Posted on 09/11/2002 5:32:02 AM PDT by Pern
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul, marking the anniversary of the attacks on U.S. cities, branded terrorism "ferocious inhumanity" but asked for prayers that God would show mercy and forgiveness for the attackers.
The pope also urged the world to change in situations of injustice that spurred the desire for revenge.
"We pray for the victims today, may they rest in peace, and may God show mercy and forgiveness for the authors of this horrible terror attack," he said in Polish, according to a translation provided by Vatican Radio.
The pope was speaking in unscripted remarks in Polish during a special general audience dedicated to commemorating the victims of the attacks by hijacked aircraft on New York and Washington landmarks.
The service included mourning music and a peace prayer.
"Terrorism is and always will be a manifestation of ferocious inhumanity, and because it is, it never will resolve conflicts between human beings," he told some 10,000 people in the Vatican's vast auditorium.
"Violence can only lead to further hatred and destruction."
But he called for changes in "scandalous situations of injustice and oppression, which continue to afflict so many members of the human family, creating conditions that are favorable to the uncontrolled explosion of the thirst for vendetta."
After his address, special prayers were read in several languages, including Arabic, for the victims of the attacks and for peace among religions.
MORE THAN 3,000 DEAD
More than 3,000 people died in the attacks on New York's World Trade Center, U.S. military headquarters at the Pentagon on the Washington outskirts and in a hijacked plane that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
The prayer read in Arabic asked believers of all religions to "firmly reject every form of violence and commit themselves to resolving conflicts with sincere and patient dialogue" while respecting different histories, cultures and religions.
Speaking in a somber voice in his address, the pope said injustices had to be tackled through urgent and resolute political and economic actions.
He said that when fundamental rights were violated in oppressive situations, "it is easy to fall prey to the temptation of hate and violence."
But one year on, the pontiff said it was not enough to commemorate the victims and pray for their families.
"We also want to interrogate the consciences of those who planned and carried out such a barbarous and cruel action," he said.
"One year after September 11, 2001, we repeat that no situation of injustice, no feeling of frustration, no philosophy or religion can justify such an aberration."
"On this very sad anniversary, we raise to God our prayer so that love may be able to take the place of hate, and, with the help of all people of good will, that concord and solidarity may take root in every corner of the earth," he said.
The answer to every question NOT in the Bible. Every word of the Bible is true but all truth is not there. Why that is in itself a mystery.
I have listened to many arguments about what happens to the souls of the unsaved. My conclusion so far is that it is a mystery.
No person who loves Jesus would wish hell on anyone. Loosing a soul to hell is devastating to Jesus. I prefer to see him rejoice.
Salvation is for those who have repented of their sins. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross made it possible for those who repent of their sins to enter Heaven. Those who die unrepentent get really warm.
America stands for love, life, and freedom. They are being led by men who worship hate, death, and slavery. I believe the Pope knows this. That is what he is talking about.
Tsk, tsk, sinkspur. Sounds like you are contradicting yourself.
Now I'm curious. What did Jesus mean when He talked about those who would not be forgiven in this world OR THE NEXT?
I can find the quote if you're not familiar with it.
You may well be right that the "Catholic Organization" wasn't a legally recognized and codified structure for a good several centuries. My point is that the sacramental understanding and a hierarchical structure (and even, implicitly, papal authority -- see "Letter of Clement") are demonstrably present from at least the late first century onwards.
So contrary to your former assertion you now state that there are those who deserve salvation. Glad you changed your mind. Do you suppose these murderers repented just before the planes hit their targets - or are they nice and warm now?
With greatest respect, Your Holiness, I cannot agree with your wishes for forgiveneness for the attackers.
My wish is that they be cast into the darkest depths of Hell to spend Eternity under the supervision of the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada, who will use every means at his disposal to force them to renounce Islam. Except unlike Torquemada's earthly victims, they never get the relief of death.
Like I said. For Eternity. (Sorry, Your Holiness, but my God can be a pretty Old-Testament kinda guy sometimes, and a real vengeful sort when the occasion calls for it.)
Now there's an idea.
Don't ever remember Pope asking for mercy and forgivness for monsters like Hitler, Stalin etc., but he was much younger then and still had his brains intact.
A lot of Christians seemed to have forgotten this during the Carla Faye Tucker sentencing.
And which places are those that the murderers the Pope speaks of were seeking revenge against by flying planes into the WTC?
Or perhaps he was taking a shot at Israel?
At this point I'd appreciate some of that "old time" religion in which people were excommunicated and damned. The men who perpetrated the 9/11 attack had Satan in their hearts; yes, pity the poor wretched souls, but hope that God is just rather than merciful in this instance.
Regards, Ivan
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