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.

[LadyDoc]

Fasting on Ash Wednesday is required under pain of sin. Now, if you are elderly, sick or have another good reason, you can refrain (as a doctor working long hours, I may or may not fast.) We all have sins to fast for, and fasting purifies one's soul if done with humility and prayer.

If you don't fast, it means you don't take the church seriously, since Lent is traditionally a time of fasting, doing good deeds, and giving up things as a prayer for love of God.

The ashes are on the forehead remind us we come from dust and into dust we can return.

As for this pope asking us to fast for peace: That is his personal opinion. Since unlike hollywood movie stars, he knows quite abit about the middle east, his opinion must be respected, but not necessarily obeyed.

If one read the book of Jonah beyond the whale part, you find that Ninevah was warned of a punishment but did respons with prayers and fasting, and the punishment was postponed 60 years. So it is biblical.

Maybe if we pray and fast, there will be a peaceful resolution (not necessarily appeasement). For example, the overthrow of communism was prayed for by millions of Christians for 40 years, and one day it was gone, without violence.

[Just mythoughts]

"anti-Catholicism!" I knew this charge would appear.

This man is quoted saying "We Christians in particular are called upon to be sentinels of peace".

So any who find freeing the people of Iraq and stopping a murderer from achieving his goals, are not Christian in particular. Who is being anti?

Weeks of so called anti-war protestors, who are actually anti-Bush protestors back by "leftist" screaming peace with out demanding Saddam stop his war-mongering have not been spoken against by this guy.

Hollywood freaks blasting the liberal line of lies "WAR for OIL", leftist preachers come out of their little houses of worship and say this is an "unjust war". These people get no reproach.

So if speaking out against what this man claims is anti-catholic for you so be it. But this guy is not my path to Christianity and he does not speak for me and as a "free" Christian.

There is a clear path to peace without war and it is in Saddam's hands. So when this guy starts demanding Saddam to give up his weapons then he might gain a little credibility.

[GirlShortstop]

I personally am all for the Pope praying for peace.

See though, it is not a matter of just the Pope praying for peace.   My personal perspective is that war is imminent; we will go to war and we will win.   We have to pray for peace regardless of realities imo.    FReegards, and, Peace.

[The FRugitive]

Catholics are teh sux

[Thane_Banquo]

Do you truly believe that any Pope would side with the pro-war camp?

I know in World War II a Pope sided with peace at the expense of European Jewry.

An ethical Pope may pray for peace, but never at any cost. When war is justified, the clergy should be for war. We shouldn't hold them to a different standard than the rest of us.

[dfwgator]

There is nothing wrong with praying for peace in and of itself. I hope for peace too. However, whether there is peace or not is entirely in the hands of Saddam Hussein.

[Ann Archy]

Thank you so much for your writing. Prayer brings about miracles. The Pope can be nothing other than a man of peace.

[GirlShortstop]

This man is quoted saying "We Christians in particular are called upon to be sentinels of peace".

Step back a minute please... it appears as though you are directing your anger (completely understood) towards the supposed pro-peace activists (their vast majority's agenda is anything *but* peace, imo), at others who are praying that the undesirable need for war can be averted. 

Since when is praying for peace a horrible thing to do?   If you could cite the stats on military men and women  (i.e. how many do or don't pray for peace) to support your position, it'd be appreciated.

[GirlShortstop]

However, whether there is peace or not is entirely in the hands of Saddam Hussein.

That power is in the hands of God.

[Conservative til I die]

My claim of anti-catholicism was not based on the poster's disagreement. It was based on the typical, stupid jab that had to be thrown in that went like this: "a celebration of the American materialism which Rome reviles so (for everybody but the "in" guys - like dictators and friendly bankers), but can't seem to function without."

Notice that I chose to say "anti-catholic" in response to that post. I didn't mean it generally. I meant it specifically for that post.

[Conservative til I die]

LadyDoc: I never said I was against fasting. I was just asking if I had to fast for what the Pope is calling us to fast for. I'd rather not fast for that particular reason.

[Zeroisanumber]

I don't agree with the Pope, but I admire his sincerity and his continued commitment to the ideal of peace.

[Conservative til I die]

Catholics are teh sux

Been in America long?

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I know in World War II a Pope sided with peace at the expense of European Jewry.

I know that you are a clueless revisionist.

[T Minus Four]

Yes, exactly! Praying for peace does not mean siding with the "appeaseniks". I pray that we go into Iraq if necessary, get rid of Saddam with the least loss of innocent lives, and establish a peaceful government. Peace!