Tarik Azziz just screwed up...Royally! [Wont Answer E-V-I-L Jew Questions Alert]

Foxnews | Me

[VaBthang4]

Was just watching Vatican Press Conference with Tarik Azziz and a member of the Israeli media stood up and asked a routine question about Iraqi missiles and Tarik Azziz dismissed his question and said it wasnt his purpose to come and answer questions of the Israeli media.

Cat calls and sneers shot out around the room and then a German reporter asked Azziz if he'd answer the same question put forward from a German reporter. Many reporters walked out of the room...Foxnews pulled the plug.

MSNBC didnt.

[Potemkin_village_idiot]

The Pope isn’t going to condemn anyone. That’s not his job. If Tarik is a Christian, he need only worry about the “4 last things”. And if I were him, I'd worry.

And to the 2nd ? - he won't get the chance. Soon, there won’t be a slingshot in Iraq.

[Catspaw]

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with you. Why shouldn't the Pope condemn antisemitism--especially when it occurred in his backyard by an alleged Christian? If the Pope says nothing, as I said, it is very telling.

[JohnnyZ]

If the Pope says nothing, as I said, it is very telling

Geez, what the hell is it telling of?

Are you really such a bigot to suggest the Pope is anti-Semetic? You'd better condemn anti-Catholic bigotry real quick; if you don't it is "very telling".

[Catspaw]

My problem with the Pope staying silent about the antisemitism is that Tariq Aziz came to see the Pope to ask for the Pope's intervention with Iraqi. After Aziz spoke to the Pope, he has a press conference and displays antisemitism of the most vile kind. Aziz was more than willing to use the Pope--and the Pope agreed to see Aziz, even though Aziz was using the Pope in the most cynical way, something the Pope could not be ignorant of, and yet, the Pope would stay silent when Aziz displayed antisemitism? I would think that the Pope could address antisemitism in a most general way, with a gentle jab at Aziz (not by name) or Iraq (not by name) in the next few days, or at a time convenient to him, but sometime in the near future. It seems to be that Aziz both used the Pope and used the press conference to verbally attack Israel and Jews. Would this interfere with the Pope's message of peace? I would think that a clear message that the Pope does not approve of antisemitism would say quite a bit, not only to the Iraqis, but to others, like the French.

[Catspaw]

No, what I'm saying is that Aziz was antisemitic shortly after seeing the Pope. I would like the Pope to condemn antisemitism, not just Aziz's antisemitism, but antisemitism in general. My interpretation of the Pope's silence (and he may condemn antisemitism in the future) would be that he has chosen to stay silent on a subject that desparately needs attention. Antisemitism from the Iraqis and the rest of the Islamic world is a given, but it's also on the increase in Europe (France and Belgium are two countries that come to mind). It's a good opening for the Pope to address this problem.

[zeaal]

Saw it. Still can't believe it, well, I guess I can considering the source. But, can't believe more 'journalists' did not walk out with the groups that did.

Wonder how much play this will get on this evening's news?

[knighthawk]

A little correction: JohnHuang2 posted it, I pinged my islam list.

[Potemkin_village_idiot]

VISIT TO THE CHIEF RABBIS AT HECHAL SHLOMO
SPEECH OF JOHN PAUL II
Thursday, 23 March 2000

Very Reverend Chief Rabbis,
It is with deep respect that I visit you here today and thank you for receiving me at Hechal Shlomo. Truly this is a uniquely significant meeting which - I hope and pray - will lead to increasing contacts between Christians and Jews, aimed at achieving an ever deeper understanding of the historical and theological relationship between our respective religious heritages.
Personally, I have always wanted to be counted among those who work, on both sides, to overcome old prejudices and to secure ever wider and fuller recognition of the spiritual patrimony shared by Jews and Christians. I repeat what I said on the occasion of my visit to the Jewish Community in Rome, that we Christians recognize that the Jewish religious heritage is intrinsic to our own faith: "you are our elder brothers" (cf. Address at the Synagogue of Rome, 13 April 1986, 4). We hope that the Jewish people will acknowledge that the Church utterly condemns anti-Semitism and every form of racism as being altogether opposed to the principles of Christianity. We must work together to build a future in which there will be no more anti-Judaism among Christians or anti-Christian sentiment among Jews.
There is much that we have in common. There is so much that we can do together for peace, for justice, for a more human and fraternal world. May the Lord of heaven and earth lead us to a new and fruitful era of mutual respect and cooperation, for the benefit of all! Thank you.

______________________________________

I would assume his views have not changed.

[Catspaw]

Then this is a good time for the Pope and his assistants to re-release this.

[Campion]

The Pope never mentioned the Jews by name.

But the Germans knew that that was exactly who he was talking about. Their own documents prove it.

