Photo Review: Ecumenical 'Event' At Assisi

Diocese Report ^

[narses]

	Pope John Paul II (C) gathers with other religious leaders for a prayer in St. Francis Basilica January 24, 2002. Leaders of world's religions, from Christians to Muslims, from Buddhists to animists, met in Assisi Italy on Thursday to blow against the winds of war and pledge never again to use God's name to justify violence. REUTERS/Paolo Cocco	Geshe Tashi Tsering, representing Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, delivers his speech during the Day of Prayer for Peace in the World ceremony in the square of Assisi's Lower Basilica of St. Francis, central Italy, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined Pope John Paul II on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
	Representatives of different religions light candles during their daylong retreat to pray for peace in front of Assisi's Lower Basilica of St. Francis, central Italy as Pope John Paul II sits in the background Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined the pontiff on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)	Pope John Paul II, left, looks down as Jewish representatives carrying candles walk past Pope John Paul II, left, during a celebration for peace in front of Assisi's Lower Basilica of St. Francis, central Italy, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined Pope John Paul II on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
	Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians, Pope John Paul II, and Anglican Bishop Richard Garrard, from left, pray in Assisi, Italy's St. Francis lower basilica, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Representatives of the world's religionsjoin the pontiff to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)	Buddhists pray inside Assisi's Franciscan convent, in central Italy, during a day of prayer for peace in the world, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002. Imams, patriarchs, monks and rabbis from around the world joined Pope John Paul II on Thursday to pray for peace in a ceremony designed to proclaim that religion must never be used to justify violence. (AP Photo/Crocchioni, POOL)

[drstevej]

As I said,

"Or you send me your tape and I'll do the experiment. >:-)

[Catholicguy]

You are correct. Here is a link to a site that actually seeks to defend, not undermine, the Pope in regards to Assisi


http://www.geocities.com/romcath1/Assisi3.html

[Land of the Irish]

Dear sitetest,

He calls, they come. He presides, they attend.With all due respect, don't you think the Holy Father should tend to his own flock, before he entertains the novelties of heathens.

I'll repeat myself, crucifixes at Assisi were removed so as not to offend pagans. I challenge you, or any other Catholic, to present a legitimate defense of this gross violation of the First Commandment.

I acknowledge John Paul II as the Pope, and the Vicar of Christ. He is my Pope, but he is mortal and needs our prayers. On the other hand, I cannot acknowledge the legitimacy of false religions as a means to salvation.

[Catholicguy]

This statement is a part of the explanation why so many former Catholics are attending our churches and hearing the Word with joy and excitement.

They are exactly where they ought to be as they have rejected the fullness of truth :)

[Catholicguy]

"Or you send me your tape and I'll do the experiment

Nah, why would I respect the opinions of those who don't go to Church? When it comes to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that Jesus instituted and Commanded we do in His memory until He comes again, I don't really trust the opinions of the uninformed. :)

[Catholicguy]

BTW< Remember to click on the link at the bottom for more Columns that DEFEND,rather than undermine, the Pope's actions. I am talking about the frequent posts we see here taking the Pope to task foi rthis and that - from The Koran, to the Mas in India etc etc

Thanks be to God for TCR. They take the time to defend the Vicar of Christ rather than constantly running him into the ground as though he were just another schmo.

What I find repulsive is that those who do agitate and propagandise and rashly judge this Pope are the FIRST to whelp like newborn seals when even the mildest of criticism is directed at them.

[sitetest]

Dear Land of the Irish,

I was giving you my impressions from the pictures posted here, not a theological argument.

"With all due respect, don't you think the Holy Father should tend to his own flock, before he entertains the novelties of heathens."

I believe that he does tend his flock. I believe that he has poured out his life for his flock.

But he is the Vicar of Christ, and his mission is to more than the people in the Catholic Church. He is the Vicar of Christ to the entire world. The Vicar of Christ is uniquely qualified by the Divine Office which he holds to call for an assembly of the world's religious leaders in a way that no other Catholic is qualified.

I won't question Pope John Paul on this one.

"I'll repeat myself, crucifixes at Assisi were removed so as not to offend pagans. I challenge you, or any other Catholic, to present a legitimate defense of this gross violation of the First Commandment."

I just don't see this as a violation of the First Commandment. I see it as an attempt to exercise courtesy to his guests. If you wish to say that it was inappropriate, that is a reasonable thing to say. But I personally find it impossible to credit the charge of idolatry.

sitetest

[Land of the Irish]

Our ancestors from the Ol' Sod, in their graves, would be spinnng faster than an anenometer atop Mt. Washington were they...to witness the abominations in today's Churches: Communion rails ripped out, tabernacles hidden in secret rooms, the corpus removed from the crucifix, Holy Communion in the hands, pro-abortion politicians serving as lectures and "Eucharistic ministers", I could go on.

I think your ancestors may different from my own.

[Catholicguy]

I could go on

you will :)

[Catholicguy]

I hope you do click on the geocities link I provided. For those willing to hear a defense of the Pope's actions, there are some good columns here.

Those who delight in underminng the Pope ought to avoid the link. It might unsettle their willfullness

[JMJ333]

I am curiousas to your motives for pinging the scismatic to each time you ping the orthodox. Of course he agrees with you. Are you trying to stir up trouble? grrr

[Land of the Irish]

I see it as an attempt to exercise courtesy to his guests. I kind of see your your point, if I look at it in a New World Order attitude, i.e. a kinder, gentler society.

However, I cannot view it in the same light when I recall the millions of martyrs, who gave their lives rather than acknowledge false religions. Their very actions resulted in mass conversions to Catholicism. Should we still not attempt to bring all non-Catholics to the one, true religion, or should we pat them on the back and say "Carry on, brother"?

[JMJ333]

scismatic = schismatic

[Catholicguy]

Earlier you asked, "where is the Church militant?" Fine..act like a militant and step into the arena fight the enemy if you think the Pope a mason. And, answer the question

If you think the Pope a mason, don't you have the Christian duty to warn others?

[drstevej]

private response sent. -- drj

[Catholicguy]

This is a good site to link to beacuse it has the points made without being dissected and broken-up in a tendentious rebuttal. This is a good palliative to the confusion that might have resulted form Narses post of the 10th that had Sungenis' rebuttal crammed into an excellent defense of the Pope

http://www.geocities.com/romcath1/Assisi3.html

[Catholicguy]

private response sent. -- drj

Oh, come on. No need to be shy :)

[Land of the Irish]

I have been in the arena since my confirmation. As for masons, why should you care?

They're right up there with the Buddhists and Muslims on the way to heaven.

[drstevej]

My post #20 - I post this to you off line because my purpose is not to bash Catholics or to be embroiled into talking past each other debates.

CG, I am not shy. :)

[Land of the Irish]

I see nothing regarding a break with Tradition in asking Voodoo Witch doctors, cannibals, or idolaters to pray at the deepest level of their being : all sincere prayer signifies: an opening to God the Creator and his graces (whether those so praying are conscious of that God or not).

What a bunch of B.S.! That's what the Muslims did as they flew the jets into the Twin Towers. (Of course they were praying to a false god).

I'm surprised you posted this garbage; it's pathetic.