Franciscans Prevail; Greek Monks Evicted
From Times Wire Reports
Israeli bailiffs broke down the door of the St. John in the Desert monastery Sunday, enforcing an order to evict six Melkite monks and return the site to its owners, the Franciscans.
The Greek Melkite Catholic monks leased the monastery from the Franciscan order in 1978.
The Franciscans filed suit in 1994, saying the lease had expired. An Israeli court ruled that the site belonged to the Franciscans. The monks were ordered to leave by today.
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