Pope Calls for Immediate End to Conflict

[cal04]

Pope Benedict XVI issued an impassioned call Wednesday for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East, saying ``nothing can justify the spilling of innocent blood.''

Clenching his fist and his voice filled with emotion, Benedict said: ``Our eyes are filled with the chilling images of torn bodies of so many people, especially children - I am thinking in particular of Qana.''

Benedict was referring to the Israeli attack Sunday in the southern Lebanese town of Qana that killed 56 civilians, mostly women and children.

It was the latest in a half-dozen peace appeals by the pope that have consistently included calls for an immediate cease-fire. He has spoken out on every public occasion since the fighting began three weeks ago, reminiscent of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, who became a rallying point for critics of the Iraq war.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5989995,00.html

[saigon68]

1. He's wasting his time

The Hateful Born Again Fundies want a new crusade to "Kill all islamics"

Their daddy the Chimp wants to please them and eagerly awaits christs return.

[Kolesar]

3. Oh, I don't know

There might be some RWers here or there that might pause in their raging psychoses and pause and listen to the Pope. The message might affect ... somebody.

On the balance, I am a pessimist, though. I don't expect "miracles" LOL

[saigon68]

26. This Thug Pope is Praying for the Anti-Gay marriage to pass in WISCONSIN

He is sending all his Bishops and lapdog priests out to their flocks, to influence the sheep to vote
to condemn men who kiss and love each other.

[LetsGoMurphys]

29. What the hell does this have to do with this thread?

I feel like by reading your posts I can picture you sitting there with a red face and an 8 ball just typing as hard as you can. Make an intelligent arguement for once. Gay marriage has absolutely nothing to do with this thread.

[saigon68]

30. don't read them then

i know it must be a waste of time for you to be here.

but you should however donate to this last bastion of free speech

[Seabiscuit]

2. Sorry, Popie... there will never be a "cease fire". There is no end to

the neocon agenda... just war, war, war and more war.

Just ask Richard Perle.

[grainger12]

4. The Pope's not a neo-con?

[Bridget Burke]

6. Not at all.

His Conservatism is very old-fashioned.

And the Church's policies on Aggressive War, Capital Punishment & Social Justice would make most Conservatives quite uncomfortable.

[LostinVA]

8. For all the problems I have with the Church I was raised in and left

I heartily applaud its stance against offensive wars and the death penalthy... and its stance for Evolution, environmentalism, and social justice.

Now, if her Cardinals could only enter the modern world where women and gays are cpncermned...

Even The Rat isn't a Neo-con.

I grudgingly applaud him for this...

[gademocrat7]

13. I agree

[Bacchus39]

15. thank you

of course the pope is going to call for peace, not only as he should but as he must.

[LetsGoMurphys]

12. The Vatican's stance on war

has been VERY consistent. Including Iraq. Dont assume things based on Anti-Catholic rhetoric being spewed. That being said I dont agree with them on everything.

[niallmac]

24. One thing the Catholic church has been pretty clear about is

that they do not condone these wars.
Aren't their other religions around?
Don't they have something to say about
this travesty? No? Wonder why, I really do.

[catmother]

5. like there going to pay attention to him

[Demonaut]

7. lol, which part of their religions recognize him as a legitimate voice??

[SteppingRazor]

9. Ah, yes. Because Jews and Muslims care so much about what he thinks

:eyes:

[Critters2]

22. No, but there are Roman Catholics in Lebanon

A good many Lebanese Arabs are Eastern Rite Catholics. He has every right to speak out against a war that endangers them (or anyone else, for that matter). He's not a disinterested bystander.

[Ghost Dog]

23. Yup. From the 'Boy's Own' CIA Factbook:

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/le.html (emphasis, italics added)

<snip>

Natural resources:

limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land

<snip>

Geography - note:

Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity

Population:

3,874,050 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.5% (male 523,220/female 502,372)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 1,235,915/female 1,342,540)
65 years and over: 7% (male 122,155/female 147,848) (2006 est.)
- note the deficit in older males; superavit in younger males.

