[Pern]

Proof that the old man is getting senile in his old age. Time for him to step down.

...and may God show mercy and forgiveness for the authors of this horrible terror attack,"

Sorry, I can't be so forgiving. May they burn in hell.

[dhfnc]

DITTO

[Pistacio]

To Pope; re; prayers that God would show mercy and forgiveness for the attackers.

Will a clean platter for Osama's and his cronies heads be sufficient mercy? I sure hope so ...that's the best I can do.

[hchutch]

I can't forgive them, either, nor do I desire the terrorists to suffer anything short of the pains of a damned soul. My family lost a friend who used to babysit my kid sister (when she was two - she's now a freshman in college) at the Pentagon.

The only thing I desire is justice - with a fair measure of vengeance thrown in. Once the terrorists are defeated permanently, then I will consider forgiving them.

[justsomedude]

That's his job.

The Pope is charged with carrying on the work of Jesus on Earth. So, what would Jesus do?

[jimfree]

Smite the damned Phillistines!

[2sheep]

Jas 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Forgiveness is for those who repent.  Blanket forgiveness is a myth of the anti-Christ lie of Ecumenism. 

[Knight Templar]

I don't think the Pope penned this from his own hands.

[goldstategop]

As a Jew, I have to dissent from the Holy Father's remarks. Only the dead have the right to forgive those who sinned against them. Murder is the one sin that can never be undone and we don't have a right to forgive on behalf of the victims. And no God doesn't either. Those who do evil, Your Holiness, deserve the everlasting fires of Hell, not God's mercy. Please reserve God's mercy for the innocents who were slaughtered that day and for the braves heroes of 911 dead and living who were by their side. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS HIS PEOPLE FOR SHOWING THEIR COURAGE THIS PATRIOT DAY THEN AND EVER SINCE. AMEN.

[LibWhacker]

Would it be okay to ask God that if, in His infinite wisdom He has sent the "authors of this horrible terror attack" to Hell, that He release them from it one day before the End of Eternity? That's asking for mercy because one day in Hell is infinitely horrible.

[usconservative]

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.

[Wondervixen]

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!

[Pyro7480]

I think John Paul II is being ENTIRELY consistant in his message of God's Divine Mercy. We as imperfect humans cannot fathom the immense "ocean without a bottom" that is God's Mercy. I can't believe anyone hasn't cited and/or remembered this verse from Scripture, but this is probably what the Pope is basing his statement on.

Matthew Chapter 5 (Revised Standard Version)

[43] "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I read a comment on National Review.com's "The Corner" which was posted by Mike Potemra which better expresses where I'm coming from than I can myself.

JOHN PAUL II, RIGHT ON [Mike Potemra]

Pope John Paul II today prayed to God for forgiveness for the September 11 attackers, and in doing so offers us an opportunity to draw some very valuable moral distinctions. I, too, ask God to forgive the attackers, even as I ask Him to forgive my own sins. But that act of petition to God does not remove the hijackers--or their supporters, or their would-be imitators--from the arena of human justice, where their past evil acts must be punished, and their future evil plans thwarted. While seeking God's mercy for the terrorists, the Pope made clear that there can be no moral justification for their evil act: "No situation of hurt, no philosophy or religion can ever justify such a grave offense on human life and dignity." This is an important rebuke to those--whether on the right on the left--who believe America's foreign policy, or its system of freedom, was somehow to blame for September 11.
Posted 2:52 PM | [Link]

Personally, I can understand completely the feelings of people on both sides of this. I still feel A LOT of anger towards those who perpetuated the terror attacks on our country. But at the same time, Jesus calls me to be perfect, as the Father in heaven is perfect, which is also means They are calling us to be holy and to be merciful. We must answer this call to the best of our ability.

[paulklenk]

Let's all pray that God will show mercy to the Pope.

[MHT]

I'm done--I've had it with the Pope. Nice man, but obviously senile and unable to connect the dots. I thought he was quite the enemy of communism but I guess he's quite the enemy of democracy as well. (His first choice appears to be, by default, theocracy. That's consistent; after all, the Council of Bishops declared capitalism incompatible with true Christianity--an important point they seemed to forget when distributing hush-money.)

I was seriously disappointed by the Pope when he basically looked the other way in not more seriously condemning the priestly sexual predators. Now he wants to look the other way on pagans who plan to kill us.

Perhaps it is time for JPII to say, "Ciao."

[FreedominJesusChrist]

Sin of course has consequences, but Jesus has also called us to forgive those who have wronged us.

I am not Catholic, but there was nothing wrong with what the pope said.

[desertcry]

What injustice has America done to cause the death of more than 3000 innocent lives, millions of suffering lives, and billions of dollars in property damage? I love Pope John, but on this, he is terribly wrong!

[Dajjal]

Perhaps the Vatican thinks they were some of Karl Rahner's "Anonymous Christians," worshipping God "in their own way."

[PhilDragoo]

What an obscenity. Of what mortal use is this crap?

This dude has state of the art security 24/7--the only way he can keep breathing to utter such bullsh!t.

Hey!

Your sheep are being slaughtered by these wolves!

This is no shepherd.

[Paulus Invictus]

The attackers are dead, praise the Lord! The Arab killers invoked Allah and it is Allah that they think has sent them to Paradise and will provide them their quotas of virgins. The truth, however, is terrible. There is no mercy for murderers. They are in Hell where mercy is not word heard in that hot climate. May they continue to burn eternally in Hell! (am I being extreme?)

[SwordofTruth]

The Pope has clearly lost his mind. He needs to step down.