The idea that the Pope could have accomplished something by "speaking out" presupposes that the Nazis gave a flying hoot what the Pope thought about what they did. They didn't. They already knew he was their enemy.

[Potemkin_village_idiot]

I would agree. Hey, it's Friday and a long weekend (with a lot of snow in the forecast - at least here). Time to see if the Porter's cold, throw some wood in the FP and be a Bad American. Yikes! Also Valentines Day.

[Catspaw]

Yikes! Also Valentines Day.

LOL! If you have a loved one, you'd better get a move on :-))

[Romulus]

Does he want to go down in history as another Pius XII?

He could do a lot worse. But since you go in for slandering Pius, does that mean you want to go down in history as another Hitler?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Just goes to show the incredible hatred in the hearts of America's enemies.

Their hatred walks hand in hand with their idiocy.

[conservonator]

An Eastern Orthodox Christian.

No, they are in communion with Rome.

[conservonator]

Tag line was from another post...

[G Larry]

The Pope's ability to tackle Aziz before he left the stage, is limited.

Be patient!

[Puddleglum]

Well whaddya know? No mention of this made its way into the AP story linked from Yahoo. Not surprising...

[Romulus]

JOHN PAUL II TO CALL IRAQ'S ATTENTION TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES
Pope Isn't a Pacifist, Says Vatican Spokesman

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 13, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II in his meeting Friday with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz will stress the need for Baghdad to collaborate "in an effective manner" with the United Nations to avoid war.

Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls today said the Pope "will manifest to Aziz the need for Iraq to reflect seriously on the duty of effective cooperation, based on justice and international law, with a view to ensuring the people's peace."

On his arrival in Rome, Aziz revealed that he will transmit a message of Saddam Hussein to the Pope on "the war of aggression that is being planned against Iraq."

Vatican spokesman Navarro-Valls said the Pontiff is very worried about the Iraqi people, exhausted after 12 years of embargo.

But he added that the Holy Father "is not a pacifist." Rather, the Pope insists on respect for international law, convinced that it is the moral responsibility "of all sides" to avoid war, Navarro-Valls said.

Aziz will meet with the Pope in his private library. After the meeting, the Iraqi will be received by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, and by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for relations with states.

Vatican sources revealed that the Pope and representatives of the Holy See will be very strict when they verify Iraq's lack of cooperation with the United Nations.

Aziz, 67, born to a Chaldean Catholic family, explained in an interview published today in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, the Pope's envoy to Iraq, has not been a mediator between the United States and his country.

The cardinal has limited himself to reminding Iraq of the duty of cooperation with the international community, Aziz said.

---

POPE SEES PROGRESS IN CATHOLIC-JEWISH UNDERSTANDING
Receives Chief Rabbi of Rome in Audience

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 13, 2003 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II expressed his desire to bring Catholics and Jews ever closer, and called on believers of both communities to help build peace in the face of a threat of war.

The Pope was addressing Riccardo Di Segni, chief rabbi of Rome, whom he received in audience together with other rabbis and Jewish leaders of the city.

It was the first time that Di Segni, who became chief rabbi a year ago, met with the Pope in the Vatican. The rabbi's predecessor, Elio Toaff, whom the Pope remembered "with profound esteem" during the audience, was a friend of the Holy Father's.

During the meeting, John Paul II emphasized "the intense desire that the Catholic Church nourishes to make its ties of friendship and reciprocal collaboration with the Jewish community more profound."

The Holy Father also referred to the "historic and unforgettable" visit he made in 1986 to the synagogue of Rome.

That event, "gift of the Almighty," represents "an important stage in the path toward understanding between Jews and Catholics," the Pope said.

John Paul II also expressed the hope that the path of reciprocal trust completed to date "will increment relations between the Catholic community and the Jewish community in Rome," the oldest in Western Europe.

The Holy Father acknowledged that in the past the two communities were hostile toward one another.

But he said that the gradual application of the Second Vatican Council's document on the Church's relations with non-Christians, "Nostra Aetate," as well as the gestures of friendship between the two communities, "have contributed to direct our relations toward every greater reciprocal understanding."

Lastly, John Paul II said that Jews and Catholics "are aware of the urgent mission to implore the Creator and eternal God for peace, and for we ourselves to be agents of peace."

In his greeting to the Pope, the chief rabbi also highlighted the collaboration between Jews and Christians, describing it as necessary for the world and a fruitful sign of peace and blessing.

Di Segni officially invited the Holy Father to visit the synagogue of Rome again on the centenary of its construction, which will take place next year.

The rabbi also stressed the importance of establishing a permanent form of consultation to avoid misunderstandings and to define concrete forms of intervention.

[Catspaw]

I'm smiling. Most indirect, but VERY effective move by the Pope.