[Chancellor Palpatine]

Hate to tell you this - but he is yours to deal with, and he is in communion with you, like it or not. I can't speak to whether he is fond of Rome or not - but the things he says are consistent with the more extreme stuff that has been emanating from the Vatican lately.

I can only make my conclusions from there.

[nickcarraway]

Well, I hate to tell you this but the hierarchy that I've heard of in the Orthodox Churches is against the war. But you only rail against the Catholic leaders who are. Interesting.

[nickcarraway]

Just an example: Patriarch Alexis Speaks out Against War in Iraq

By Anna Bobina

March 6, 2003 (RIA Novosti) -- His Beatitude Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, addressed a board session of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As on many previous occasions, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church strongly called against war in Iraq.

The Church opposes the idea of nations imposing their will on other nations. It raises its voice against violence in these crucial days when the fate of the Middle East and, possibly, of the whole world is at stake, said His Beatitude as he quoted St. Philarete Patriarch of Moscow: "Righteousness is always stronger than malice and perfidy."

The Patriarch highlighted the peacekeeping mission of the Russian Orthodox Church. It has been active for many years to settle conflicts in the post-Soviet area, the Balkans, the Middle East and the Korean peninsula, he said.

Alexis II thanked Igor Ivanov, Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the entire ministerial personnel for partnership with the Church to the benefit of Russia, and of international ties, peace and security.