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.

[Conservative til I die]

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?

ANd really, those folks are ripe for the mocking. Ever look or listen to them? The gist of the theology is "I found Jay-zuz, and now I can pay my mortgage." Jesus as Tony Robbins.

[MeekMom]

re: post #48

ahem, there are no more miracles. The Apostles who were indued with those powers and the men they layed hands on are all dead now, and um, have been for some time...

[GirlShortstop]

 
Your post is obnoxious, off-topic, and rude.
Thanks for the ever enjoyable excessive scroll.

[Nubbin]

Pray for peace, prepare for war.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

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?

Good question, I guess right after they excommunicate Ted Kennedy.

[Conservative til I die]

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 dunno, did the Protestants ever apologize for desecrating Catholic Churches, altars, and other symbols and for killing Catholics after the Reformation? Or for buring "witches?" Or for being the people behind the Ku Klux Klan, and hanging "coloreds", Catholics, and Union loyalists?

Tell us, Cousin Jethro.

[Cate]

On the subject of if I'm Catholic? Yup, born and raised and continue to be. But I will confess that I once skipped mass on Ash Wednesday and used dust from the pencil sharpener on my forehead to pretend I went to mass. Got busted anyway, too many neighbors went to the same church and told my parents I wasn't there. So, if I sounded sarcastic, sorry to offend you, but there are sometimes that you need to laugh at some of the stuff we do.

[Conservative til I die]

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

No, you've got the wrong Big Lie. It was the Church that controlled the Holocaust, remember? Stick to the talking points.

[GirlShortstop]

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!

Peace to you T!    Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me....

[MeekMom]

You mean the Katholic Klan that refuses to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Please CTID, study to show yourself approved unto God.
Don't worry about me, or anyone elses approval. Worry that you are approved unto God alone!

[mars32]

Deep down, I don't think any of us want war. The hard fact is though, that there are bad people out there. You can't get problems solved (on this scale) through a hug, a kiss, then going about your business. I am a Catholic, I will not follow this call. I think the Pope needs to worry about other things than this. The whole sexual abuse by priests issue is at the top of my list. That has not been handled to my satisfaction

[Conservative til I die]

Couldn't wait for this to happen. The fundie trots out all the usual strawmen for absolutely no reason. Hey, it's a thread about war. Of course "Mariolatry" is totally relavant to the discussion!!!! Scram, I'm not playing your game today.

[Snuffington]

Clearly, this war does not meet the criteria for a Christian "just war".

While I think it is perfectly valid for someone to analyze the situation and make that determination, it also feasable for someone to draw the opposite conclusion.

Here are a couple of articles that do so:

Is war with Iraq just?

War against Iraq is justified

I truly wish the pope and other prelates of the Church would take the time to explain how and why this war fails to meet Just War criteria. When Cardinal Ratzinger tried, he practically tripped all over himself, leaving Just War theory behind in favor of U. N. sponsored "multilateralism." To my knowledge, the pope himself hasn't explained hoe Just War criteria apply to this situation.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Clearly, this war does not meet the criteria for a Christian "just war".

Clearly, you are mistaken.

"-the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;"

"-all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;"

"-there must be serious prospects of success;"

"-the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition."

[MeekMom]

re: post #63

I'm saddened that you fine the Holy Bible rude and off topic.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I had to do a double take when I saw the title of this thread.

I thought it said, "Pope Calls for Fast War Against Iraq".

[Conservative til I die]

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.

Smed, they've gotta stay on their talking points. It's kind of ironic that those that blame the Church for the Holocaust are the same ones employing the "Big Lie" technique. Who's the father of the lie again?

[Conservative til I die]

Good question, I guess right after they excommunicate Ted Kennedy

When are the Prot's gonna toss Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, and about 200 other pro-choice, pro-socialism Democrats in office today in the US?

[Bernard]

To answer your first question, the Catholic Church has a doctrine of "Infallibility", under which doctrine the church claims that the Pope speaks the words of God (God is speaking through the Pope) on matters of dogma. When such an event occurs, infallibility is cited in the text. An example would be a statement by the Church dealing with the sanctity of life.

So, since no claim was made, and this isn't a matter of dogma, the subject statement by the Pope doesn't fall into the category of infallible.

And, since I've been a practicing non-catholic for several years, I may have missed a fine point here or there. But that's what I remember from the Baltimoe catechism.