candidate through responsible dialogue. Can anyone tell us why the quorum was disrupted in that session which was nearly decisive? Is there an explanation for the goal of postponing this essential entitlement for the establishment of state institutions to September? Is the month of August a holiday for the esteemed deputies, for leisure by the sea and mountains, while the people are dying of hunger, the state is in a state of chaos, and Syrian refugees occupy the country with the support of the international community, while we remain oblivious, having forgotten their land, homeland, history, and culture?"
He said: "If the state officials were diligent in collecting its revenues from electricity and water bills from everyone, if they controlled its revenues from customs at the airport, ports, and other affiliated administrative institutions, if they managed the corruption amongst its employees, if they stopped smuggling in and out through its legitimate and illegitimate entrances, if they put an end to financial thefts, they would have provided the necessary and sufficient funds to pay public sector employees' wages and salaries without touching the reserves and the depositors' funds in the Central Bank!"
Raï addressed the officials, stating: "It is not possible to continue to strike the economic sectors, especially the tourism sector, which witnessed a revival this summer with the return of expatriates and tourists after various crises we experienced, while destructive rumors are spreading about price increases without mentioning the existence of a range of prices and services. Do you know that the tourism sector has been a lifeline for the collapsing economy, contributing about 25% of the national income over the years? The state imposed occupancy fees on public properties and beach resorts in dollars, while neglecting to reach any settlement for occupants of river properties and state common lands, depriving it of generating massive revenues for the treasury and stabilizing investments of all kinds. Is what is permissible on one side not permissible on the other? Preserving the tourism sector, like other sectors, is fundamental to building the nation and safeguarding its people."
