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Cardinal Says U.S. Treated Saddam 'Like a Cow'
Yahoo! News / Reuters ^
| 12-16-2003
| Philip Pullella
Posted on 12/16/2003 5:54:51 AM PST by sitetest
Edited on 12/16/2003 7:13:44 AM PST by Lead Moderator.
[history]
[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.
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cardinalcrackpot; cardinalmartino; catholic; cow; iraq; prisonersaddam; saddamhussein; viceisclosed; war
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To: SoothingDave
It's okay, SD. I see how you're in bed with a UN/Old Europe lefty--is he moving in with you?
741
posted on
12/19/2003 1:54:11 PM PST
by
Catspaw
To: Catspaw
Luckily for me, I consider suffering to be redemptive. So I welcome your ignorant remarks.
Have a merry Christmas, unless you've Romophobed far enough to consider Christmas a pagan celebration. In which case, nevermind.
SD
To: SoothingDave
Happy Hanukah to you.
743
posted on
12/19/2003 2:05:59 PM PST
by
Catspaw
To: SoothingDave; Quester
(Quester) Anything on the assumption of Mary ?
Perfect example. This is indeed a truth testified to by Tradition. It was revealed, but not in Scripture. At least not explicitly.
This is another example of RC "magic". Revelation ceased with the Apostles but some was "hidden" until it was needed or until we were able to "understand".
Such "hidden" revelation as:
Papal Infalibility.
Perpetual Virginity.
Bodily Assumption.
And.....more to come.
Way back in the late 1940's it was "revealed" to me that my Church was preparing the way for the "revelation" of the co-equal status of Mary with Jesus.
The fact that Pope John Paul II has been quoted as saying Saint Louis Marie de Montforts book 'True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary' is the most important book he has ever read is confirmation that my "revelation" was on target.
744
posted on
12/19/2003 2:08:48 PM PST
by
OLD REGGIE
((I am a cult of one! UNITARJEWMIAN) Maybe a Biblical Unitarian?)
To: OLD REGGIE
Way back in the late 1940's it was "revealed" to me that my Church was preparing the way for the "revelation" of the co-equal status of Mary with Jesus. No matter how many times you're told, you still lie. Even if Mary were named "co-redeemer," that would not entail any sense of "equality" with Jesus.
Why do you lie on purpose?
SD
To: SoothingDave
I voted for God in the last election. Some may say I was crazy to do so. But whatever, I also like plain yogart. Can't eat much lately, I'm low carbing right now. I eat a lot of sardines and stuff now........
Oh yeah, unless you voted for God in the last election....
To: Bluntpoint
I eat a lot of sardines and stuff now........ Fish on Friday? ;-)
SD
To: saradippity
It has taken longer than they had hoped because they did not foresee that some folks were still awake enough to recognize that homosexuality in the priesthood was closer to the root of the abuse problem than the pedophilia on which they were trying to ride to victory.
Oh I think it has been recognized, but "hushed up" by the media, for many years that homosexuality was endemic amongst the clergy in the RCC. It was, and is, only those who wish to redirect, or who are truly ignorant, who will claim pedophilia is the problem.
The organized coverup by the RCC was, and is, the problem.
Do you look under your bed each night looking for the bogeyman?
748
posted on
12/19/2003 2:32:15 PM PST
by
OLD REGGIE
((I am a cult of one! UNITARJEWMIAN) Maybe a Biblical Unitarian?)
To: SoothingDave
Well sometimes I eat fish on fridays but sometimes the pond is frozen over so I tie a rope on my 6 year old and slide her on the ice to catch one of our ducks. Then we eat ducks. Unless she catches a goose, then of course we eat hotdogs cause nobody likes goose in my house. When the pond ain't froze over we eat boney bluegill. Don't you hate them boney bluegill? I don't like eating any of my channel cats because they look kinda like Fu Man Chu, and I loved that movie. Although I don't like them movies that have writing underneath the fellers acting in them. Seems like they would get all tripped up in those words. But they don't.
To: SoothingDave
No matter how many times you're told, you still lie. Even if Mary were named "co-redeemer," that would not entail any sense of "equality" with Jesus.
Why do you lie on purpose?
Told by who? Have I been told by the Pope?
If you had been around in the 40's you'd be saying "They'll never declare 'bodily assumption' infallibly.
If you had been around in the 1860's you'd be saying "They'll never declare 'infallibly' the doctrine of Perpetual Virginity."
Don't forget it was Mary, not Jesus, who saved John Paul II from the assassins bullet.
750
posted on
12/19/2003 2:43:37 PM PST
by
OLD REGGIE
((I am a cult of one! UNITARJEWMIAN) Maybe a Biblical Unitarian?)
To: OLD REGGIE
As usual you are not ready or willing to understand that I did say that there are at least 30 bishops and cardinals that have worked with their own group to keep the cover on this scandal until either or both (socialists or communists),each with their cadre of lavenders was ready to announce victory.
The destruction of the Church will serve either of these condenders for world hegenomy equally well.
To: Iowegian
"Of course you did. You posted that I don't know what the RC church teaches (paraphrasing). Not knowing is "ignorance". You are stating something that you are assuming, but don't know."
If you just want to quarrel, I'm not interested.
