The Pope Kissing The Qu'ran
Here is a photo of the Pope at the end of an audience with Patriarch Raphael I of Iraq where "the Pope bowed to the Muslim holy book the Qu'ran presented to him by the delegation and kissed it as a sign of respect".
Posted on 09/26/2004 8:30:20 AM PDT by FITZ
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (AP) -- Pope John Paul II denounced the "imbalance" between the world's rich and poor Sunday and applauded efforts to eliminate hunger, like the recent U.N. initiative to increase funds for development.
The 84-year-old pontiff had to stop for breath every few words as he spoke to a few hundred pilgrims and tourists in his last Sunday appearance this season at his summer palace in the hill town of Castel Gandolfo. John Paul has Parkinson's disease, making it difficult for him to walk and to pronounce his words.
The pontiff said Sunday's Gospel passage about Lazarus, an impoverished beggar who ate the scraps from a rich man's table, was "ever more appropriate in reference to the problem of the imbalance between the riches and poverty of the world today."
On Monday, the presidents of Brazil and France encouraged 110 countries to back a new declaration to fight hunger and poverty and to increase funds for development. More than 50 heads of state or government joined in a debate at the United Nations on the impact of globalization and on ways to finance the war on poverty.
John Paul called the U.N. meeting important and said it was aimed at "a more united and efficient action against hunger and poverty." He noted the Vatican's No. 2 official, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is the city-state's secretary of state, participated in the debate and pledged the Holy See's support for the initiative.
The United States didn't join in the pledge to fight hunger and poverty. The Bush administration objected to proposals for international taxes as undemocratic and impossible to implement.
John Paul reiterated his Church's backing.
"The Catholic Church assures all its commitment to eradicating the scourge of hunger and the other consequences of poverty from the world," the pope said.
He prayed that God would "sustain the efforts of the international community aimed at justice and solid development. This, in fact, is the path which can guarantee to the world a future of peace."
John Paul also offered prayers on prayers for families and populations "most tried by the unfair distribution of wealth that God destines for all his children."
While the pope struggled with his brief speech Sunday, he announced he was forging ahead with his grueling schedule. After again taking up residence at the Vatican on Wednesday, he will lead a long beatification ceremony on Oct. 3 in St. Peter's Square.
The Pope Kissing The Qu'ran
Here is a photo of the Pope at the end of an audience with Patriarch Raphael I of Iraq where "the Pope bowed to the Muslim holy book the Qu'ran presented to him by the delegation and kissed it as a sign of respect".
I'll not be so quick to criticize this great man. He helped win the Cold War. Can he help us find peace today? I don't know. I don't want to put it past him.
Don't fall into the trap of choosing the "lesser of two evils" just because they look like polar opposites, FITZ. Remember, Karl Marx and Ayn Rand were both atheists.
Pursuit of Liberty: Rerum Novarum. 16-30, The Church, the Rich, and the Poor
Wealth is only a measure of dynamics between people. Real wealth is created by extension of trust, and in the extension of that trust, reaping rewards from the initiative shown by others. That is why banks, insurance companies and mutual funds pile up huge portfolios.
Wealth may be as easily dissipated as accumulated, through imprudent management. Or wealth may be accumulated through grasping and dishonest means, but this is not a true wealth, as the rewards were not shared. Where the error comes, is that wealth acquired through dishonest means is equated with wealth earned through trustful stewardship of even small accumulations of savings, which are used to build further growing circles of trust and reliability.
Because some wealth is acquired by dishonest means, all wealth is held to be suspect in nature, when this is not true. There is good wealth, applied for the betterment of one's fellow man, that does not diminish, but grows and redoubles over time.
Kerry's Idea of properous economy:
Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbours and said, "If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"
"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will", said the little red hen, and she did. The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Out of my classification," said the pig. "I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.
"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did. At last it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.
"That would be overtime for me," said the cow. "I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck. "I'm a dropout and never learnt how," said the pig. "If I'm the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.
"Then I will," said the little red hen. She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbours to see. They all wanted - in fact demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I can eat the loaves by myself."
"Excess profits!" yelled the cow.
"Capitalist leech!" yelled the duck.
"I demand equal rights!" shouted the goose.
The pig just grunted. Then they hurriedly painted "unfair" picket signs and marched around, shouting obscenities. The government agent came and said to the little red hen: "You must not be greedy." "But I earned the bread," said the little red hen. "Exactly," said the agent. That is the wonderful free-enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under government regulations, the productive workers must divide their product with the idle."
They all lived happily ever after. But the little red hen's neighbours wondered why she never again baked bread.
I have not set foot in a catholic church for decades, their hypocrisy is sickening.
No, you're not a Catholic: you're an ex-Catholic.
You have no idea what you're talking about if you stopped practicing at the age of twelve and haven't been back in decades.
You are the classic example of the ex-Catholic who hates the Church more that any non-Catholic could even imagine hating the Church.
Expressing your hatred of the Church is your right, but don't expect practicing, knowledgeable, devoted Catholics to take you seriously.
Then liquidate the Vatican's Billions and spread it around the world, but don't go sharing the socialist/communist agenda ex cathedra.
I can just see a Muslim 527 group using that footage for an ad now:"Pope John Paul endorses our Holy cause" .....
That even actually occurred. Whatever motive was going through hime when he did it, I don't know - but he did KISS THE KORAN.
Went to cathechism every thursday afternoon.until the age of twelve.
Then you were Catholic until the age of twelve.
Not so good, not so great.... one of the worst popes in centuries. Has spent his entire pontificate accelerating the destruction of the Church that began with Vatican II. Good on pro-life issues, but that's about it.
Unfortunate that this man has it so wrong when it comes to economics.
That said, the leadership of any Christian denomination...should get rid of the trappings of wealth and humble themselves...this would send the right message to all those contemplating becoming Christians.
I don't have that sort of faith myself, but I admire those who do.
You call yourself a "catholic", yet you excommunicated yourself decades ago.
If you were ever educated in the Catholic faith, you know this is true.
You are a hypocrit.
yeah it is disheartening. The church is supposed to help to poor. If we use world communism instead, then we dont need a church do we.
Lucky Lyn: And in most cases its the poorest people thats donating funds to that church
I read on CatholicAnswers.com the claim that the Vatican is not as wealthy as is commonly claimed; that its annual budget is similar to that of the Archdiocese of Chicago. I presume this figure doesn't count the extraordinary artistic treasures at the Vatican, but I guess that these do not produce income.
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