Vatican wants Saddam spared death penalty

[Township75]

ROME/AMMAN: A top Vatican official condemned the death sentence against Saddam Hussein on Thursday, acknowledging the crimes of the ousted Iraqi leader but reiterating that capital punishment goes against the teachings of the Church, even as Saddam's lawyer urged that he shouldn't be handed over to Iraqis.

Cardinal Renato Martino, Pope Benedict XVI's top prelate for justice issues and a former Vatican envoy to the United Nations, said that Saddam's execution would punish "a crime with another crime"and expressed hope that the sentence would not be carried out.

In an interview with Rome daily La Repubblica, Martino reiterated the Vatican's staunch opposition to the death penalty, saying that life must be safeguarded from its beginning to its "natural" end.

"The death penalty is not a natural death. And no one can give death, not even the State,"he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/Rest_of_W...

[demnan]

1. You got to give them credit

at least the Vatican is consistent.

[Violet_Crumble]

2. Yeah, they are consistent...

And when it comes to the death penalty I'm in total agreement with them, which is something I can't say often about the church...

[MaineDem]

4. I agree with all your points. n/t

[Barrett808]

28. Word. n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Unlike

many in the right to life movement, who only want to protect the life of the unborn.

[shain from kane]

5. There's always the chance, however slim, that he will convert to Catholicism and leave his

hidden billions to the church. It's all about the money.

[LetsGoMurphys]

37. stop the catholic hate

you tolerant liberal

[HannibalBarca]

6. How about they make

him have sex without a condom with someone who has aids. They seem incapable of understanding their own hypocrisy, either that or they relish in it.

[LaBanty]

7. for every decent thing he supports

He supports a hundred stupid ones.

If Charles Manson had nice table manners, it still doesn't mean I'd invite the prick over for dinner. I don't get excited when someone says or does one thing sane, when I despise what they stand for. That goes double for popes. And Rush Limbaugh. Or anyone else, for that matter. Klukkers may hate child molestors, but that doesn't mean I'd quote the bastards, let alone align myself with them.

[ShortnFiery]

27. Every human life has value ...

Those who hold TRUE to Catholic Values interpret PRO-LIFE to include standing against the Death Penalty. In other words, they walk the walk ---> 100% Pro-life beliefs = no abortion, no euthanasia and no forms (even State Sponsored) execution.

Yes, I have great admiration for the Jesuits and Franciscans because they are truly consistent.

[LetsGoMurphys]

38. Everyone should take a long hard look at the

Jesuits, they are truly remarkable people.

[juajen]

8. Gosh,by golly

I agree with the Catholic Church. His execution diminishes me.

[VegasWolf]

9. In ancient times, what the Vatican wanted was considered important. nt

[gratuitous]

10. It's called having a principle

If you say you're anti-death penalty, but since it's a monster like Saddam Hussein, maybe it's okay. Then you're really not anti-death penalty. If you say you're anti-death penalty even for a monster like Saddam Hussein, it doesn't mean you don't want him punished for his crimes, just that you're anti-death penalty.

This is something that confuses a lot of kooks on the know-nothing right, and sadly some otherwise canny folks with whom I am in agreement much of the time.

[Little Star]

11. What about Falwell and the rest of those

mega church preachers? Their silence is deafning.......
Nice example they set for the sheep. They could at least fake some of that compassion they espouse.

[Bridget Burke]

12. They are the ones who say they are "pro-life"

But cheer on executions & support illegal invasions.

[LetsGoMurphys]

39. they dont even pretend w/ the death penalty n/t

[ckramer]

13. VATICAN: SADDAM'S DEATH SENTENCE A CRIME SAYS CARDINAL

Sentencing ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to death is a crime for the Catholic Church says Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which has always condemned the death penalty. In an interview to Rome daily La Repubblica published on Thursday Martino said: "I hope a crime will not be compensated with another crime. The Church says that human life must be protected from conception until a natural death. The death penalty isn't a natural death. Nobody can give death, not even the state."

"There's still a period of 30 days (before the death sentence must be carried out), the president's signature is required, things can happen," the cardinal also told the paper.

Italian premier Romano Prodi has also condemned the decision to impose the death penalty.

In the interview to Repubblica, Martino criticised the US for showing pictures of soldiers checking Saddam's teeth "like a cow" immediately after he was captured in December 2003.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Relig...

[Gman]

14. JPII also told Bush

"If you go to Iraq you go without God."

[judaspriestess]

19. good one

and very very true!!