I said that you have some misconceptions, and that was based on things you have said, not on anything I assume.
752
posted on
12/19/2003 5:58:02 PM PST
by
dsc
To: Quester
"If you stand today's average Protestant against today's average Catholic, ... I don't believe that it's the Protestant who will look spiritually impoverished."
I'm not talking about "average" behavior of average people.
I'm talking about what the Church has to offer in terms of intellectual, theological, and mystical tradition, versus what protestantism has to offer.
753
posted on
12/19/2003 6:00:02 PM PST
by
dsc
To: ninenot
"It is impossible for mercy, charity, and generosity to contradict justice, for all virtues are united in God."
The fact that all are attributes of God doesn't mean that they may not require different things.
In justice, none of us can earn Salvation. We can be saved only through God's love and mercy.
Justice may require punishment, or it may require reward. Mercy may may call on us to temper punishment. Generosity may call on us to increase reward. Love and charity may call on us to suspend justice altogether.
"It is our problem to achieve the wisdom necessary by which we see 'justice' as another facet of charity, mercy, and generosity."
That's not wisdom, it is error. Each of those things is different, and has different requirements. They are interrelated in complex ways. At different times, love may require an act of charity, an act of mercy, an act of generosity, or an act of justice.
Where justice may require punishment, mercy may call for a reduction or foregoing of punishment. Where mercy may call for foregoing punishment, love may require that suitable punishment be imposed. Where a person may in justice be entitled to nothing, generosity may call on us to give anyway. Where harsh words may be justified, charity may call on us to stay our tongues.
It is simply incorrect to say that the requirements of love, mercy, charity, generosity, and justice do not often conflict.
754
posted on
12/19/2003 6:33:06 PM PST
by
dsc
To: dsc
"If you stand today's average Protestant against today's average Catholic, ... I don't believe that it's the Protestant who will look spiritually impoverished."
I'm not talking about "average" behavior of average people.
I'm talking about what the Church has to offer in terms of intellectual, theological, and mystical tradition, versus what protestantism has to offer.
If what you have doesn't edify (i.e. build up) the spirituality of the members of your church, ... then of what value is it ?
755
posted on
12/19/2003 7:06:31 PM PST
by
Quester
To: dsc
Sorry for my poor phrasing--SD would do better. Be that as it may, the perfections are found in God; and in Him justice and mercy are, thus, the same thing.
Necessarily perfect justice is the same as perfect mercy, albeit they are differing virtues.
756
posted on
12/19/2003 8:05:04 PM PST
by
ninenot
(So many cats, so few recipes)
To: Quester
"If what you have doesn't edify (i.e. build up) the spirituality of the members of your church, ... then of what value is it ?"
You may have heard of the sweeping "changes" made in the Catholic Church in the mid-20th century.
The purpose of those "changes" -- actually an attack by Satan -- was to deny to Catholics what the Church has to offer. The declining attendance at Mass is witness to the degree to which that effort succeeded.
However, the Church is a supernatural entity, not just a collection of bricks stacked up and inhabited by men, and it survived the attack. Of course.
Two generations of Catholics have been denied the fullness of what the Church offers by the minions of Satan's modernist heresy, but, in the timeless words of the Governator, "We'll be back."
757
posted on
12/20/2003 2:58:26 AM PST
by
dsc
To: ninenot
"Necessarily perfect justice is the same as perfect mercy"
Sorry to have to keep contradicting you, but that is not even remotely true.
It was precisely to save us from God's justice and invoke God's mercy that Our Lord died on the Cross.
758
posted on
12/20/2003 3:02:55 AM PST
by
dsc
To: saradippity
As usual you are not ready or willing to understand that I did say that there are at least 30 bishops and cardinals that have worked with their own group to keep the cover on this scandal until either or both (socialists or communists),each with their cadre of lavenders was ready to announce victory.
The destruction of the Church will serve either of these condenders for world hegenomy equally well.
Are you certain the Masons aren't involved?
The internet is full of Conspiracy forums. Perhaps you'd find more kindred souls there?
759
posted on
12/20/2003 9:44:49 AM PST
by
OLD REGGIE
((I am a cult of one! UNITARJEWMIAN) Maybe a Biblical Unitarian?)
To: BlackElk
Clearly, the difficulty in finding evidence of the continued existence of his arsenal of WMDs have made the Iraq War a war in search of a viable excuse.Your ability to succinctly articulate the crux of the matter continues to be a marvel to behold.
I suspect that we will never feel shame over his ouster.
I agree. "Good riddance" is the operable phrase.
Granting the points in your first paragraph, we ought not to comfortably accept the truth reflected therein as a desirable truth.
No comfort here. I haven't read Pres. Bush's statement regarding the Khaddafi rapprochement ( my apologies for using a "Euroweenie" term :o)), but I'll lay odds that he didn't mention Khaddafi's human rights abuses or his complete suppression of any basic political rights. Discomfort and unease are staples of the human condition, as are the most obvious of contradictions. Ce'st la vie. ( Oops, sorry again )
I believe that we must never let ourselves ignore those sufering in effective captivity under tyrants.
Amnesty International is always seeking help in increasing the public awareness of such situations. I'm certain your unlimited skills would be gratefully accepted. Dominus vobiscum.
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