Vatican Secretary of State speaks frankly on Israel, Palestine, and Islam

National Catholic Reporter ^ | 6/6/2003 | John L. Allen

[sinkspur]

A top Vatican official has said that Palestinians expelled from their property in what is today Israel following conflicts in 1948 and 1967 have the right to return, or at least to be compensated for their loss.

"If you expel me from my home, then in justice you need to let me come back, or at least give me something," said Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's Secretary of State.

Sodano suggested that Europeans have a special sensitivity to the question, since at various points of the 20th century Poles, Germans, French and Italians have been driven from areas traditionally considered theirs.

Sodano also suggested that in order to bring peace to the Middle East, Israel will have to sacrifice at least some of its settlements in the occupied territories. He said that a "Gruyere state" for the Palestinians is unacceptable, referring to a kind of cheese full of holes - a metaphor for the settlements.

Both comments reflect standing Vatican positions, but were delivered in unusually frank terms.

Sodano's comments came aboard a catamaran carrying Pope John Paul II and his entourage from the airport in Krk to the island of Rijeka. He took questions on international affairs for the better part of a half-hour.

Asked by NCR if U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had pressed the Vatican for a concrete commitment on Jerusalem in his meetings last Monday at the Vatican, Sodano responded, "We're the ones who should be asking for a commitment from him."

Sodano reiterated the Vatican's long-standing position in favor of international jurisdiction for the holy sites in Jerusalem.

NCR also asked Sodano if he believes the U.S. commitment to the so-called "road map" for peace in the Middle East is genuine.

"In international diplomacy, you have to take people at their word," Sodano said. "They tell us they are committed, so we accept that they are committed. I believe there is hope."

In a freewheeling reflection on Christianity and Islam, Sodano acknowledged that the Arab world is a "little unknown to us," but said there are encouraging examples of a "tolerant, dialogue-ready Islam" in various places around the globe.

He cited the example of Senegal, where he said that on the occasion of John Paul's February 1992 trip, the president, a Muslim, praised the pope "in extravagant terms that heads of state in the West would not be able to use."

Sodano also pointed to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, where at one stage four ministers of the federal government, including the defense minister, were Christians. He acknowledged, however, that Christian/Muslim relations have deteriorated in recent months.

"This tolerant, dialogue-ready Islam still has to arrive in the Arab world," Sodano said.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Both comments reflect standing Vatican positions, but were delivered in unusually frank terms.

It looks as if the concessions to terrorism have really emboldened those in power to express their anti-Jewish sentiment.

[Bobby777]

bingo.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

A top Vatican official has said that Palestinians expelled from their property in what is today Israel following conflicts in 1948 and 1967 have the right to return, or at least to be compensated for their loss.

"If you expel me from my home, then in justice you need to let me come back, or at least give me something," said Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's Secretary of State.

Why aren't the Catholics asking for rights of return for the many Christains driven, murdered, and enslaved in Muslim countries? What a bunch of screwballs in The Vatican. They need stupid leadership like they need a hole in the head following the predatory priest scandles of recent.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

A top Vatican official has said that Palestinians expelled from their property in what is today Israel following conflicts in 1948 and 1967 have the right to return, or at least to be compensated for their loss.

"If you expel me from my home, then in justice you need to let me come back, or at least give me something," said Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's Secretary of State.

Why aren't the Catholics asking for rights of return for the many Christains driven, murdered, and enslaved in Muslim countries? What a bunch of screwballs in The Vatican. They need stupid leadership like they need a hole in the head following the predatory priest scandles of recent.

[Aliska]

He seems to only see the conflict through the eyes of the Palestinians. I'd feel better about the whole thing if he addressed why the Palestinians were expelled. Who wants to live with people who are going to blow up your kids' school bus? Not me. Sorry, but the only answer is to drive them so far away they can't blow up things or shoot things up any more.

I know there are wrongs on both sides, but the church is not helping the situtation one little bit. How would they like to live in constant fear of getting blown up? Maybe they do live in fear of the Muslims and that's why they say the things they do. Who was it that blew up the airport in Rome years ago?

Is this cardinal so ignorant that he believes they will quit blowing themselves up if Israel caves in to what he and most of the world wants?

[OREALLY]

Why am I not surprised at this stupidity ?
God will remain faithful to Israel and will crush ALL Israels enemies.

[Dog Gone]

Is there any political issue where the Vatican doesn't offer its opinion?

[jocon307]

"...their anti-Jewish sentiment..."

