Cardinal Says U.S. Treated Saddam 'Like a Cow'

Yahoo! News / Reuters ^ | 12-16-2003 | Philip Pullella

[sitetest]

[LM's note: This thread is degenerating a bit into Catholic bashing and general flaming, and is in risk of being moved to the smokey backroom. Please stop. I've locked it once, and it has continued. Any more and it is gone. Thanks.]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A top Vatican (news - web sites) official said Tuesday he felt pity and compassion for Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and criticized the U.S. military for showing video footage of him being treated "like a cow."

Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican's Justice and Peace department and a former papal envoy to the United Nations (news - web sites), told a news conference it would be "illusory" to think the arrest of the former Iraqi president would heal all the damage caused by a war which the Holy See opposed.

"I felt pity to see this man destroyed, (the military) looking at his teeth as if he were a cow. They could have spared us these pictures," he said.

"Seeing him like this, a man in his tragedy, despite all the heavy blame he bears, I had a sense of compassion for him," he said in answer to questions about Saddam's arrest.

Martino was referring to the videotape released by the U.S. military which showed a grubby, bearded and disheveled Saddam receiving a medical examination by a military doctor after his capture in an underground hole Saturday.

Martino was one of the Vatican officials most strongly opposed to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites).

"It's true that we should be happy that this (arrest) has come about because it is the watershed that was necessary... we hope that this will not have worse and other serious consequences," Martino said.

"But it is not the total solution to the problems of the Middle East," he said.

Martino said the Vatican hoped the arrest of Saddam "can contribute to promoting peace and the democratization of Iraq."

He added: "But is seems to me to be illusory to hope that this will repair the dramas and the damage of the defeat for humanity that a war always brings about."

The Vatican did not consider the war in Iraq "a just war" because it was not backed by the United Nations and because the Vatican believed more negotiations were necessary to avoid it.

Martino said the Vatican wanted an "appropriate institution" to put Saddam on trial but he did not elaborate.

U.S. forces were keeping the ousted 66-year-old dictator at a secret location for interrogation before he is put on trial in the months ahead. He could face the death penalty.

The news conference was called for Martino to present the World Day of Peace message, in which Pope John Paul (news - web sites) took a swipe at the United States for invading Iraq without the backing of the United Nations.

[Spottys Spurs]

Tough $hit Renato! We don't need your comments or approval.

[SouthernFreebird]

F*ing idiot. How about we show some footage of people after they've been run thru the 'poor Saddam' shredders.
How many thousands of Saddams victims would have gladly traded places with Saddams 'treatment'.

[dighton]

Cardinal Martino, welcome to the Saddamfreude Watch.

[dagoofyfoot]

Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican's Justice and Peace department


Yeah. Right.


My thoughts exactly...

Truly amazing! This creep needs to be shoved down a spider hole!

[boxerblues]

I felt pity to see this man destroyed, (the military) looking at his teeth as if he were a cow

"I felt pity to see this man destroyed, (the military) looking at his teeth as if he were a cow filthy pig, cowardly lion, horse's arse, ....take your pick

[Judith Anne]

But it is not the total solution to the problems of the Middle East," he said.

And no one ever said it was or would be, Cardinal. Why don't you go back to your breviary, and pray for Saddam's victims, the children especially? They cry out to God for justice, while you delicately express concern for their murderer!

[aculeus]

What can I say?

How about "Pfffffffffft!"

[Clintons Are White Trash]

Is oral hygiene so far removed from that part of the world that they have no sense of the normalcy of a dental exam?

[CholeraJoe]

Cardinal, with respect, when I need your opinion, I'll stand you up against a wall and slap it out of you.

[cajungirl]

I am speechless on this one, it has boggled my mind. No matter how cynical I get, the RC Church always beats me by a mile. Catholics should be filled with shame today. This is so unbelievable to me but I guess I just can't quite "get it" that the same church that protects pedophiles would surely protect murdering tyrants.

[Diogenesis]

Pictures more acceptable to this mentally-handicapped individual.

Dead children, previously playing in Halabja,
just a few of the millions of victims of Saddam.

[Judith Anne]

Or any more illusory that thinking that a contrived celibacy, something that Jesus Christ Himself did not practice, will make these priests any more "holy."

I despise the perfumed princes in the Vatican, but where are you getting that Christ was not celibate?

[GeekDejure]

"I felt pity to see this man destroyed, (the military) looking at his teeth as if he were a cow. They could have spared us these pictures," he said.

No, dummy... they were looking at his teeth because he is actually a filthy, dirty dog !!!

.

[Robert A Cook PE]

D**m.

Perhaps literally, we will see who actually is.

[headsonpikes]

Fr. Guido Sarducci should speak to this man.

Softly, the first time.

[dsc]

"A good reason why religious people should not get involved in politics."

So if an atheist moron said something moronic, that would be a good reason that atheists should not get involved in politics?

There are Catholics here jumping on him just as hard as you are.

[Restorer]

Or any more illusory that thinking that a contrived celibacy, something that Jesus Christ Himself did not practice, will make these priests any more "holy."

There is absolutely no evidence that Jesus didn't himself practice celibacy. That he did not require it of his apostles, including Peter (supposedly the "rock" on which the Catholic Church was built) is indisputable.

[cajungirl]

Thanks for introducing some needed humor,,that is a funny remark. I am still in shock at this. I feel tired all over when I read things like this.

[DB]

This guys definition of "peace" is being dead.

As far as justice goes, this guy is completely clueless.

May the truth exposed during Saddam's trial burn in this Cardinal's heart for the remainder of his days.