Pope: Enough With Slaughters in Iraq

AP ^ | 3/16/2008 | NICOLE WINFIELD

[markomalley]

Pope Benedict XVI leaves a confessional in the St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Thursday, March 13, 2008 after he heard confessions by faithful. (AP Photo/GIUSEPPE GIGLIA, POOL)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI issued one of his strongest appeals for peace in Iraq on Sunday, days after the body of the kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop was found near the northern city of Mosul.

The pope also denounced the 5-year-long Iraq war, saying it had provoked the complete breakup of Iraqi civilian life.

"Enough with the slaughters. Enough with the violence. Enough with the hatred in Iraq!" Benedict said to applause at the end of his Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square.

On Thursday, the body of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho was found near Mosul. He had been abducted on Feb. 29.

Benedict has called Rahho's death an "inhuman act of violence" that offended human dignity.

On Sunday, Benedict praised Rahho for his loyalty to Christ and his refusal to abandon his flock despite many threats and difficulties.

He recalled Rahho's death as the Catholic Church opens Holy Week, the most solemn week in the liturgical calendar in which the faithful recall the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Benedict said Rahho's dedication to the Catholic Church and his death compelled him to "raise a strong and sorrowful cry" to denounce the violence in Iraq spawned by the war that began five years ago this week.

"At the same time, I make an appeal to the Iraqi people, who for the past five years have borne the consequences of a war that provoked the breakup of their civil and social life," Benedict said.

He urged them to raise their heads and reconstruct their life through "reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and coexistence among tribal, ethnic and religious groups."

The Vatican strongly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. In its aftermath, Benedict has frequently criticized attacks against Iraqi Christians by Islamic extremists. Last year, he urged President Bush to keep the safety of Iraqi Christians in mind.

Benedict is due to preside over a memorial service at the Vatican on Monday in honor of Rahho. Typically, the pope only presides over such services when a cardinal dies.

The pontiff's appeal for peace came at the end of his Palm Sunday Mass, which opens the Church's busy Holy Week celebrations. They include the Good Friday re-enactment of Christ's crucifixion and death and the celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday.

At the start of Mass, Benedict blessed palms and olive branches with holy water and then processed through St. Peter's Square, wearing intricate, red- and gold-brocaded vestments and clutching a woven palm frond.

In his homily, Benedict urged the faithful to follow God with the innocence and purity of a child's heart.

"To recognize God, we must abandon the pride that dazzles us, that seeks to push us away from God," he said. To find God, he said, "we must learn to see with a young heart, one which isn't blocked by prejudice and dazzled by interests."

A few hundred young people carried massive palm fronds at the start of the procession through the square as part of the lead-up to celebrations for the Catholic Church's annual World Youth Day.

Benedict plans to attend World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, in July.

[John W]

It is always imperative in news stories regarding anything the Pope, The Church or any religious leaders “said”-even more so than with other people who “say” things-to read through the story to determine exactly what was said. The headlines and first two paragraphs don’t always match the actual quotes.

[rmgatto]

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

I do not blame the Pope for his participation in the Hitler Youth. My point--not well made--was that he should have a personal awareness of the dangers of tyranny (Nazism, al Queda) and understand that it must be fought vigorously if freedom (including of religion) is to be protected.

[iranger]

Peace without liberty is not peace. I still wonder what the Vatican of today’s position would be on the American Revolution. There was so much violence and social upheaval.

[sitetest]

Dear big'ol_freeper,

For the sake of accuracy, there were a few priests who were genuinely pedophilic, assaulting children as young as six years of age.

However, the gist of your post is correct - this was primarily a scandal of active, aggressive, typical homosexuals being permitted into the priesthood.

sitetest

[big'ol_freeper]

...and the Church dealt with it, even before it had to be dragged kicking and screaming to disclose the extent of the problem. Almost all cases stem from the 60’s and 70’s.

Now if there were only the witch hunt there needs to be in the public schools.

[LordBridey]

As I said previously on this thread, the Pope should concentrate on winning souls for Jesus Christ. Declaring and End to Evil and "Enough" is not his call. It is God's.

You are wrong. The pope is declaring the gospel message and it is entirely appropriate for him to do so in his role as vicar of Christ, and for any other Christian to do the same for that matter.

He urged them to raise their heads and reconstruct their life through "reconciliation, forgiveness, justice and coexistence among tribal, ethnic and religious groups."

In other words, "love thy neighbor". Yes, the pope should call for an end to evil, and an end to the willful participation in outrageous, family and society destroying sin. That is the duty of his office, the historical role of his office and is perfectly consistent with the precedents set by the prophets, most notably John the Baptist, Christ Himself, and the communion of saints that followed. Preaching the gospel is always and everywhere " winning souls for Christ."

