Posted on 11/11/2004 11:21:15 AM PST by george wythe
VATICAN CITY, NOV 11, 2004 (VIS) - Upon learning of the death early this morning in a hospital near Paris of Yasser Arafat, 75, president of the Palestinian National Authority, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following statement to journalists:
"The Holy See joins in the pain of the Palestinian people for the death of President Yasser Arafat. He was a leader of great charisma who loved his people and sought to lead them towards national independence. May God welcome in His mercy the soul of the illustrious deceased and give peace to the Holy Land, with two independent and sovereign States, fully reconciled with each other."
Pope John Paul and Yasser Arafat have met 12 times during the Pope's 26-year pontificate. Arafat was received 11 times in the Vatican: the first was on September 15, 1982 and the last time was October 30, 2001. The Palestinian leader and the Holy Father also met in Bethlehem during the pontiff's pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March of 2000.
Yasser Arafat has met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State (1996), with then Archbishop and now Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States (1994 in Tunisia and 1995 in Gaza during a trip to Israel) and with Cardinal Pio Laghi when he visited the Holy Land in 2001.
On October 25, 1994, the Holy See announced that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Holy See will exchange representations to be "open channels for continuing the development of mutual relations, understanding and cooperation. ... It was decided to give to the already long-existing and fruitful working contacts a permanent and official character. The Palestine Liberation Organization will, therefore, open an office of representation at the Holy See, with its own director. The apostolic nuncio in Tunisia will be responsible for contacts with the leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization."
On February 15, 2000, John Paul II received Arafat and a delegation for the signing of a Basic Agreement between the Holy See and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, as the representative of the Palestinian National Authority. At that time the Palestinian leader invited the Pope to Bethlehem. The agreement signed that day dealt with certain juridical questions regarding the presence and activity of the Catholic Church in the territory dependent on the Palestinian Authority.
JP has to play nice and kiss their a**es so the Pallies don't trash the Christian holy places.
but what is the proper way to respond to one who corrupts that image so horrifically?
The Pope had many choices. I like this one (Praphrased)
Psalm 139: 19-22
Surely you will slay the wicked, Lord! Away, bloodthirsty men! Begone!
They blaspheme your name and stand in arrogance againts you - how silly can they be?
Oh Lord, shouldn't I hate those who hate you? Shouldn't I be grieved with them?
Yes, I hate them, for your enemies are my enemies to.
Psalm 140:10
Let burning coals fall down upon their heads, or throw them in the fire, or into the deep pits from which they cant escape.
There are two areas in which the Vatican is incompetent: economics, and politics.
Or is this Vatican diplomatic-speak for "And may God have mercy on his soul"? You'd hardly expect the Vatican to refer to his soul as "as illustrious as Lucifer." To calibrate this statement, it would be useful to compare it with other Vatican messages on deaths of public figures.
That said, it would be refreshing to have the Vatican unequivocally condemn the PLO, child-molesting priests...
God really has nothing to do with this. It's all politics.
God really has nothing to do with this. It's all politics
Just trying to help out Argus. You are right, God has nothing to do with it!
I'm reminded of the "liberation theology" that was so popular among leftist priests from 1970s through the 1990s, especially in Latin America. It incorporated both the worst elements of economics and politics.
Priests should stick to being priests.
Sadly, this is not surprising.
I've decided that the devil's favorite place to hide is inside the church. That way he can do evil while pretending to do good, and when he is found out he can discredit the church by way of his evil deeds. Ever wonder why anything not nailed down in a church (purses, wallets, jamboxes) get stolen?
This is patently political posturing from the Roman Catholic Church.
Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Isaiah 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
Saying a bloodthirsty terrorist has been welcomed to heaven is to deny the Gospel and everything that Chrust taught. To say taht evil is good tp call darkness light is absolutley depraved and shows that there is no light in the speaker.
Jesus said to his disciples if your light is darkness how great is your darkness.
The implication that they could not only lose their salvation but become utterly deceived.
The statement above shows utter depravity and utter arrogance for the blood of all that died by Arafats hand. The Jews Palestinians and the Christians. Nuff said.
We need to pray for those most in need of mercy. Jesus knows it's tough. He knows we will try and fail at times. But we need to try.
Take consolation in the knowledge that it won't do any good, his stomach will still be roasting in hell.
I "once" admired this man.
JP has to play nice and kiss their a**es so the Pallies don't trash the Christian holy places<<<
. . .because without their holy places, where would they keep all the money the faithful give as tithes.
I think you hit this one dead on
It's probably Cardinal Ratzinger's words anyway.
If that's true...its the wrong posture to take. IMHO! The church did that with the sex scandal and look where it got us.
Absolutely. I expect persecution, vituperation and falsehood from the non-Christian enemies, but I grieve deeply when a fellow brother starts trashing the Bible, committing grave sins openly, or harassing the faithful who resist evil.
It's a very effective tool to discourage Christians. The attack from inside hurt the most.
Things like this telegram illustrate why I cannot fully participate in the Catholic faith anymore. The Vatican has a completely warped view of reality.
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