[AP Gets it WRONG] Pope Urges Respect for International Law [did NOT "endorse peace movement"]

Zenit ^ | 3-25-2003 | staff

[Notwithstanding]

John Paul II rejected recourse to war as a means to resolve differences -- with the exception of legitimate defense -- and urged respect for humanitarian law in armed conflicts.

"It is precisely when arms are unleashed, that the need becomes imperative for laws that make military operations less inhuman," the Pope said in a message sent to a course for military chaplains, organized by the Holy See in Rome. The course runs today and Wednesday.

The Holy Father's words came at a crucial moment in the development of events in the Anglo-American military operations in Iraq.

The course of formation in humanitarian law, organized jointly by the Congregation for Bishops and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, is being attended by 41 chaplains from all over the world.

The course has been in preparation since 1999, in keeping with the commitment assumed that year by the Holy See during the 37th International Conference of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent.

In his message, the Pope said the principles that constitute international humanitarian law today have been able "to develop thanks to the maturation of principles inherent to the Christian message," particularly the appreciation of the dignity of the human person.

These principles teach that "even in the hardest of battles, it is always possible and, therefore, a duty to respect the dignity of the military adversary, the dignity of civilians, and the indelible dignity of each human being involved in armed conflicts."

"In this way, reconciliation necessary for the re-establishment of peace after the conflict is favored," he added, defending humanitarian law not just as "a juridical code, but above all as an ethical code."

After mentioning the "difficult hour of history, when the world finds itself once again hearing the clash of arms," John Paul II said: "thinking of the victims, the destruction, and the suffering caused by armed conflicts always causes great concern and pain."

"It should be clear by now that war used as an instrument of resolution of conflicts between states was rejected, even before the Charter of the United Nations, by the conscience of the majority of humanity, except in the case of defense against an aggressor," the Pope stressed.

"The vast contemporary movement in favor of peace -- which, according to Vatican Council II, is not reduced to a 'simple absence of war' -- demonstrated this conviction of men of every continent and culture," he added.

In this connection, the Holy Father said that "the strength of different religions in sustaining the search for peace is a reason for comfort and hope."

"In our view of faith, peace, even if it is the result of political accords and understanding among individuals and peoples, is a gift from God that we must constantly invoke with prayer and penance," he said. "Without a conversion of heart, there is no peace! Peace is only achieved through love!"

"Right now we are all asked to work and pray so that war disappears from the horizon of humanity," he concluded.

[Notwithstanding]

Liberal press twist and manipulate pope's actual words - FReepers uncharacteristically believe lieberal press.

[Notwithstanding]

25-March-2003 -- Vatican Information Service

WORK AND PRAY SO THAT THERE IS NO MORE WAR
VATICAN CITY, MAR 25, 2003 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Holy Father to military chaplains who are participating today and tomorrow in a formation course on human rights in the Vatican, organized by the Congregation for Bishops and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

"It is precisely when arms are unleashed," writes the Pope in the Message dated March 24, "that the need becomes imperative for laws that make military operations less inhuman. Throughout the centuries, awareness of a similar need gradually grew, right up to the progressive formation of a real and proper juridic 'corpus', defined as 'international human rights law.' This 'corpus' has been able to develop thanks to the maturation of principles inherent to the Christian message."

John Paul II emphasizes that the military chaplains must bear witness that "even in the hardest of battles it is always possible, and therefore a duty, to respect the dignity of the military adversary, the dignity of civilians, and the indelible dignity of each human being involved in armed conflicts. In this way, reconciliation necessary for the reestablishment of peace after the conflict is favored."

After making reference to the present "difficult hour in history" due to the outbreak of a new war, the Pope affirms that "thinking of the victims, the destruction and the suffering caused by armed conflicts always causes great concern and pain."

"It should be clear by now that war used as an instrument of resolution of conflicts between states was rejected, even before the Charter of the United Nations, by the conscience of the majority of humanity, except in the case of defense against an aggressor. The vast contemporary movement in favor of peace - which, according to Vatican Council II, is not reduced to a 'simple absence of war' - demonstrates this conviction of men of every continent and culture."

The Holy Father highlighted "the strength of different religions in sustaining the search for peace is a reason for comfort and hope. In our view of faith, peace, even if it is the result of political accords and understanding among individuals and peoples, is a gift from God that we must constantly invoke with prayer and penance. Without a conversion of the heart there is no peace! Peace is only achieved through love! Right now we are all asked to work and pray so that war disappears from the horizon of humanity."

[coloradan]

Right now we are all asked to work and pray so that war disappears from the horizon of humanity."

I think the marines, special forces, air force, army, and navy people are indeed working so that war disappears from the horizon of humanity ... one murderous regime at a time.

[kstewskis]

FReepers uncharacteristically believe liberal press.

I know my bad for not looking at the source posted on a previous thread.

Mea culpa, mea culpa.

[Nachum]

A pity the Pope didn't say a word of French Jews getting the crap kicked out of them in French Catholic schools.

[Notwithstanding]

...uh...somehow I am sure that is relevant

[Iowegian]

Point me the the part of the Pope's statement that tells us how to end Saddam's brutal regime without a military conflict. Thanks.

