Posted on 09/23/2001 3:34:26 PM PDT by Iowegian
Pope John Paul has issued a dramatic appeal that the world not be allowed to slide into war following attacks on the United States and urged against a deepening of religious divisions.
"With all my heart I beg God to keep the world in peace," the Pope said on Sunday at the end of a mass for some 50,000 people on the first full day of his visit to Kazakhstan, a Central Asian republic which may be caught up in an eventual regional crisis.
"We must not let what happened lead to a deepening of divisions. Religion must never be used as a reason for conflict," he said, referring to tensions with some parts of the Islamic world following the attacks in New York and Washington.(snip)
NEGOTIATIONS, NOT WAR
On arrival in Kazakhstan on Saturday, Pope John Paul said all controversies between nations must be resolved by negotiations and dialogue, not force of arms.
The Pope, who aides say is losing sleep over the possibility of war, celebrated a mass that began with a stiff wind blowing in from Siberia over the flat steppes and ended in sunshine.
The Pope can have his say, but President Bush is leader of the USA. And yes, the Pope is very unrealistic.
Ummmm....
I think this should have been said about September 10, 2001. The war has already been started, and not by the United States of America and her allies.
It's a little late to try to put the toothpaste back in the tube.
None of the religious leaders had anything to say about the Muslim countries and their terrorism. Now that we've been hit and are going to strike back, they're all kinds of vocal. Message to religious leaders: get the hell out of the way because we are coming through regardless. Pacifism caused the death of 6000 people. It will cause the death of our country if we don't act now.
A new Pope with some sac is called for.
Joseph Stalin
My opinion too. He saw WWII and 45 years of communism.
I too pray war does not come,this however does not stop me from preparing for it.
The Pope is the leader of over a billion Catholics. His statements in this former Soviet state reflects a more of a prayer. And, he is speaking to the world.
In the Pope's letter to the United States, he (I think) purposely left out any request to not seek justice. He knows very well that we have a right to defend ourselves.
Statements from world leaders must be read carefully.
You won't hear the Pope condemning the United States for using force to stop terrorism.
As the Holy Vicar here on earth, the Pope must call for man to abandon his acts of terror against his fellow man.
Then again he could be losing sleep because he realizes this is the beginning of the beginning of the end.
I support the cause of this "Just War" because the acts were totally unacceptable in either a civilized or uncivilized society. These beasts are beyond the pale.
But the Pope must make these pronouncements on the off chance a miracle will take place and these beasts will re-nounce their godless acts and return to the fold.
No one wants war. No one wants repeats of 911 across the land or the globe.
But we are forced into war by these barbarious acts of terror. I tremble at the thought of what that can mean because for the first time in modern history, the ravages of war will be brought to our shores, to our towns, cities and neighborhoods.
It is with reluctance then, that I and others will pick up our figurative and literal rifles and once again go to war.
Some of us call for the use of the horrible weapons of destruction. I can only pray that they will never have to be used.
Satan has entered this battle and will be guiding the hand of his beast terrorists. We must make certain we are right with the Lord and open to his protective light and guidance. For without divine protection we risk sliding into the abyss.
You should probably begin praying for a quick end to the war, for the protection of innocents, and for justice.
I will quibble with you about JP II being naive. Remember, this man survived Nazi invasion, where many fellow seminarians were sent off to the death camps, as well as the subsequent communist invasion. Without him (as well as Thatcher and Reagan), Soviet communism would not have fell when it did.
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