Posted on 06/04/2008 4:27:54 PM PDT by SmithL
UNITED NATIONS, (AP) -- A Nicaraguan priest who has been a stern critic of the United States won election Wednesday as the next president of the U.N. General Assembly, beginning his post with a "sermon" that touched on love, politics and the Iraq war.
The presidency of the 192-nation assembly rotates by region and lasts for a year. The assembly elected 75-year-old Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, a Roman Catholic priest who was born in Los Angeles. He succeeds Macedonian diplomat Srgjan Kerim.
"They elected a priest. And I hope no one is offended if I say that love is what is most needed in this world. And that selfishness is what has gotten us into the terrible quagmire in which the world is sinking, almost irreversibly, unless something big happens," d'Escoto said during a news conference. "This may sound like a sermon. Well, OK."
In his acceptance speech, d'Escoto spoke out against what he called "acts of aggression" in Iraq and Afghanistan — without mentioning the U.S. by name.
"The behavior of some member states has caused the United Nations to lose credibility as an organization capable of putting an end to war and eradicating extreme poverty from our planet," he said.
The remarks drew immediate protests from the U.S.
"The president of the General Assembly is supposed to be a uniter," said Richard Grenell, a spokesman for the U.S. Mission. "We have made it clear that these crazy comments are not acceptable, and we hope he refrains from this talk and gets to work on General Assembly business."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Canon law forbids priests to hold secular political office.
Either you can be one, or the other, but not both.
A quick look shows he was “foreign minister” of the Sandinista government.
Pastor Manning: Clinton has won nomination
Pittsburgh Tribune Review | Salena Zito
Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 03:52:31 PM by Salena Zito
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2026001/posts
How Hugo Chavez Courted FARC
Spiegel | 6/4/08 | By Jens Glüsing
Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 07:17:45 PM by DeaconBenjamin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026119/posts
China Bans Six Types Of Foreigner During Beijing Olympics
[disabled]
http://www.anorak.co.uk/back-pages/184581.html
Worldwide campaign against meat eaters.
It worked against smokers!
Associated Content | 6-4-2008 | Bobby Tall Horse
Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 06:25:30 PM by stillafreemind
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026087/posts
“”acts of aggression” in Iraq and Afghanistan “
Yeah, because we invaded Afghanistan on a whim one day. It was totally unrelated to things like, oh, buildings being destroyed.
Yet another reason to leave the UN.
Can we get the f**k out of the UN now? It has been a viscerally anti-American body for decades.
“Canon law forbids priests to hold secular political office.”
At least that’s what the Jesuits at my high school always told us.
§2 They are not to play an active role in political parties or in directing trade unions unless, in the judgement of the competent ecclesiastical authority, this is required for the defence of the rights of the Church or to promote the common good.
And Pope Benedict, as Cardinal Ratzinger, was a fierce opponent of "liberation theology." His Holiness should de-frock this "priest," who served in a government that was, among other things, a major human rights violator.
d’Escoto was suspended from the priesthood 25 years ago for his Sandinista activities, which, of course, the AP neglects to mention.
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