Posted on 08/18/2014 2:32:47 PM PDT by NYer
In his most explicit statement yet, the Pope endorses the use of force to stop the monsters of ISIS, well, as close as he is likely to come.
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (AP) — Pope Francis on Monday endorsed the use of force to stop Islamic militants from attacking religious minorities in Iraq but said the international community — and not just one country — should decide how to intervene.
Francis also said he and his advisers were considering whether he might go to northern Iraq himself to show solidarity with persecuted Christians. But he said he was holding off for now on a decision.
In other comments to journalists returning from South Korea, Francis confirmed he hoped to travel to the United States in September 2015 for a possible three-city tour: to attend a family rally in Philadelphia and to address Congress in Washington and the United Nations in New York. He said a Mexico stop on that trip was possible but not decided yet. He also said he might make one-day visit to Spain next year.
On Iraq, Francis was asked if he approved of the unilateral U.S. airstrikes on militants of the Islamic State who have captured swaths of northern and western Iraq and northeastern Syria and have forced minority Christians and others to either convert to Islam or flee their homes.
"In these cases, where there is an unjust aggression, I can only say that it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor," Francis said. "I underscore the verb 'stop.' I'm not saying 'bomb' or 'make war,' just 'stop.' And the means that can be used to stop them must be evaluated."
As best I can recall, the Popes during my lifetime have spoken against every military action. This speaks volumes about the level of threat we are seeing from ISIS>/
Well, he endorsed “stoppage”, not force. The guy is one of the most equivocal, non-content, mealy-mouthed wannabes that thinks he is some sort of world “leader”, but is really just another guy in a bathrobe with an odd beany and ought to stick to making up new rules about selling indulgences to buy another castle.
Ping!
I certainly hope the Pope does NOT go to Iraq. ISIS would love to capture or kill a Pope.
As does everyone in the West with a brain.
RE: ISIS would love to capture or kill a Pope.
Well, if that happens, I’d like to see how the whole of Christendom would react....
A new crusade?
I’ve suggested beefing up the Swiss Guard and remobilizing the military orders as military orders. I’ve only been at most half kidding.
I would not have put it quite so colorfully, but you are exactly correct. Since this pope is incapable of speaking plainly, I view the claims of the supposed papal pronouncement like all his others; likely to be misunderstood and misrepresented, and very likely to be just leftist drivel. This pope has no other vocabulary.
Unfortunately, a false alarm, after reading post 5 link.
Exactly what is the difference between those two posts?
Completely agree. Insofar as he (and the organization) is/are unable to represent the Scriptures accurately, there is no other outcome possible. There is some kind of "one foot on the platform, one on the train; let's ride and stay" ambiguity built into all of this leftist sentimental nonsense. He makes a great Democrat and probably supports Obama's non-Christian Christianity.
BTTT. What are the means that could cause this stoppage? Dialogue? Pretty tough to dialogue when headless. Has to be force, that has to be military means unless the force comes from heaven. And while I’d love to see that, he can’t bring himself to call for the earthly means. Worse than useless.
God Bless the good Pope!
O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over the barbarians, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thy commonwealth!
When you think about it, JPII had no problem working with Reagan and Thatcher to take down the decades-old Iron Curtain, and that was done without military action. Maybe there’s something to it?
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