[aynrandfreak]

"It should be clear by now that war used as an instrument of resolution of conflicts between states was rejected, even before the Charter of the United Nations, by the conscience of the majority of humanity, except in the case of defense against an aggressor," the Pope stressed. "The vast contemporary movement in favor of peace -- which, according to Vatican Council II, is not reduced to a 'simple absence of war' -- demonstrated this conviction of men of every continent and culture," he added.

He did seem to phrase it in a way that could be taken to show agreement with the peace movement. This is the same Pope that said that evolution wasn't necessarily at odds with Catholicism, and more recently made comments that could be interpreted as endorsing some "New Age" beliefs.

Even though I'm not a believer, I'd admire a Pope more that has the guts to tell me that I'm going to burn if I don't convert than a Pope that wants to get consensus on the matter from the "international community".

[laz17]

If the Pope cannot see that God uses human armies to vanquish evil, something which is depicted time and time again in the Bible... if he simply cannot comprehend that it is the hand of God that is directing our war against the satanic regime in Iraq, because God has decided Saddam's time is at an end... then he is a hopeless case.

[arkfreepdom]

If the Pope cannot see that God uses human armies to vanquish evil, something which is depicted time and time again in the Bible... if he simply cannot comprehend that it is the hand of God that is directing our war against the satanic regime in Iraq, because God has decided Saddam's time is at an end... then he is a hopeless case.

Excellent. Can't imagine it being said better. The Catholic Church, at least outside of America, is behaving more and more like the EuroPEON institution it has become. If you think it's bad now, wait until it has to get along with the growing Islamic population soon to be surrounding it....very sad.

[ArrogantBustard]

FReepers uncharacteristically believe lieberal press.

Unfortunately, there's nothing uncharacteristic about it. There's a contingent here ready and eager to believe anything evil, no matter how wrong or even preposterous, about the Church. They slurp up the bile from the leftist, anti-Christian (and in particular anti-Catholic) press like a dog returning to its vomit. (Obligatory Biblical reference... )

[MagnusMat]

A Pity that the Pope can't handle all the problems in the world.

[laz17]

So the Pope wants us to pray so that there is no more war. Why doesn't he pray instead that Christ return to earth? THAT is the only time when there will be no more war -- when Christ returns to earth. And until that moment, there will be wars and rumors of wars, just as Christ Himself said. Until then, God will use human armies to destroy evil, just as He has done throughout history and just as is actually recorded in the text of the Old Testament. Has the Pope forgotten the Gospel? When was the last time he read it? Or does he now read the Koran, a satanic book which DENIES that Christ is the Son of God, and a book which he has kissed?

The Pope has lost all moral authority. He is NOT speaking from the Bible, he is speaking from his own devices. And the Bible clearly tells us WHO it is who speaks when a man speaks from his own devices. Twenty years ago, Sinead O'Connor said the Pope was the enemy. When she said that, I wanted to rip her head off. As it turns out, she was prophetic. Her words did not apply at the time and were obscene... but unfortunately, they seem to become more appropriate with every utterance from the Vatican today.

I shall no longer seek any guidance whatsoever from the Vatican. All the guidance a true Christian needs is in the Bible, a book which the Pope openly contradicts. When given a choice between honoring the Pope or honoring Christ, I choose the latter.

[Notwithstanding]

Folks who are orthodox Catholic believers have no problem understanding what the pope is saying and what he means by it.

Folks who are not interested in being truly Catholic twist and distort to find license and/or modernism in this pope's words to either attack him or to pretend he is on your side. Either way it is evil.

(You are of the latter category, I believe).

[Notwithstanding]

Yous is the religion of the self-important.

[Notwithstanding]

Yours is the religion of the self-important.

[polemikos]

A pity the Pope didn't say a word of French Jews getting the crap kicked out of them in French Catholic schools.

Can you post a link to your source? A story I read indicated that it was Muslim students that attacked the Jewish kids. I'm curious if we read the same article.

[laz17]

The Catholic Church has become a liberal bureaucracy, infested with many wolves in sheep's clothing. Like a cheap politician trusting in polls and catering to a fat and lazy constituency, it has transformed itself into what its trendy and progressive followers wish to believe in. In so doing, it no longer speaks for God, but for Satan. Like the media and academia, it has been co-opted by Satan. It is no wonder that Paul predicted a great apostasy, and that Jesus Himself predicted He would hardly find any faith upon His return.

In the Book of Revelation, there are seven letters from Christ directed at seven examples of the early Church. Each contained a warning, because even at that early a stage, the Church was already being led astray by false priests, by wolves in sheep's clothing. Were He to write a letter directed at today's Catholic Church, it would be as scathing as His condemnation of the scribes and pharisees.

The mainstream Catholic Church is an abomination, and the Vatican is corrupt. I would advise all true believers to search far and wide until they find a church which is true to the Bible and true to the Gospel, and which categorically denies the authority of the United Nations, international law, and global liberalism. A church which recognizes, instead, the sole authority of the one Living God as He has revealed Himself through scripture and through Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

[laz17]

No, my friend, YOURS is the religion of the Antichrist, who sits on the throne of God as if he WERE God. I suggest you pray fiercely that the Holy Spirit reveal the truth to you, because only the Holy Spirit speaks the truth, not the Pope.

[laz17]

Anyone who chooses to believe a man, and not Christ, is lost. So place your faith in a tree which bears rotten fruit, and see where that leads. It leads to death, even if you get there believing it was the right path.