Pope sending peace envoy to U.S.

CNN Asia ^ | 3.1.03

[Enemy Of The State]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Pope John Paul will send a senior cardinal to Washington on a personal peace mission to try to avert a war in Iraq, the Vatican said on Saturday.

Cardinal Pio Laghi, for many years the Vatican's ambassador to the United States, will leave in the next few days and will deliver a letter from the pope to U.S. President George W. Bush.

[Sabertooth]

The Pope has to say what he says, and we have to do what we will do.

Folks seem to think the Pope doesn't realize the jihadin are looking for the first excuse to call this war a Crusade.

The additional bloodshed to us and our foes, if the Pope was to give his imprimatur to this war, is incalculable.

[Blue Scourge]

Man, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.....I was dumbfounded when I did a search and came up with it...

Man, I still don't believe it....

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I'm no defender of my former church, but this particular Pope is actually a conservative who led massive anti-communism protests in occupied Poland back during the Cold War. In my book, he's a hero. He also slammed down on pedophile priests so hard that the limp wristed American bishops are on the brink of breaking off from the Vatican. He also gives the less conservative Italian cardinals a lot of grief. If the entire Catholic clergy were like him, rather than attending US colleges and hitting on my former girlfriend [and anything else with a small orifice], I'd still be a Catholic.

Nonetheless, the Pope is taking certain scriptures too literally and not checking things by the fruit that they bear. If you risk your life for the sake of others, which is generally what our soldiers are doing, then it is an act of Christian love. Further, when a regime bears nothing but bad fruit, cutting it down is nothing but a good thing.

[potlatch]

The Pope is not on the same moral plane as the President of France or an Imam, and his opposition to this war should not be viewed in that context.

I agree with you. The Pope can hardly be "for war".

[potlatch]

The run of the mill Catholics that are my friends (the ones who aren't conservative, don't give a rats behind about Latin masses and don't care about birth control) are disgusted with the Vatican and the French. They're profoundly pro-American.

Sounds like they dont give a 'rats ass' about being Catholic either! >

[CCWoody]

Let's see if this thread gets yanked or just how heated it is allowed to go. Just for grins....

[drstevej]

Hope they don't start posting documents by religious leaders -- that's the kiss of death ("kiss of death" is not a reference to post #22).

[GnL]

The Pope is right up there with the U.N. in terms of relevance.

[Just mythoughts]

I been reading the scriptures all of them and it does not tell me that this guy has any credibility.

This is none of his business and since our government is not suppose to pick churches to follow why isn't the left screaming separaton of church and state.

This war is a just war and someone needs to set this guy straight.

[pgkdan]

He's done nothing to replace the bishops who have allowed this evil to blossom into full flower in this country and elsewhere, during his papacy. I've completely lost faith in this man and my faith in the Papacy is weaker than ever. I know that one being in communion with the Holy See is essential to being an authentic Roman Catholic...this has been a tough year.

[Barnacle]

I was just wondering. Do you wear a white hood as you post?

[Consort]

What's your problem, Barnacle? Who needs you to defend them and what does that say about them?

[dsutah]

And for all we know, he may have another message inside that letter. Like you say, he may have to be carefull of what he says. He's a smart old soul who lived in Poland during Nazi occupation, and under a communist tyranny. I have no doubt that he knows what is going on inside Iraq. And although I know I'll probably be scolded for saying this; I even wondered if T.Azziz is all everyone says he is.

He seems like such a skunk; but could he have turned on S.Hussein lately? Could he have noticed something finally, and seen something he never saw before? Could he have acually told the Pope something on the sly against Saddam? A lot of people in there talk all big and good about SH, but could that be a mask they wear for their own survival and their family members? Who knows?

But going back to Pope John Paul; I wonder if he just wants us to be carefull. He may be just being cautious, and not rush into it. Maybe he wants to be proven wrong about too much death and destruction. He's one of the bravest people in the world. It doesn't make much sense that after all he's been through and done in the cause of liberty in the old Soviet Union; that he wouldn't want to see the Iraqi people liberated after all they have suffered.

[Barnacle]

My problem is with backward ass bigots like you. I am Catholic. What you did to the Vatican flag is deeply offensive to me as if you did the same to the American flag.

I don’t agree with everything the Catholic Church professes. Just as I don’t agree with everything America stands for. But, it’s my church and my country and I will defend both to the death.

[Consort]

My problem is with backward ass bigots like you. I am Catholic.

I'm glad that you admit your problem. You think a bigot is anyone who doesn't agree with you. And stop defending the church until they get rid of all the pedophiles and other deviates. You're not a good catholic when you call others bigots; it just demonstrates your religious hangups and mental instability. Why don't you go to the Religious Forum and discuss theology. And pray for guidance while you're at it.

[Barnacle]

Being Catholic is not a problem. I can have honest differences of opinion with people. But, some, such as you are just backward ass ignorant bigots.

What do you defend? Anything? Come on and tell us. I want to hear how it is completely free of all human corruption. Did you disavow your American citizenship during the Klyñtøñ years?

I can be a fine Catholic and still call you a backward ass bigot. I defend my country and my church from enemies both foreign and domestic. The fact that you’d even attack my church to begin with is just evidence of your ignorance. Why don’t you take your hate of Catholicism to a KKK forum? You’ll have plenty of company there. Free Republic is not the place for it. We have regard for the First Amendment here.

And, don’t tell me to pray you holier than thou piece of %$*$.

[Consort]

And, don’t tell me to pray you holier than thou piece of %$*$.

Forget the prayers; they won't help. You sound like a religious fanatic and a jingoist when it comes to nationalism. Go to confession and ask for forgiveness. If you stop and think about it, we are both fighting for the same cause. Don't let religious satire get to you.

[Polycarp]

run of the mill Catholics that are my friends

They should be more careful about who they hang out with...

(the ones who aren't conservative, don't give a rats behind about Latin masses and don't care about birth control)

Oh.

Nevermind.

They're not Catholic to begin with.

[Bush2000]

This is an issue of anthrax, botulin, VX, mustard, nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

Agreed. Part of the problem is that the Vatican assumes that Hussein has been contained with military threats and diplomacy. As 9/11 proved, the presence of warships in the Persian Gulf isn't enough (in itself) to defend America. We have to act preemptively to destroy people who would use WOMD before they have a chance to use them. And make no mistake: If Hussein had these weapons today, he would hand them off to his surrogates and finance their mission against the U.S. and Israel; then, after America tries to recover from an attack and look for those responsible, Hussein would (plausibly) disclaim responsibility.