Median age:

total: 27.8 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 28.9 years (2006 est.)

<snip>

Ethnic groups:

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions:

Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3%
note: 17 religious sects recognized - (note also, Juan Cole says some 43% Shi'a - and we are not sure whether these numbers include Palestinian refugees...)

Languages:

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)

/...

[LetsGoMurphys]

28. Mostly they are Maronites

they are not Roman Catholic but they have ties to the Church. The Maronites that came to America went to Roman Catholic schools. They are all very good and hard working people. Although you allege an alterior motive, the church has been very consistent on the issue of war not matter what the venue is.

[Caretha]

31. There are also Roman Catholics in Israel n/t

[SteppingRazor]

34. I never said he has no right to speak out...

nor did I even suggest such a thing. In fact, everyone and anyone has the right to speak out. My point was not to say that he has no right to do so. My point was that such statement, while appreciated, will be largely ineffectual.

[rexcat]

10. It only took him three weeks...

where has he been!

[LetsGoMurphys]

17. Actually

this isnt the first time he said it.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
The Vatican said it "deplores right now the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation."
<http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1077383441.html?dids=1077383441:1077383441&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&fmac=76bf3770df90033274e86cdb7bcc356f&date=Jul+15%2C+2006&author=&desc=Bush+Declines+to+Call+for+Israeli+Cease-Fire>

Sunday, July 23, 2006; 8:10 AM
"I renew with vigor my appeal to all sides in the conflict, so that they immediately cease fighting and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, and so, with the help of the international community, they search for ways to begin negotiations," Benedict said.

"I take the occasion to reaffirm the right of Lebanese to the wholeness and sovereignty of the country, the right of the Israelis to live in peace in their state and the right of the Palestinians to have a free and sovereign country."

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/23/AR2006072300141.html>

Sunday, July 30, 2006; 10:07 AM
"In the name of God, I appeal to all those responsible for this spiral of violence, so that they immediately put down their arms on all sides," the pope told pilgrims and tourists at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome. Pausing slightly, he repeated the word "immediately."
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/30/AR2006073000166.html>


These came all before todays plea.

[Sherman A1]

25. Good

Won't have much effect, but at least he has made repeated statements condemning the war.

[LetsGoMurphys]

27. It will have zero effect n/t

[gratuitous]

11. Speaking out as he should

I wish only that he'd spoken up sooner, but I'll take it.

[LostinVA]

16. He has spoken sooner -- weeks ago n/t

[gratuitous]

18. I wasn't aware of that

Do you have a link to a story? As indifferent as I am to Catholicism, the popes have been pretty consistent advocates for peace in the last few decades, and their voices carry weight with a significant segment of Christianity.

[LetsGoMurphys]

19. see my post #17 n/t

[gratuitous]

21. Very good

Thanks. Always nice to use the Pope as a back-up in a discussion . . .

[CountAllVotes]

20. here is another link ...

Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:13 PM IST7

http://in.today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-07-14T170700Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-259565-1.xml

FYI, the Catholic Church is anti-war.

:kick:

[IndianaGreen]

32. Yes, the Pope spoke out against the war when it first began

but then, since he is speaking in favor of a ceasefire, he is probably a "self-hating Jew," or a "terrorist supporter," or perhaps even "anti-Israel!"

It is shameful that those that speak for peace and human dignity are ignored or smeared by those that resort to war as the first option in solving problems.

[Hardrada]

14. He HAS spoken out against the ME war

but the MSM has obviously not been letting us know. How surprising!

[habitual]

33. Perhaps it is just me but

maybe this would be more well received if it had been John Paul II

For some reason this pope doesn't have the same... hmmmm, well who am I to judge right?

Judge not lest ye be judged. OK OK nevermind.....