Posted on 10/27/2001 12:36:55 PM PDT by Notwithstanding
Just today I was in the room where the Vatican's permanent observer to the UN (Archbishop Renato R. Martino) stated that the Vatican cannot support UNICEF because it has chosen to reach beyond its legitimate mandate (to help the world's children) and now gets mixed up in advocacy of population control, abortion, and even puts its logo on pornographic children's books that they call sex eduxation texts.
The archbishop (who has served in his post for 16 years) explained that in past years the Vatican has made a symbolic donation to UNICEF, which had always served to boost donations from Catholics worldwide - but there is no longer any such Vatican donation to UNICEF.
The archbishop did praise the UNICEF for its primary roll in ensuring that 80% of the world's kids have been innoculated against many deadly dieseases - but that was in the past, and today the Vatican cannot support UNICEF's advocacy of immoral policies.
You're supposed to piss me off, not make me agree with you. Better luck next time. 8)
When other nations will carry the torch for an issue, the Vatican will let them do so and stay out of it in order stay out of the controversial limelight. In other words the Holy See does not wnat to expemd its moral authority or its position at the diplomatic table when it does not have to.
Personal FYI: "forced abortion" would today be a crime for which anyone who opposed abortion in any way whatsoever might be criminally charged - were it not for the bold stance of the Vatican's UN delegation. While there are a few exceptions, conservative Christian groups have been EXTREMELY SLOW in getting involved in UN activities NGOs at the UN (this was larely because good people either failed to recognize the ridiculous influence the loonies at the UN end up having or becuase good people refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the UN and therefor erroneoulsy thought that if they ignored the UN it would go away or be proven illegitimate). Too, the Holy See is at a distinct advantage due to its full diplomatic status. No other sovereign Christian nation has religion as its raison d'etre.
When other nations will carry the torch for an issue, the Vatican will let them do so and stay out of it in order stay out of the controversial limelight. In other words the Holy See does not wnat to expemd its moral authority or its position at the diplomatic table when it does not have to.
Personal FYI: "forced abortion" would today be a crime for which anyone who opposed abortion in any way whatsoever might be criminally charged - were it not for the bold stance of the Vatican's UN delegation. While there are a few exceptions, conservative Christian groups have been EXTREMELY SLOW in getting involved in UN activities NGOs at the UN (this was larely because good people either failed to recognize the ridiculous influence the loonies at the UN end up having or becuase good people refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the UN and therefor erroneoulsy thought that if they ignored the UN it would go away or be proven illegitimate). Too, the Holy See is at a distinct advantage due to its full diplomatic status. No other sovereign Christian nation has religion as its raison d'etre. In other words, Focus on the Family and Billy Graham don't have ambassodrs at the UN who can stem the tide of crapola.
That's ridiculous. Remember Cairo? Remember Beijing? Remember IPPF, NOW, and "Catholics" [sic] for a "Free Choice [sic]" trying to get the Vatican thrown out of the UN? Do you think they wouldn't do that if the Vatican presence wasn't bollixing up their agenda?
Maybe you aren't old enough to recall this, but I am. Who was it who led the prolife movement in the beginning? Back in 1973 and before? *Catholics*. Who had the prescience to declare back in 1930 that the coming Protestant cave-in to the contraceptive culture was wrong (and trust me, if you don't think contraception has anything to do with abortion, you need to reread Roe v. Wade, because the Supreme Court disagrees with you)? *Catholics*, specifically Pope Pius XI. Who had the guts to reiterate that POV in 1968, at the height of the so-called "sexual revolution"? *Pope Paul VI*, sadly ignored by most of his flock.
We're the original pro-lifers. Don't waste your breath telling us about what "you knew all along". On the subject of life issues, we've done a lot more teaching than you know about.
Hopefully, they'll be aggressive in denouncing the U.N. and its full agenda.
They're not opposed to "the UN and its full agenda". They're opposed to the idea that sterile sex with anything, and the "right" to kill any offspring that might result, is some sort of human right that the UN needs to endorse or promote.
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To True, mi Amigo, toooo true !!!!!
If it was unicef, I don't think the funds were used that way in the 60's. This is a reflection of the changes in all of society with regard to birth control and liberal political leanings. Compassion used to be a standard American trait, then it got co opted by the liberals, and that is why W had to coin the phrase Compassionate Conservatism. We need to take back compassion! It was ours as Americans to begin with, and it doesn't need a political party to back it.
As a matter of fact, a lot of it (UNICEF goods) was found in Viet Cong tunnels.
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