Indeed. Witness the Vatican's desire for an "international" Jerusalem. Born, no doubt out of twin realities: the untrustworthiness of the Muslims, who will keep all non-Muslims out; and the Vatican's obvious anti-Semitic sentiment which will not permit them to admit the excellent job the Jews have done in keeping Jerusalem open to people of all faiths.

Well, I am really done with this Church. They don't get that it is with the JEWS that the Christians share a heritage. They don't get the the Muslims want to kill us all (at least some of them do, they really, really do). And what is with this stupid Pope (yes, yes, I said it. I'm sick of him. One-saint-a-day, there are no homo child molester priests in America, time to take a trip abroad, Out of Town JPII - flame away!) who shot him? An Israeli? I don't think so.

The heck with them. I watch South Park, I know they are ruled by a giant spider queen. Smug euro-assh*les, this is all they are. Maybe we can get the Vatican to send reps for the next NAMBLA float in the gay pride parade. Fools! I'm furious (or were you getting that already?)

[Pyro7480]

It saddens me to see this kind of language from the Vatican Secretary of State. These Palestinians weren't expelled, but most of them LEFT, thinking that the Arab armies were going to be victorious in the late 1940s. Since then, they have been a scourge to most, if not all of the lands they have resettled in. I don't think this an issue of anti-Semitism (for the truth is the Church saved thousands of Jews during WW2, contrary to the lies that have been spread by the Left), but an issue of Euro-snots running too many posts in the Vatican. Once we have more Africans and Latin Americans in the Curia, we might see these stands change.

[Pyro7480]

The ugliness of your sentiments are plain to see. Why don't you read what the Church actually says about the debt Christianity owes to the Jews, since they were the first people to inherit monotheism.

[OREALLY]

Do you ever feel like the entire world is going crazy ?
Or is it only me ! (grin)

[Desdemona]

What I am sick of is people who claim they are sick of the church. This guy's not the brightest bulb in tha pack, but without some cooperation from the people directly involved in the conflict, it's not going to be solved. He's right about that.

In the Israel-Palestinian deal there's over 50 years of BOTH sides breaking trusts. Both sides have gone back on their word. Neither has a great track record. That needs to change.

As for the scandal, this is more of a purge than anything and frankly, this pope finally has some control over the hierarchy, once a couple big name liberals were out of office either by death or resignation. Just remember the church does not belong to men. It belongs to God. There are men in it who are sinners. We must pray for them.

And tell me again just exactly what is appealing about South Park?

[sinkspur]

More brain-dead political perspective from the Vatican.

In a freewheeling reflection on Christianity and Islam, Sodano acknowledged that the Arab world is a "little unknown to us,"

I'd say more than a little, given the universal silence on human rights abuses in Muslim nations from Rome. It's very hard for me to defend the Church against charges of bias against Israel, and all that that implies.

[marajade]

" ... this pope finally has some control over the hierarchy ..."

It does? Why just today our Bishop O'Brien in Phoenix AZ stated that he served at the pleasure of the Pope but yet he also stated that he offered to resign to the "proper authorities" and was it was refused.

[Desdemona]

It does?

With Bernardin and Weakland gone yes.

Why just today our Bishop O'Brien in Phoenix AZ stated that he served at the pleasure of the Pope but yet he also stated that he offered to resign to the "proper authorities" and was it was refused.

Find out if it's been confirmed by the Vatican. Oh, remember Law and Weakland were refused the first time.

[jalisco555]

Why aren't the Catholics asking for rights of return for the many Christains driven, murdered, and enslaved in Muslim countries?

Or for that matter for the return of the descendants of Jews murdered during World War II in Italy, Germany etc. Don't the people living in the homes stolen from murdered Jews have an obligation to at least compensate their families, according to this logic?

[Pyro7480]

Yeah, it does seem that way. However, as a student of history, I know that this is nothing new. There will always be enemies of the Children of Israel, the Church will always have dissenters from both sides of the spectrum trying to tear the Church apart, and evil will always creep, infiltrate, and plot against the forces of good. But the endurance and survival of both the Jews and the Church over the years, has shown to me that even though evil seems like it is winning, God and His people, whether Jews or Christians, will always come out triumphant.

[marajade]

My question is: either he serves at the pleasure of the Pope or he doesn't... which is it?

You can't have it both ways...

Bishop O'Brien better find a way to make it one way or he'll have his consent agreement revoked and charged with obstruction of justice...

[hope]

The entire world is doing it...Watch!