POPE'S COMMENTS ABOUT ATTACK ON AMERICA

EWTN ^ | 13 SEPT 2001 | THE HOLY FATHER

[RamingtonStall]

I agree, but please recall that God helps those who help themselves.

There were some heroic acts to disrupt the Terrorists on those hijacked planes #3 and #4. Thanks to God for giving them the presence of mind and the strength to do the right thing.

Now it is time for our country to do the right thing to eradicate the problem from Planet Earth! May God guide the USA as we move forward with the much needed extermination.

RamS

[DrJasper]

Thank You John Paul

[Kermit]

It's easy to destroy and always has been. What's hard is building. Osama bin Laden wouldn't be qualified to have put a rivet in the WTC. He could destroy them, but he could never build them. He's a parasite on the creativity of the American people, he's a pimple on the butt of America. That's all.

[maica]

In a special way I reach out to the families of the dead and the injured, and assure them of my spiritual closeness. I entrust to the mercy of the Most High the helpless victims of this tragedy

The families of the dead and injured, and the friends of these families reach a number in the millions who will have an intensely personal grief to deal with. This is another potential weakness that is so immense, we have to be prepared for more massive shock waves of disaster in America in ways that cannot even be predicted.

Please, everyone be strong, pray for each other and offer your strength to your neighbors.

[Marie Antoinette]

Thought you'd like to see this.

[Slyfox]

John Paul, if you noticed did not say anything about what the Bush Administration should do in particular. He fully understands the need for a measured show of force.

Just yesterday in Dallas TX, a mosque was sprayed with bullets. THAT is in itself a cowardly and violent act. There was no need for that at all. However, JP is very much aware that the US will need to do what it needs to do. The only time I have ever heard of JP condemning the way a President has handled a situation was when Bill Clinton bombed Kosovo. That was NOT a just measured response.

I am sure that if you were able to talk to JP, he would wholeheartedly agree that Ronald Reagan was absolutely right in sending a bomb down Kaddafi's throat, so to speak.

[MasonGal]

Thanks for posting this. I had heard that the Pope had, indeed, given comments about the attack, but I hadn't been able to hear or read them yet.

[jwalsh07]

This calls for a measured, wise response; justice tempered with mercy

Thats exactly whats not called for. Whats called for is for our enemies to see their brothers and sisters jumping out of windows rather than burning to death. The reponse will be measured but there will be no mercy. Those resposible are dead men and women.

[RooRoobird14]

Yo, Islamic extremists/murderers: (and your enablers):

From God you get mercy.

From us you'll get justice.

Better say your good-bye's on those cell phones.

Game over, man.

[Paul L. Hepperla]

When I read this yesterday, it really stuck out to me that PJPII did not try to advocate forgiveness and no retribution. I won't read into his silence but there is such a thing as a "just war." This is one such instance.

[ZULU]

Gee, I thought what you just said was a "just and measured response!"

A just and measured response is to inflcit enough pain and suffering on the perpetrators which is adequate to insure they no longer consider tactics of a terrorist nature fruitful, i.e., make their children orphans, their wives widows, their husbands wifeless, their parents childless,their cities deserts, their deserts craters. In short, a truly biblical, or rather, Koranic, justice.

Amen

[The Old Hoosier]

This is a case where a war will really be necessary. The best defense of our country will be a good offense. If we leave the world alone, we can only expect much more.

[victim soul]

In the face of such unspeakable horror we cannot but be deeply disturbed. I add my voice to all the voices raised in these hours to express indignant condemnation, and I strongly reiterate that the ways of violence will never lead to genuine solutions to humanity's problems.

[victim soul]

From the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church

#2309 --The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time:

-- the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;

-- all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;

-- there must be serious prospects of success;

-- the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the "just war" doctrine.

The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good.

#2317 -- Injustice, excessive economic or social inequalities, envy, distrust, and pride raging among men and nations constantly threaten peace and cause wars. Everything done to overcome these disorders contributes to building up peace and avoiding war.

[victim soul]

POPE WELCOMES NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR, OFFERS PRAYERS FOR AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, SEP 13, 2001 (VIS) - Today at Castelgandolfo, Pope John Paul received the Letters of Credence of the new United States ambassador to the Holy See, James Nicholson. The Pope, referring to the September 11 terrorist attack on the U.S., assured the ambassador of his "profound participation in the grief of the American people and my heartfelt prayers for the president and the civil authorities and for all involved in the rescue operations and in helping the survivors, and in a special way for the victims and their families."

"You are beginning your mission at a moment of immense tragedy for your country," he said. "I pray that this inhuman act will awaken in the hearts of all the world's peoples a firm resolve to reject the ways of violence, to combat everything that sows hatred and division within the human family."

The Holy Father then recalled that, "in my recent meeting with President Bush, I emphasized my deep esteem for the rich patrimony of human, religious and moral values which have historically shaped the American character. ... Underlying your nation's commitment to freedom, self-determination and equal opportunity are universal truths inherited from its religious roots" from which spring values including "respect for the sanctity of life and the dignity of each person."

He went on to say that "in the century now opening before us, ... the possibilities before the human family are immense, although they are not always apparent in a world in which too many of our brothers and sisters are suffering from hunger, malnutrition, the lack of access to medical care and to education, or are burdened by an unjust government, armed conflict, forced displacement and new forms of human bondage. In seizing the available opportunities, vision and generosity are necessary, especially on the part of those who have been blessed with freedom, wealth and an abundance of resources."

John Paul II, turning to the "many disturbing situations throughout the world, the tragic violence which continues to affect the Middle East," told the ambassador: "I am certain that your country will not hesitate to promote a realistic dialogue which will enable the parties to achieve security, justice and peace, in full respect for human rights and international law."

The Pope then highlighted the "spiritual roots of the crisis which the Western democracies are experiencing, a crisis characterized by the advance of a materialistic, utilitarian and ultimately dehumanized world view which is tragically detached from the moral foundations of Western civilizations." He stated that "economic and political structures must be guided by a vision whose core is the God-given dignity and inalienable rights of every human being, from the moment of conception until natural death. When some lives, including those of the unborn, are subjected to the personal choices of others, no other value or right will long be guaranteed. ... Never has it been more urgent to re-invigorate the moral vision and resolve essential to maintaining a just a free society."

The Holy Father's closing remarks were dedicated to America's young people, "surely your nation's greatest treasure. That is why they urgently need an all-around education which will enable them to reject cynicism and selfishness and to grow into their full stature as informed, wise and morally responsible members of the community."

http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=18762 13-Sep-2001 -- Vatican Information Service