Posted on 07/14/2006 7:51:25 AM PDT by dinoparty
Vatican condemns Israel for attacks on Lebanon VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican on Friday strongly deplored Israel's strikes on Lebanon, saying they were "an attack" on a sovereign and free nation.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said Pope Benedict and his aides were very worried that the developments in the Middle East risked degenerating into "a conflict with international repercussions."
"In particular, the Holy See deplores right now the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation, and assures its closeness to these people who already have suffered so much to defend their independence," he told Vatican Radio.
Israel struck Beirut airport again on Friday and bombed Lebanese roads, power supplies and communication networks in a widening campaign after Hizbollah guerrillas seized two Israeli soldiers and killed eight.
Sodano said the Vatican condemned both "terroristic attacks" and military reprisals.
Hizbollah, which wants to trade its captives for prisoners held in Israel, has showered rockets across the frontier in its fiercest bombardment since 1996 when Israel launched a 17-day blitz against southern Lebanon and Hizbollah. ADVERTISEMENT
But Sodano reserved his harshest words for Israel.
"The right of defence on the part of a state does not exempt it from its responsibility to respect international law, particularly regarding the safeguarding of civilian populations," he said.
The Jews were "chosen" to be the vessel through which the Messiah would come. Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah? I do - and the pope does. Most Jews do not, so it's wrong to say that they are part of the pope's flock. I think Jews would take offense at your suggestion that they are part of the Christian flock.
"Yes, but to say that almost guarantees you'll get flamed - at least around here. I highly doubt that if some Mexican terrorists captured some US border patrol agents, that the US would be launching an all-out invasion of Mexico and bombing the Mexico City airport."
Your right we would not invade but what would happen with the above scenerio is that our POTUS would call the Mexican POTUS and the border agents would be freed and the perpetrators held responsible. Nor would Mexico call for the release of hundreds of other terrorist murderers in exchange for the border agents.
Interesting. I said none of the things you've attributed to me yet not only did you claim I did but then insulted me for saying something I didn't.
You may want to check in with your doctor. It would appear that the voices in your head have returned.
Ah, there's the rub. Are you saying that the government of Lebanon ordered the kidnapping of these soldiers? I haven't even heard the Israeli government claim that. This is more like a raid by a Poncho Villa-style terrorist organization. When that happened to the US, the army went after the bandits - we didn't go to war against the entire Mexican nation.
these people who pray to one who can't hear their prayers[mary] need to get a clue on Old Testament history & national defense. total pacifism is pagan & unBiblical. Israel defended themselves many times with GOD's approval & a few by direct command. at times demanding that every living thing be killed in the conflict. Ecclesiastes speaks of a time for war & a time for peace. Romans tells that a government has the power of the sword to punish the the evildoer. the u.n. & international law is a mockery against justice & common sense especially for Israel.
Israel is doing what needs to be done.
This is coming from someone named "ExtremeUnction"? LOL!
This is coming from someone named "ExtremeUnction"? LOL!
The Vatican watches to much BBC, they need to read FR!
"As in the past, the Holy See also condemns both the terrorist attacks on the one side and the military reprisals on the other."
It looks like some of us fell for al-Reuters' spin on this.
No an all out war over kidnapped soldiers is not over the top.
Yes, those in charge of "palestine" and lebanon could in fact get thsoe soldiers freed if they chose to.
That's what the Vatican objects to.
The nature of Israel's tactics is arguable.
(And keep in mind that these statements do not constitute infallible teaching!)
We have an active Pope now. If he wants to say something different he will.
Don't hold your breath though. Lebanon has too many Catholics in it.
"The government ofLebanon should have in the last few months done the right thing and throw the terrorists out themselves. What we are seeing now is that Isreal has to do the job itself. This is called self-defense. This is coming from a Roman Catholic."
Syria had an estimated 20,000 troops (Hezbollah & secret police) in Lebanon. Such influence is not diminished overnight. Notice that Israel is not attacking the Lebanese government of military but is destroying support infrastructure of Hezbollah and Hamas (in Gaza). The Lebanese want democracy and peace, but for this to happen the power controlling Lebanon must be diminished by an outside source (in this case Israel).
Notwithstanding all the pretty words, when push comes to shove, nothing ever changes.
Who started this? It's as obvious as day and night, as wrong or right.
One would have hoped a Church could choose the right decision between good and evil. Or at least keep quiet.
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Let's not get hysterical about the Vatican pleading for peace. It's what they should do, and now they've done it.
The government of Lebanon turns a blind eye to Hezbollah. It allows them to use the roads and airport, which is why Israel is destroying the infrastructure that supports them.
This is serious. Hezbollah is firing rockets into Israel and killing civilians.
If the Lebanese government won't take care of the terrorists in their midst, Israel will. If that means taking out warehouses where rockets are kept in Beirut, then that's what they'll do.
I'm not at all sure that the Lebanese prime minister, who despises the Syrian influence in his country, doesn't welcome Israel's taking out of the trash in the Bekaa valley.
"Why is most of the rest of the world so anti-semitic? WHat have the Jews done that's justifying 90% of the world's population hatred of them?"
You would need to read the entire bible, but in a nutshell it's a spiritual thing between good and evil.
Israel was invaded over a recognized border. It's soldiers killed and kidnapped. It's major cities are being attacked by rockets with resulting deaths. All by a proxy of a Nation that daily calls for Israel's destruction.
Argue a different tack for Israel. A strongly worded later to the UN maybe?
Very disappointing.
Why one standard for Israel and another one for the terrorists?
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