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.

[mware]

I'll not mock anyone's faith in here.

As a Catholic I do believe in a Just War Doctrine. We are free in our faith to determine ourselves if we feel this meets the critera of a Just War.

I for one will fast on Ash Wednesday,(actually I always do.) If it helps me reflect on this great and awesome endevor we are about to undertake, I believe it is a good thing.

[Jhoffa_]

First, Catholics and Jews and Protestants are NOT enemies. There are some, however, who have so little GENUINE belief in the spiritual teachings that they get blind-sided and actually DO start believing that they are enemies. It's like they've learned to talk but never to walk.

I think you misunderstood me and I think we agree here.. But, for my own peace of mind let me explain.

Catholics, Protestants and Jews most certainly aren't the "enemies" of one another.. but we have common enemies.

Thus: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Besides, I like the Catholics and the Jews. We all know where each other stands, we have all witnessed and everyone has a position staked out.

It would be senseless to fight amoungst each other.

[mware]

Keep the faith my friend.

[Just mythoughts]

I took the time, so I would not use poor choice of words, so as not to offend. The best you can do is "probably wise choice" (empty vanity).

"If there is a thread....." wow, I just made that up. "He said-she said" just pointed to "what the man said", and why he is not credible.

Back to original...(vain nice word) Prayers I believe are to our Heavenly Father in Christ's name. Time will tell if they are answered.

Since, I never said prayers for peace are a horrible thing to do, this was your accusation, citing stats for something I did not say was your vain idea.

So back to what is at issue we have another religious leader who can't see one side from the other, blinded I guess.

[Exit148]

"Maybe I don't want to know.

You don't want to know.

[DontMessWithMyCountry]

Agreed. It is inappropriate, and actually borders on outrageous, that fellow FReepers would take advantage of this article to attack EACH OTHER. I am sure that our troops waiting out in the Mideast got SO MUCH comfort from seeing this inanity. Great job, yea, something to be really proud of, eh?

And, I am sure the DU lurkers had quite the laugh today, as they watched the pettiness of peoples' fragile egos proceed ahead of their reason. NOT a good reflection of FreeRepublic's mission. NOT a good reflection of FReepers' CLAIMS to value the Constitution. NOT a good reflection of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish 'faith' in the Almighty. Shameful. Just shameful.

[mware]

Amen my friend.

[savedbygrace]

Read Isaiah chapter 58, then come back and explain how the Pope's fast meets God's criteria for a fast.

[quebecois]

This war does not meet criteria #1 and #2 by any stretch of the imagination.

1) "The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain"

Iraq hasn't inflicted any damage on the USA. We are attacking him because of what he might do at some point in the future. This excuse doesn't cut it. If this new idea of "pre-emptive war" becomes the norm in international relations, then we are in for a very stormy future...since there are a heck of a lot of nations that have a heck of a lot of paranoid ideas involving the intentions of their neighbors.

2) "All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective"

First of all, there is no "it" to put an end to, as Iraq has not attacked us. Second, our govt has been phoney about this from the get-go, as they never intended to allow any other solution but invasion and occupation (the US has been actively discouraging efforts by Russia to overthrow Saddam in a coup, as this would eliminate the justification for invasion and occupation). The behavior of our government has been the exact opposite of just war criteria #2. We have been actively undermining and dodging any potential solution that does not meet our fundamental geopolitical objective: to turn Iraq into an imperial province.

[quebecois]

"..come back and explain how the Pope's fast meets God's criteria for a fast"

The Pope is Christ's representative on earth. He hardly needs to dig through the Old Testament to justify the call for fasting and prayer.

[savedbygrace]

Ho, boy. Did you read what you wrote? You think "Christ's representative" would call for a fast that doesn't meet God's written criteria?

If so, you must be referring to a man-made religion. If that's what the Catholic religion believes, then it is a man-made religion. You can't have it both ways.

[savedbygrace]

Besides, you haven't read Isaiah 58, have you? Come on, admit it. You don't have a clue what it says, do you?

[GirlShortstop]

I took the time, so I would not use poor choice of words, so as not to offend. The best you can do is "probably wise choice" (empty vanity).       It looks as though you have misunderstood my first statement.  When I read your initial post, I got a sense of "flaming mad".  That is why I put in that a break "was probably a wise choice".   Sorry if you inferred otherwise.

[Just mythoughts]

Saddam has had 12 years to stop building his weapons, something he agreed to do.

Saddam sends money to terrorists for bombing in Israel, we have to send money to help protect against bombs.

Saddam is trying to go nuclear and he does have a past, and if the "pervert" without asking the UN big boys to send planes to attack Iraq in "98" was ok, why is another standard required today?

"Government been phoney", yes Clinton was quite the phoney. Saddam agreed to do something, has not followed through on his agreement, and we are the aggressor.

[dogbyte12]

I think the charge of cafeteria catholic can be placed at both conservatives and liberals now though.

Liberals say they don't have to follow the church teachings on homosexuality, birth control, and abortion, conservatives believe they can ignore the pope on the death penalty and war.

I am not catholic, and I support taking Saddam out. I just hope that catholics who buck the pope on this issue, will lose their moral clarity, when condemning the Ted Kennedy's of this world from disobeying the pope on issues they care about.

[LibertarianLiz]

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

I am also a Catholic, and am I wrong in believing that Ash Wednesday is already a day of fasting? Perhaps I am wrong about that, but my understanding would be to fast on Ash Wednesday. From the New Advent website:

Ash Wednesday

The Wednesday after Quinquagesima Sunday, which is the first day of the Lenten fast.

[quebecois]

"Saddam has had 12 years to stop building his weapons, something that he has agreed to do"

So what? Lying about building weapons doesn't appear in the criteria for a just war.

"Saddam sends money to terrorists for bombings in Israel"

Well, that might be a legitimate reason for Israel to attack Iraq, but not the USA.

"Saddam is trying to go nuclear and he does have a past"

There are plenty of nations trying to go nuclear. That, in and of itself, is not a criteria for a just war. If he has violated agreements with the UN as per non-proliferation, then it is that body which bears responsibility for dealing with him over it. (Besides, several of our "allies" have gone nuclear as well. Pakistan and Israel, for instance. Should we attack them too?)

[quebecois]

Of course I haven't read it....because it is not relevant to the topic at hand.

[Just mythoughts]

No "sense of "flaming mad" however, how about righteous indignation.

Apology accepted.

[tet68]

Shouldn't this read,

"Pope calls for FAST WAR against Iraq!"