Christian Views on Jerusalem

"Jerusalem--particularly the part enclosed within the walls--represents a good for humanity to be preserved in all its dimensions and characteristics. In order to preserve this value, the Holy See asks that the city be given a special status with international guarantees . . . there should be a supranational and international entity endowed with means adequate to insure the preservation of the special characteristics of the City, its Holy Places, the freedom to visit them, its religious and ethnic communities, a guarantee of their essential liberty and its city plan." 

Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Holy See Secretary for Relations with States [Foreign Minister], September 26, 1992

The National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. considers the following affirmations essential:

Agreement on the future status of Jerusalem, a focus of the deepest religious inspiration and attachment of three faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Existing international treaties . . . and League of Nations actions regulating the rights and claims of the three monotheistic religions to Holy Places should remain unaltered. . . . the destiny of Jerusalem should be viewed in terms of people and not only in terms of shrines. Therefore, the future status of Jerusalem should be included in the agenda of the official negotiations including Israel and the Palestinian people . . . . Unilateral actions by any one group in relation to Jerusalem will only perpetuate antagonisms that will threaten the peace of the city and possibly of the region."