Posted on 09/11/2002 5:32:02 AM PDT by Pern
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul, marking the anniversary of the attacks on U.S. cities, branded terrorism "ferocious inhumanity" but asked for prayers that God would show mercy and forgiveness for the attackers.
The pope also urged the world to change in situations of injustice that spurred the desire for revenge.
"We pray for the victims today, may they rest in peace, and may God show mercy and forgiveness for the authors of this horrible terror attack," he said in Polish, according to a translation provided by Vatican Radio.
The pope was speaking in unscripted remarks in Polish during a special general audience dedicated to commemorating the victims of the attacks by hijacked aircraft on New York and Washington landmarks.
The service included mourning music and a peace prayer.
"Terrorism is and always will be a manifestation of ferocious inhumanity, and because it is, it never will resolve conflicts between human beings," he told some 10,000 people in the Vatican's vast auditorium.
"Violence can only lead to further hatred and destruction."
But he called for changes in "scandalous situations of injustice and oppression, which continue to afflict so many members of the human family, creating conditions that are favorable to the uncontrolled explosion of the thirst for vendetta."
After his address, special prayers were read in several languages, including Arabic, for the victims of the attacks and for peace among religions.
MORE THAN 3,000 DEAD
More than 3,000 people died in the attacks on New York's World Trade Center, U.S. military headquarters at the Pentagon on the Washington outskirts and in a hijacked plane that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
The prayer read in Arabic asked believers of all religions to "firmly reject every form of violence and commit themselves to resolving conflicts with sincere and patient dialogue" while respecting different histories, cultures and religions.
Speaking in a somber voice in his address, the pope said injustices had to be tackled through urgent and resolute political and economic actions.
He said that when fundamental rights were violated in oppressive situations, "it is easy to fall prey to the temptation of hate and violence."
But one year on, the pontiff said it was not enough to commemorate the victims and pray for their families.
"We also want to interrogate the consciences of those who planned and carried out such a barbarous and cruel action," he said.
"One year after September 11, 2001, we repeat that no situation of injustice, no feeling of frustration, no philosophy or religion can justify such an aberration."
"On this very sad anniversary, we raise to God our prayer so that love may be able to take the place of hate, and, with the help of all people of good will, that concord and solidarity may take root in every corner of the earth," he said.
You should worry.
A veiled slap at the United States?
I think I'd rather light a candle for you.
I have seen reproductions of the painting on your post may times, but never noticed the similarity between what God does to the people in hell and what abortionists (people who think they are God) do to unwanted babies. I saw some pictures on the internet a few weeks ago of the poor babies.
This is not on topic really, but you might want to do some reading here. Get a good book on the Church Fathers. You will be surprised to learn, as I was, that the "Catholic Organization" was thriving early and everywhere.
>:)
Source please! I could not find this phrase in a search of my Bible program.
This whole dispute centers around one of the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism; you either believe in Purgatory or you do not. No one's mind is going to be changed by this discussion, just understand that these differences exist within Christendom, and leave it at that.
Nope, I'm perfectly willing to face God and justify or defend the actions that I've taken during my life. He can either uphold or condemn me as He sees fit; I don't believe that I have any say in asking for His forgiveness. It is my personal responsibility to live in such a manner so that I don't end up damned; if I do, that's my fault and I will face it when my time comes.
Translation: It's our fault.
Sorry, the hijackers and their enablers weren't "opressed". They were, and are, men of privilage and high economic standing in the Arab world.
May God exact eternal vengance on their souls.
I feel like such a hypocrite going to Church lately, the institution is corrupt and decaying from the top down.
We are often told: ‘The Church does not teach that any man is damned. We only know that Hell exists for those who deserve it. Perhaps it is now empty and will remain so for all eternity.’ This was not the sentiment of earlier and healthier ages. The Last Judgment above the mediaeval door showed the lost and the saved as fairly equally divided; the path to salvation as exceedingly narrow and beset with booby-traps; the reek of brimstone was everywhere.-- Evelyn Waugh, reviewing The Heart of the Matter. Collected in Essays, Articles, and Reviews.
We should all remember that God is both infinitely just and infinitely merciful. It seems a little inconsistent to hope for mercy for ourselves and to wish for justice for others. Doubtless, we will all get both. This is a sobering thought. I want mercy.
"Save yourself!" they mocked...
Aren't you expressing your judgement concerning BlueLancer's soul here? Isn't that what you are telling us not to do concerning the terrorist's souls?
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