Jerusalem Patriarchs’ Condemnation Masks Deeper Apostasy
The EWTN News article (January 24, 2026) reports on the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemning Christian Zionism as a “damaging ideology” threatening the Christian presence in the Holy Land. The council—including the Latin Patriarchate’s “cardinal” Pierbattista Pizzaballa, “bishop” William Shomali, and leaders of Orthodox and Protestant sects—denounced activities of figures like Ihab Shlayan, who promotes Israeli Christian political engagement. Responses from groups like Philos Catholic and the Association of Hebrew Catholics argued for distinguishing Protestant eschatological Zionism from Catholic-aligned political support for Israel. The article frames the dispute as pastoral and geopolitical rather than theological, omitting any reference to Christ’s universal kingship or the Church’s divine mission.