BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai made a call for a strong but nuanced civil state Monday, one that isn’t beholden to a particular religion but also one that’s not entirely secular like many Western nations.

Speaking in Bkirki at a reception of a Hezbollah delegation for the New Year, Rai said such a system could be a role model for the rest of the region in religious coexistence between Christians and Muslims.

He said the country should build on its culture of tolerance by making a strong civil state, “a democracy that separates religion from the state.”

But Rai said there should be limits in that pursuit so the state doesn’t compromise its values.

“As for the West it has gone too far in secular civil state because it not only separated between religion and the state it separated between the state and God,” Rai said.

Rai said such a religious distinction was important because the secular state had led to crisis in the West because it had entirely eliminated god from government.

He said such a system of balance could be a model for religious coexistence in the region.

“Lebanon is a diverse country, different factions are equal in rights and duties,” Rai said.

“Lebanon should tell the people of the east that Muslims and Christians can live together,” he said.

With his comments the newly appointed patriarch continued his very active role in commenting on civil issues in the country. Last month Rai said people should have the option of having a civil marriage free of religious designation.

During the reception of Sheikh Mohammad Amro from Hezbollah, Rai also took the opportunity to endorse a national dialogue between political leaders in Lebanon in order to maintain a strong state.

“This is an occasion to call on officials from different groups in Lebanon to sit at the dialogue table,” Raid said.

Rai said it was critical that politicians air their wishes and fears otherwise the state would not function.

“Lebanon should hold onto its message and be an example of Arab states in the region,” he said.

Recently the issue of restarting a dialogue between the March 14 and March 8 coalitions gained traction with endorsements from a number political leaders. National dialogue talks last took place last year before they fell apart over disagreements about the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The meeting took place in the presence of Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir as well as a Free Patriotic Movement official.