[livius]

Oh please. He is the Pope, not a secular leader who hangs out at the UN and can “call for” armies. He’s talking about Christians, and actually did not object to our presence but personally asked Bush last year to do more to protect Christians.

This is something Bush has been notoriously reluctant to do. The problem is with the US government, and not with the Pope. Why aren’t we out there protecting Christians in Iraq? The Pope doesn’t have an army and can’t do it, and I think his request for us to do it was quite reasonable.

[SkyPilot]

You are wrong. The pope is declaring the gospel message and it is entirely appropriate for him to do so in his role as vicar of Christ, and for any other Christian to do the same for that matter.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Jesus Christ (Matthew 26: 18-20)

___________________________________________

"Enough with the slaughters. Enough with the violence. Enough with the hatred in Iraq!"

Pope Benedict XVI

____________________________________________

I may have lost something in translation there....but the two are not the same.

Preaching the gospel is always and everywhere " winning souls for Christ."

Where, anywhere....did the Pope "preach the Gospel" in this particular homily? The Gospel is that Christ died for our sins, and through acceptance of Him and belief in Christ we are saved from Hell itself.

Where did the Pope mention this in this particular sermon? He didn't. He gave an editorial.

"At the same time, I make an appeal to the Iraqi people, who for the past five years have borne the consequences of a war that provoked the breakup of their civil and social life," Benedict said.

I didn't see anything about urging the Iraqi people, or Muslims in general, to turn to Christ. Now that would take courage. He didn't do it.

Don't get me wrong - I think he is a marked improvement from Pope John Paul II. He is much more conservative overall.

[SkyPilot]

For the sake of accuracy, there were a few priests who were genuinely pedophilic, assaulting children as young as six years of age.

More than "a few."

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Report

The tragedy of the Church was its moving around priests, ignoring sexual abuse victims and their families, and covering up for abuser for decades.

This is all in court records. Shall I post them for you?

I knew Father Tom Doyle for years - and spoke to this issue personally with him many, many times.

[SkyPilot]

Oh, and by the way, this is just one instance:

At least 789 children and probably more than 1,000 have been sexually abused by 250 priests and other church workers in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston since 1940, according to a 16-month investigation by the Massachusetts attorney general that was made public today.

That is just one.

Now, think about this. The great majority of sexual abuse cases are not, nor have they ever, been reported.

There are literally thousands and thousands of abuse victims.

I really can't stand it when people try to minimize this tragedy with language like yours. "only a few."

[marshmallow]

Holy Father, please stick matters of Faith and Morals.

"Morals" do not impinge on the subject of war?

Who knew?

[r9etb]

First, I'm not your “son”

True: my son is rational.

Second, the only thing that will “guarantee” the cessation of Islamic terrorist attacks are Muslims.

Gee. I wish I'd thought of that....

But of course, the Muslims aren't interested in peace

Which brings us back to you and your stupid bigotry. I have no use for you.

[r9etb]

You’re right — I didn’t notice your qualifying comment. My apologies.

[kellynla]

“True: my son is rational?”

Too bad some of it didn’t rub off on you.

“stupid bigotry?”

The only “stupid bigots” are the MUSLIMS WHO ARE KILLING & MAIMING MY FELLOW MARINES!

“I wish I’d thought of that?”

Careful, you might pull a muscle.LMAO

“I have no use for you.”

The feeling’s mutual, genius.

[r9etb]

Yes, Stupid Bigotry. That’s what I call your blanket statements about Muslims. You speak about them very, very generally. And yet — to use your chosen unit of measure — there are Iraqi Muslims who are fighting and dying alongside American Marines. Clearly Muslims are not all so bad as you would make them out to be.

[kellynla]

Run along and post your personal insults elsewhere.
I gave up flame-baiters for Lent. LMAO

[sitetest]

Dear SkyPilot,

Try to re-read my post before ranting further.

sitetest

[elpadre]

Oh that religious leaders around the world would recognize that the US is the one force putting lives on the line in the name of peace in Iraq. If they would publicly endorse our peacemakers in the Mideast it would come quickly and effectively.

Our armed force personnel who have laid down their lives, in fact all coalition and Iraqi forces who have fallen, that the people of Iraq may come to know peace, have IMHO, followed the example of Christ of self-sacrifice that we remember so vividly this time of the year.

[SkyPilot]

Dear sitetest,

You forget everyone can read the post trail here. That was no "rant" and you know it.

I am very disappointed in you.

[SkyPilot]

I'll correct your original post for you - no "ranting" as you see:

For the sake of accuracy, there were a few priests thousands of priests who were genuinely pedophilic, assaulting children as young as six years of age.