Posted on 07/14/2006 7:51:25 AM PDT by dinoparty
Vatican condemns Israel for attacks on Lebanon VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican on Friday strongly deplored Israel's strikes on Lebanon, saying they were "an attack" on a sovereign and free nation.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said Pope Benedict and his aides were very worried that the developments in the Middle East risked degenerating into "a conflict with international repercussions."
"In particular, the Holy See deplores right now the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation, and assures its closeness to these people who already have suffered so much to defend their independence," he told Vatican Radio.
Israel struck Beirut airport again on Friday and bombed Lebanese roads, power supplies and communication networks in a widening campaign after Hizbollah guerrillas seized two Israeli soldiers and killed eight.
Sodano said the Vatican condemned both "terroristic attacks" and military reprisals.
Hizbollah, which wants to trade its captives for prisoners held in Israel, has showered rockets across the frontier in its fiercest bombardment since 1996 when Israel launched a 17-day blitz against southern Lebanon and Hizbollah. ADVERTISEMENT
But Sodano reserved his harshest words for Israel.
"The right of defence on the part of a state does not exempt it from its responsibility to respect international law, particularly regarding the safeguarding of civilian populations," he said.
Imagine this scenario:
Q. Hey Pope! Do you support or not support the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
A. No answer....just walks away
No stand is the same as support. the Islamic pukes lie enough about all other things; If the Vatican didn't come out against the attacks, the ipso facto relationship would be a publicity boom to the Islamofascists.
I see this as a nundge-nudge wink-wink statement from the Vatican.
your perspective would be welcome
So much for the infallibility of the Pope.
And its not that the Pope is a German. He is a Euroweenie.
Euroweenies beleive that appeasement and weakness form an adequate defense towards evil.
Here is an unbiased report:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665685/posts
You are both supreme idiots, to say nothing of your bigotry.
The Vatican is making a public statement because there are many, many Arab Christians and to avoid appearing to sanction an attack on a Muslim nation.
The Pope knows, as do the rest of his curial cardinals, that Israel cares not at all what they think, nor should they.
Lebanon has a large Catholic population. Didn't you know that? It would be remiss for the pope not to express concern about their welfare.
Not to be a sore thumb, but in defense of the Vatican and also curious to hear some answers to this question, isn't an all out war perhaps a little over-the-top against 3 soldiers being kidnapped? Is the FR consensus that the governments of the attacked "nations" Palestine and Lebanon actually could free these soldiers from their military wings if they really wanted to?
Point taken, but you must admit that the Vatican hasn't had the greatest record when it comes to atrocities against jews.
Wow had to get that in here, hmmmmmm
I could not agree more.
"I'll get flamed for this, but I mean after all it's a German Pope."
No flame to ya but Pope Benedict has no such bias toward Jews, in fact in WWII he put his own neck on the line to save hundreds if not thousands of Jews while most people didn't lift a finger.
I am dissapointed also at this stance. The Vatican should announce they are not happy at war and bloodshed but if they are going to pick sides, it should be on the side of God's people who simply want to live in peace. Israel bent over backwards to negotiate a peace and all they get is more jihad.
HOLY SEE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST
VATICAN CITY, JUL 14, 2006 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano today made the following declaration on Vatican Radio:
"The news we are receiving from the Middle East is certainly worrying.
"The Holy Father Benedict XVI and all his collaborators are following with great attention the latest dramatic episodes, which risk degenerating into a conflict with international repercussions.
"As in the past, the Holy See also condemns both the terrorist attacks on the one side and the military reprisals on the other. Indeed, a State's right to self-defense does not exempt it from respecting the norms of international law, especially as regards the protection of civilian populations.
"In particular, the Holy See deplores the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation, and gives assurances of its closeness to those people who have suffered so much in the defense of their own independence.
"Once again, it appears obvious that the only path worthy of our civilization is that of sincere dialogue between the contending parties."
SS/MIDDLE EAST VIOLENCE/SODANO VIS 060714 (180)
thanks
What do you think the terrorists were doing to Israel, you ignorant foolish idiots.
More foolishness. What is it with you guys? Did you just get your latest Jack Chick email?
Gee, why am I not surprised that Reuters left out the part about the Vatican also condemning the terrorist attacks?
Like Muslim clerics are usually silent regarding terrorist activities? I understand the Vatican being horrifically pro-peace at any cost, but then where is their outrage when Israel is constantly being attacked by terrorists? Talk about talking out of both sides of their mouth...
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