Pope Announces World Prayer Day For Syria

France 24 ^ | September 1,2013 | France 24

[Biggirl]

AFP - Pope Francis has called for the world to unite in a day of fasting and prayer for Syria on Saturday and said "God and history" would judge anyone using chemical weapons.

"May the cry for peace enter the hearts of everyone so that they may all lay down their weapons," the pope told thousands of pilgrims at the Vatican on Sunday.

[Mrs. Don-o]

World Jewish Congress head praises Pope Francis (Jewish-Catholic ties "best in 2,000 years)"

...and

Pope Francis declares: “Anti-Semitism goes against Christianity – as pope I will not tolerate any expression of anti-Semitism”

So... this raises the question: Why do some people try to drive a wedge between the Pope and Israel? It can only hurt both Catholics and Jews. Is it inadvertent? Or is it just a case of killing two birds with one stone?

We of the Catholic community have been told --- at least dozens of times--- at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem".

[TBP]

Glad to participate.

[libstripper]

If a person knows next to nothing about a situation, the best thing he can do is not show his ignorance by talking. The Mahdi proved it when he opened his pie hole about Skippy Gates and St. Trayvon of the Skittles (SBUH). Now the Pope’s starting to make love to the same Tar Baby.

[dfwgator]

If a person knows next to nothing about a situation, the best thing he can do is not show his ignorance by talking.

"You want to learn the first rule you'd know if you'd ever spent a day in your life? You never open your mouth 'til you know what the shot is. You ----ing child."

[Mrs. Don-o]

Makes sense.

One thing we all like about Tax-chick.

[Mrs. Don-o]

THanks, Salvation.

I'm going to print some of these up and bring them to church for the people who go to daily Mass.

[Tax-chick]

Thank you. In my life situation, one most focus on the detailed and the concrete.

I’ll write “Fasting and Prayer for Syria” on my calendar for Saturday. Why not? Why on earth would we NOT want to invoke God’s mercy for suffering people in a terrible situation?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Look, 100,000 people have died already in the Syrian civil war. Multiples of that homeless and injured. Is there some reason why a Christian pastor -- any Christian pastor --- should not ask for prayers for peace?

[livius]

You are aware that there’s a large number (relatively speaking) of Christians in Syria, right? Oh, I guess not.

[dfwgator]

And those Christians will be worse off if Obama gets his way.

[livius]

Exactly. Plus how could it hurt to pray for peace???

[dfwgator]

Didn’t say it would necessarily hurt.....But we’re not talking about rational people in that part of the world.

[Iscool]

Pope Francis declares: “Anti-Semitism goes against Christianity – as pope I will not tolerate any expression of anti-Semitism”

So... this raises the question: Why do some people try to drive a wedge between the Pope and Israel? It can only hurt both Catholics and Jews. Is it inadvertent? Or is it just a case of killing two birds with one stone?

The title of the link is very misleading in the context of this conversation...The Catholic position on who are Semites goes back to the family of Noah...

Semitic people in the eyes of the Catholic religion consists of Jews and Arabs...Your pope's claim has nothing to do with defending Israel from attacks, politically or militarily from the Arabs...In fact, your religion is justified in protecting the muzlim Semites from Israel...

It is well established that your popes look forward to and encourage a division of Israel and Jerusalem back to the 1948 borders...That is not defending Israel nor is it protecting Israel...That is anti-Israel...

[Mrs. Don-o]

I am honestly weary of attempts to undermine Catholic-Jewish relations. Just a couple of years ago, Pope Benedict was severely criticized by some Freepers when he indicated support for a two-state solution that was praised at the time by Shimon Peres and Bibi Netanyahu. Can't win, I guess.

Here's a little of what was bandied around on Pope/Israel relations:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2621596/replies?c=44

...and...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2528661/posts?page=29#29

BTW, What is your church doing to defend Israel? And what has your church done to protect Chaldean, Assyrian,and Coptic Christians in Iraq? Syria, and Egypt? What resources has your church put into these tasks: staff, budget, public statements? Links, please. Just curious.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"Semitic people in the eyes of the Catholic religion consists of Jews and Arabs..."

Grasping at straws much? I'm not a big fan of Francis, but this is clearly an open-shut case.

During a meeting with an Israeli leader, Francis states that anti-Semitism goes against Christianity. But you claim that he is really making a veiled pro-arab comment? Please. At this point you're just embarrassing yourself.

[GeronL]

Francis states that anti-Semitism goes against Christianity.

I would wager that most anti-Semitism does not come from Christians. The NAZI's were most definitely NOT Christian.

[Iscool]

"Semitic people in the eyes of the Catholic religion consists of Jews and Arabs..."

At this point you're just embarrassing yourself.

And now I'm going to embarrass you...

Read it and weep

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

The simplicity of this appears to be going way over your head. The pope was talking to and about Israelis when referring to Semites. Obviously, he using the term Semite as it is commonly understood -- ie to refer to Jewish people.

There is this little thing called Context that you should really brush up on.

[trebb]

Well now the President and John Kerry has all they need to bomb Syria. The Pope just verified it was chemical weapons.

Not exactly - overhead statement and said God and History will be the judges - not Zero and Zeroette...