Pope Calls for Fast Against War in Iraq (Catholics to fast on Ash Wednesday)

ap ^ | 2/23/2003 | ap

[TLBSHOW]

Pope Calls for Fast Against War in Iraq

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II called on Catholics to fast on Ash Wednesday in the name of peace and said again on Sunday he worried a U.S.-led war against Iraq could unsettle the entire Middle East.

Looking wan and tired, John Paul opened his traditional Sunday remarks from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square by denouncing war as a way to resolve the conflict.

"We Christians in particular are called upon to be sentinels of peace," John Paul said, calling on Catholics to dedicate their fasting on Ash Wednesday, March 5, for the cause of peace.

On that day, the pope said, faithful will pray for "the conversion of hearts and the long-range vision of just decisions to resolve disputes with adequate and peaceful means."

He said that the fast, which Catholics traditionally conduct at the start of Lent to prepare themselves for Easter, is an "expression of penitence for the hate and violence which pollute human relations."

Fasting, an ancient practice shared by other religions, he said, also lets faithful "shed themselves of all arrogance."

Rainbow-hued peace banners fluttered in the crowd of tourists and pilgrims in the square. Surveys have shown Italians and many other Europeans oppose war, even if waged under the aegis of the United Nations (news - web sites), and earlier this month, about 1 million Italians marched through Rome to protest against the United States and its push for using military force.

"For months the international community is living in great apprehension for the danger of a war, which could unsettle the entire Middle East region and aggravate the tensions unfortunately already present in this beginning of the third millennium," the pontiff said.

"It is the duty of all believers, to whichever religion they belong, to proclaim that we can never be happy pitted one against the other; the future of humanity will never able to be secured by terrorism and by the logic of war," John Paul said.

While the pope has been hailed as a champion of peace by anti-war demonstrators ranging from environmentalists to communists, some in Italy challenged his view.

Radical Party leaders Sunday denounced what they saw as the pontiff's "equating terrorism and war, whatever war." Led by Marco Panella, the Radicals say they would like to see Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in exile and a democratic government under U.N. auspices to replace the Iraqi leader.

John Paul has been holding practically daily meetings with key players in the crisis over Iraq. In his latest effort, on Saturday, he met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites), who has been trying to line up support in Europe and elsewhere for Washington's insistence that military force is necessary if Baghdad doesn't quickly and completely comply with U.N. disarmament resolutions.

John Paul, 82 and struggling with Parkinson's disease (news - web sites) and other health problems, appeared weary, his voice trailing off in the final words of his appeal, "blessed are the peacemakers," a phrase from the Gospel of Matthew.

John Paul made similar calls against conflict in the months before the 1991 Gulf War (news - web sites), but in this campaign, with the memory of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks making the world particularly apprehensive, he has seemed more determined than ever to do his part to persuade decision-makers against going to war.

[peteram]

No, you don't have to fast for peace if you don't want to . I think that this was just a suggestion by the Pope. I fast for reasons of personal spiritual growth and closeness to the Lord. Anyone may offer up their fasting for any reason (world hunger, world peace, spiritual guidance for our leaaders, etc).

[Conservative til I die]

We should be praying that earthquakes, floods and locusts find all of the world's muslims

Wow, such a voice of reason. And you should be taken seriously, why?

[Uncle George]

When are they going to call a fast for the millions of unborn children murdered which the church has condemed? Is SAD-HAM,s safety more important?

[peteram]

....how they do what they do for so cheap. Maybe I don't want to know.

Two words: cats and dogs

(I had a friend whose cat was named "General Tsao". He dissappeared one day. Hmmm......)

[Conservative til I die]

Gotcha. I love the Pope and admire him greatly, but would take issue with him demanding that we fast for peace.

[wearredcaps]

I don't think you copied this right. It should read "Pope Calls for Fast war against Iraq.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Damn - and that is my favorite dish, too.

Is that why you never see cats around Chinese retaurants?

[Conservative til I die]

How dare you disagree with the rest of FR!!!!! We're sending you for reprogramming, and when you're done, you'll be saying "Let's keel all dem MOO-slums and MO-hammedans, Cousin Jethro!"

[Conservative til I die]

THe Pope regularly denounces abortion. Over and over again. ANd in no uncertain terms. At this point, I wonder if he's the only voice against it. So really, be quiet.

[GirlShortstop]

pay them little, employ their families, pay them little, and just go low budget on everything else.

Especially their "wonderfull hand painted allway mispelled signes"!      LOL

[Thane_Banquo]

When are they going to call a fast for the millions of unborn children murdered which the church has condemed?

Even more central to the current crisis, when are they going to call a fast for the millions of Iraqis threatened by Saddam with torture, rape, murder, and genocide?

[MeekMom]

Axis of deception!

Will this dope ever obey the Gospel and stop deceiving his willing puppets?

[rbmillerjr]

As a Catholic - I will refuse to do what the Pope asks, because he is wrong.

As for some on this thread mocking Catholics - do I get to mock the holy roller crowd as well - is that cool with all of you?

[LurkedLongEnough]

The Snake enters the Garden of Eden... and we get the advice to fast, to weaken?

[MeekMom]

re: post #14

ROFL!!!

[Dog Gone]

do I get to mock the holy roller crowd as well - is that cool with all of you?

It's cool with me.

[GirlShortstop]

On that day, the pope said, faithful will pray for "the conversion of hearts and the long-range vision of just decisions to resolve disputes with adequate and peaceful means."

Call me naive, but what is wrong with what the Holy Father has asked us to pray for?    I sure would like to see SH blown to pieces, but it seems to me that this prayer is an acceptable word to God.    Are the bashers assuming that *only* prayers for a battlefield win are "approved" and "sanctioned"?

[spacebuffalo]

How long did it take the catholic church to apologize for their duplicity regarding the slaughter of millions of Jews during WWII?

The pope sent the American bishops back home, saying the penalties for child-molesting priests was too tough.

I forget, did the catholic church (or any vicar of christ) ever apologize for torching, butchering (literally), and otherwised maiming, all those Protestants and Jews during the Inquisition?

I ask all these rhetorical questions to underline my point: who cares what the pope declares? The pope is about as meaningful to American political thought as British royalty.

Being the pope means never having to admit culpability.

[rbmillerjr]

It's too easy since I used to be one.

The point was rhetorical, not literal lol.

[Conservative til I die]

I personally am all for the Pope praying for peace. I do disagree with him, and I do wish he would put more of the onus on Hussein. Of course, the Pope I think, realizes that Hussein is a madman and it would be futile to even ask him to stop his actions. Christianity has always been about putting the onus on the wronged, in a way (turn the other cheek, love your enemies, forgive 70 x 7 times, etc.)