[LetsGoMurphys]

40. Wow was he right

I miss JPII.

[pitohui]

15. well let the vatican take the leadership in this

i don't think americans need to be telling the iraqi people whether or not they can execute saddam, when we still have executions in this country

[Benhurst]

20. It's not "the Iraqi people" executing Saddam. It's their Quisling government

doing it under orders from the occupying army which illegally invaded their country.

A kangaroo court empowered under an occupying force is a farce. At the very least, Saddam should have been tried by the International Court of Justice; but then the dirty secrets of the Bush Crime Family would have been exposed.

[Deep13]

16. "...which has always condemned the death penalty."

I guess they forgot to tell the Inquisition.

Vatican also says that birth control is a crime.

[pennylane100]

17. Pedophelia is also a crime

but that never seemed to be a big concern for the catholic church.

[LetsGoMurphys]

41. mind ur business limey n/t

[xultar]

18. I agree with them on this. Bush has killed just as many Iraqis

so I ask. Who is he to escape the same fate?

Yes I'm against the death penality even for Bush.

[lovuian]

21. I agree with the Vatican the Death Penalty is not

the answer

[high density]

22. ABORTION AND GAY MARRIAGE!!!

Remember what's important! Who cares about wars and poverty??!!

[ckramer]

23. This whole sheband proves Shiites are not fit for governing

All they think about is revenge.

[superconnected]

24. it happens in 1 hour.

gee, americas acceptance of public executions begins.

In american prisons they have never been televised hence they haven't been public.

George must be proud.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

25. Great timing... Happy f-ing new year...

Do you see he will be hung with 2 other "lesser" criminals? It this Jesus Christ parallel intentional?

[superconnected]

26. Wow, no I didn't see that.

Thanks for pointing it out.

Yep, Happy new year... Americas desensitation to public executions is about to begin.

[ShortnFiery]

29. Yes, and ole' King George will have made Saddam Hussein "a martyr"

The entire trial was a circus of USA consultants and installed Iraqi crones.

Bush 41 must rue the fact that Junior (43) has a penchant for having the Reverse Midas Touch: Everything he has his grubby fingers in turns out to be disastrous!

The last things you want him controlling are large corporations or an entire NATION. The man is a walking disaster and everything he touches turns to DUST!

Oh, may the Good Lord give those of us who are Christians the courage to persevere until the Presidential Elections of 2008?

[2Design]

31. interesting parallel - like the joshua books - the religious are blind n/t

[crickets]

34. I caught that too.

Made me wonder. I don't put anything past them anymore.

[arewenotdemo]

30. Fuck the Pope

He played a crucial role in helping the Cheerleader win in 2004.

If it was left to the Vatican it would still be God's Enforcer, executing the heathens and infidels.

[timber84]

32. wrong pope

[ShortnFiery]

33. True, also the American Bishops tend to re-interpret the edicts of

The Vatican to fit their kool-aid drinking need for vengeance.

I'm not an historian but believe that "The Vatican" proper has been anti-execution for a long time.

[arewenotdemo]

36. both were guilty of tampering

April 21, 2005 | President Bush treated his final visit with Pope John Paul II in Vatican City on June 4, 2004, as a campaign stop. After enduring a public rebuke from the pope about the Iraq war, Bush lobbied Vatican officials to help him win the election. "Not all the American bishops are with me," he complained, according to the National Catholic Reporter. He pleaded with the Vatican to pressure the bishops to step up their activism against abortion and gay marriage in the states during the campaign season.

About a week later, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger sent a letter to the U.S. bishops, pronouncing that those Catholics who were pro-choice on abortion were committing a "grave sin" and must be denied Communion. He pointedly mentioned "the case of a Catholic politician consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws" -- an obvious reference to John Kerry, the Democratic candidate and a Roman Catholic. If such a Catholic politician sought Communion, Ratzinger wrote, priests must be ordered to "refuse to distribute it." Any Catholic who voted for this "Catholic politician," he continued, "would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion." During the closing weeks of the campaign, a pastoral letter was read from pulpits in Catholic churches repeating the ominous suggestion of excommunication. Voting for the Democrat was nothing less than consorting with the forces of Satan, collaboration with "evil."

http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/blumenthal/2005/04/2...

[LetsGoMurphys]

42. what proof do you have?

nothing. Two words, Ian Paisley. That's Bush's boy. A number 1 enemy of the Catholic Church.

[lumpy]

35. The Christian god has been on extended holiday

for quite some time now. Maybe he has just given up on his intelligent designing.