Iraqi Shiite Pilgrims Flock to Karbala ("Death to America")

KARBALA, Iraq (CNN) -- Exuberant Shiite Muslim pilgrims are surging into the central Iraqi city of Karbala, reviving a religious tradition that was not allowed under Saddam Hussein's rule.

Religious leaders said the crowd could reach several million by the peak of the observance Wednesday. The pilgrims came from all over Iraq -- some walking more than 60 miles.

To answer your last reply first, I never said that personal sanctity = prudential omniscience. Nor implied. I said that the saintly seldom err far from the truth because of their closeness to Jesus, who is the Way the Truth and the Life. Does that mean that they can't be wrong? No, not as long as they're human. Does it mean they're likely to be wrong? No, not that either. Does it mean they're often wrong? No, it means what I said. Seldom. That seems a reasonable statement to me. I will go further. I would say that there is an inverse relationship between the probability that they are wrong and the gravity of the matter at issue.

Do you have a problem with this? Then perhaps if I state the converse situation it would be more to your liking. Those who are close to God are no more likely to know the truth and err than those who are far away from him. Thus the evildoer and rogue is just as likely to discern the correct course of action as the saintly.

Well?

It's a shame that you choose to throw around terms like "canard." If you are looking for them, then here's one. Your statement that my assessment of his sanctity is a "private judgement". Well yes. Everything we've said on this thread is "private judgement" There's nothing on here from the Magisterium is there? It makes no pretense to be anything else but private judgement. You're giving your opinion of the Pope's position and I'm giving mine. So why even point it out? Simply say whether you agree or disagree and give your reasons. The best you could come up with when I asked if you disagree was "not really".

I stand by my contention that you have attempted to blur the objective reality of whether he is right or wrong on this issue with the question of how his moral authority is perceived. Yes, I'm sure that the Pope is well aware of the permissibility of a pre-emptive strike. He's read his Catechism. Here is what it says. the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;

Not possible, probable, or highly likely. Certain.

It also says that the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. There's no graver evil than Saddam? Well how about a million unborn children slaughtered each year? That's about what we kill isn't it? Grounds for an invasion would you say? Not all killed by the same man, of course, but in God's eyes I'm not sure that's necessarily a positive when it comes to judging a nation's righteousness. And we're going to liberate whom from what?

As I said in my previous post, time will tell if we have succeeded in replacing one evil with a lesser one. The main threat to the US comes from Islamic fundamentalism. If it takes hold in a new Iraq, wishing for Saddam's return might not be such a far fetched idea. You've read the article above. The Shi'ite pilgrimmage which took place and which saw all the anti-American invective, was banned by Saddam. Why? Because he saw Islamic fundamentalism as a threat to him also. It's not banned anymore and you can bet its going to become a real focal point for the rabble-rousers. If I was a Christian in Iraq I would be nervous.

You make much of the fact that Saddam is an evildoer with mailicious designs and George Bush is a good man trying to do the right thing. No argument from me. This is a) a straw man, and b) of little weight when judging how this matter conforms to the "just war" doctrine.

Finally, if I'm wrong, I want to be wrong with the Pope. It doesn't happen often and if I have to eat crow, he'd be the guy I'd like to do it with. George Bush is a good man and I respect your opinion also. I agree with 90% of what you say on Catholic matters but neither your nor the President's opinion carries more weight than than of JPII. If I disappoint you, then I guess he does too. That's too bad. He doesn't disappoint me. He is the one shining light in the darkness.

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