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Pope Asks God to Show Mercy on Sept. 11 Attackers
Reuters via iWon.com ^ | Sept 11, 2002 | Philip Pullella

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.


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: falsedoctrine; forgiveness; pope; senile; terrorists; tollerance
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To: Conservative til I die
The point is that the pope's asking is futile.
261 posted on 09/11/2002 9:21:37 AM PDT by agrace
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To: berned
Ok, then show me the passage of the Bible where someone prays for the salvation of a dead person.

My post (above) should have contained the above reference.

262 posted on 09/11/2002 9:21:52 AM PDT by justsomedude
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To: agrace
The point is that the pope's asking is futile.

I don't think so.

263 posted on 09/11/2002 9:23:54 AM PDT by justsomedude
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To: smoking camels
That changed yesterday when I was asking some sincere questions on another thread. I was shocked at the cult follower mentality.

I apologize to all the good Catholics out there for releasing this menace. Despite camel's "sincere questions" I kept telling him that the Vatican is a sovereign state. that it is simple history and that it is recognized as such by all the major countries in the world.

He kept asking "why" a Church should have a state, and I kept telling him it didn't matter if he approved, it was history and it is a fact that he's just going to have to learn to deal with.

This willingness to understand history and contemporary geopolitics is apparently only a product of my "cult mentality." I hope to someday be a true follower of Jesus and have the ability to pretend countries I don't like don't exist. I'm talkin' 'bout YOU, Belgium!

SD

264 posted on 09/11/2002 9:24:46 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: DManA
You're right, we're not told everything. But everything we NEED to know is there. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us in "all truth," so that we could be fully equipped for His service. Reiterated by the following -

2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

We don't need to know exactly what happens when we die aside from what the Bible tells us because if we do as the Bible says, we have no fear of it. We are given no sanction to say "what if," neither in our personal decision nor our urgency for the decision of others.

265 posted on 09/11/2002 9:29:17 AM PDT by agrace
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To: SoothingDave
delusions dance through your head
266 posted on 09/11/2002 9:30:19 AM PDT by smoking camels
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To: justsomedude
Since when are you so high and mighty that I have to be a representative of a god to tell you to shut up? Pretty arrogant ain't you?
267 posted on 09/11/2002 9:31:52 AM PDT by smoking camels
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To: Conservative til I die
Exactly. If it's pointless to pray for the dead based on uncbob's logic above, then it's just as pointless to pray for the living too.

I agree It doesn't make any sense either
268 posted on 09/11/2002 9:35:06 AM PDT by uncbob
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To: SoothingDave
I am proud to carry the label of MENACE if it means being a menace to such a false religion. I was asking you why the USA recognizes a reigion as a state. No good answer from you.

All you know how to answer is to say shut up and accept it. You are followers of a cult like group with a fallible and sinful man as your leader. Anything else is hearesy to the Lamb of God.

269 posted on 09/11/2002 9:36:07 AM PDT by smoking camels
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To: smoking camels
Since when are you so high and mighty that I have to be a representative of a god to tell you to shut up? Pretty arrogant ain't you?

Well, since you declare what the Pope should and should not do, and you have so much to say about the Catholic Church being evil, I thought you might want to pitch your personal god.

Have a nice day.

270 posted on 09/11/2002 9:40:35 AM PDT by justsomedude
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To: smoking camels
I am proud to carry the label of MENACE if it means being a menace to such a false religion. I was asking you why the USA recognizes a reigion as a state. No good answer from you. All you know how to answer is to say shut up and accept it. You are followers of a cult like group with a fallible and sinful man as your leader. Anything else is hearesy to the Lamb of God.

You keep confirming my suspicions.

271 posted on 09/11/2002 9:42:03 AM PDT by justsomedude
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To: LibWhacker
from it one day before the End of Eternity?

Ain't no such thing as one day before the End Of Eternity

Just like there ain't one more than infinity
272 posted on 09/11/2002 9:42:12 AM PDT by uncbob
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To: 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.

Reason #72 why I'm glad I'm no longer a practicing Catholic!

"I say to our enemies, WE are coming. God may show you mercy, WE the United States of America will not!" --- Sen. John McCain, Sept. 11th 2001.

273 posted on 09/11/2002 9:43:10 AM PDT by usconservative
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To: justsomedude
In what way is it helpful? He is asking GOD to forgive the sins of another man. Let's put aside the fact that these particular men are already dead. The main point is that God requires each man to be personally responsible for his own sin. Each man must individually acknowledge their sinful state and repent.

Are you suggesting that because of the Pope's prayers, God may forgive the terrorists, even though the terrorists themselves died defiant and rejecting the one true God?
274 posted on 09/11/2002 9:44:06 AM PDT by agrace
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To: Aquinasfan
But our prayers are only efficacious for souls in purgatory, not those who have gone to either glory or damnation at their individual judgement at death.

How do you know who is in purgatory as opposed to those who may have already arrived in heaven or hell? Do you pray "just in case"?

275 posted on 09/11/2002 9:44:16 AM PDT by agrace
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To: justsomedude
I have just as much spiritual authority as the pope. Only I don't have people erroneously praying to me and worshipping me.
276 posted on 09/11/2002 9:44:44 AM PDT by smoking camels
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To: uncbob
Ain't no such thing as one day before the End Of Eternity

Hey, that's not my department, man! :-)

I'm just trying to do what the Pope says without going overboard.

277 posted on 09/11/2002 9:45:58 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: justsomedude
yep, and you keep confirming my sinister suspicions too.
278 posted on 09/11/2002 9:46:27 AM PDT by smoking camels
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To: agrace
Your quotes have nothing to do with Sola Scriptura. Not even close. And bolding random words like "thoroughly" (which was not referring to Scripture) don't impress.
279 posted on 09/11/2002 9:47:40 AM PDT by Conservative til I die
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To: Pern
Before you become enraged at the Pope, remember that God is the definer of what Mercy is. If it is a million rungs down in Hell instead of a million and one, HE'LL decide accordingly!
280 posted on 09/11/2002 9:48:44 AM PDT by Wondervixen
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