Please consider the following from my notes:
Michael Novak Attacks Cardinal Martino, Defends the Iraq War
Sept 16, 2004
"Martino? There he goes again! The Italian newspaper Il Foglio ran a piece Dec. 16 about the frustration at the Vatican, at the secretariat of state, with the imprudent, irascible anti-Americanism of Cardinal Martino, an unfortunate recent appointment (late last year) to the Council for Justice and Peace, who has not ceased being an embarrassment to his superiors." By Michael Novak.
(Source unknown, 17 December 2003)
"When I was in Rome last February, Cardinal Martino was already under heavy fire for his intemperate and irrepressible anti-Americanism. Even those who before the war leaned more to the French/German position than to the American were dismayed by his uncalled-for comments.
Il Foglio pointed out today that Cardinal Sodano, the secretary of state (the official who functions something like a prime minister for the Vatican, the top leader of administration domestic and foreign), not only changed the whole title of the document on World Peace released today but also edited out the most offensive passages of Cardinal Martino, from whose department the draft arrived in the last few days.
"The title, for example, went from "International Law, a Way of Peace," to the less ideological "An Ever Timely Commitment: Teaching Peace." Other rhetorical flourishes were also edited out, according to Il Foglio."
It is important that those of you who so quickly condemn the Vatican understand that the very same schism dividing our country also exists within the Church. I would hope you will make yourselves aware of those divisions and that you would consider "rooting" for Pope Benedict's conservatism to win out, whether you are religious or not.
"It is important that those of you who so quickly condemn the Vatican understand that the very same schism dividing our country also exists within the Church. I would hope you will make yourselves aware of those divisions and that you would consider "rooting" for Pope Benedict's conservatism to win out, whether you are religious or not."
Thanks, your post is more eloquent than mine. Also now with Cardinal Bertone as Secretary of State, I hope there will be even less "Vatican" tolerance of Martino.
People hopefully realize this is like one Congressman speaking his views; he does not represent the views of the entire nation, or even the government. Same when one Vatican employee gives his opinion.