May. 4, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Turkey has said that the faithful are praying for a peaceful resolution of a government crisis there.
“One does not resolve political confrontations with violence, but with dialogue and negotiations," said Father Georges Marovitch, a spokesman for the Turkish bishops' conference. He was speaking about the conflict that has arisen over the disputed presidential candidacy of Abdullah Gul, the country's current foreign minister.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has strongly endorsed Gul's candidacy. But military officials are concerned that Gul, who is a Muslim, would jeopardize the country's commitment to secular government. Top military officials have said that they are ready to intervene in the nation's political affairs if necessary to uphold secular government.
Turkey's tiny Christian minority has generally avoided direct political involvement. In recent months, however, Christian leaders have prodded the government to provide equal treatment and equal protection for Christian churches. Their appeals have become more urgent in light of a propaganda campaign in which media outlets have frequently depicted Christians as agents of foreign influence and threats to Turkey's culture. The country's population is nearly 99% Muslim, and the rising influence of Islam has threatened the tradition of secular government.
Popular protests against Gul's candidacy have led Erdogan to call for parliamentary elections in June, so that new representatives will have a clear mandate from the public to resolve the question of presidential succession.