Pope Francis uses first Christmas address to urge an end to violent conflict

[onehandle]

Source: NBC News



Pope Francis called on the world to end the "hatred and vengance" in Syria and to "heal the wounds of the beloved country of Iraq" in his first Christmas Day speech to an estimated crowd of 150,000 at the Vatican on Wednesday. In an address dominated by calls to end international conflicts, the pope called for "a favorable outcome in peace talks between Israel and Palestine."

He also highlighted of the conflicts in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, which he said had been "torn apart by a spiral of violence and poverty." The message of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was directed at "every man or woman who keeps watch through the night, who hopes for a better world, who cares for others while humbly seeking to do his or her duty," he said.

His words were met with chants of support from the large crowd in St. Peter's Square, where flags from all over the world were waved. "Prince of Peace, in every place turn hearts aside from violence and inspire them to lay down arms and undertake the path of dialogue," he told the crowd, in Italian.

Read more: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/25/22045032-pope-francis-wishes-for-a-better-world-in-christmas-day-address

[DallasNE]

1. "Turn Hearts Aside From Violence"

Will the Pope flesh out that message going forward to include the gun culture and the consequences stemming from that? After all, it has hatred as an underpinning making it a bed partner in "a spiral of violence and poverty" in the midst of income inequality. Said another way, follow the money. Take a look at Detroit where pension funds are being raided to pay the banks in a naked reverse Robin Hood manner.

[skepticscott]

2. How much more patronizing and condescending could he be?

"I invite even non-believers to desire peace."

Even non-believers? WTF is that supposed to mean? Here's a news flash for you, Frank. Non- belief has never started a war. Religion has. Many times. Non-believers have always wanted peace (even when you were burning us for it). You're way late to the party, but as usual, are trying to take credit for the idea.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. In the spirit of the day, I say give it a rest.

[MellowDem]

4. In the spirit of the day...

I'm going to call out the hate the Pope spreads with his bigotry, in an attempt to stop the hate and violence the pope and his vile church impart on the world every day.

I call upon even the Pope to stop spreading ignorance and bigotry that leads to hate, poverty and violence.

[rug]

9. Lol, bless your heart. So earnest.

[MellowDem]

10. I always know I've struck a nerve...

When you choose to reply. The replies are invariably snarky or patronizing or both, and always personal, and always off-topic. Wonder why?

[rug]

11. You should reconsider what you think you know.

[MellowDem]

13. You should consider addressing posts...

instead of attacking people personally.

[rug]

14. You should consider the stupidity of posting broad brush statemnts.

[MellowDem]

15. What broad brush statement?

It would be easier if you could get to the point in your post, rather than attacking me personally and accusing me of stupidity vaguely without citing what it is you don't like in several posts.

[rug]

16. "I'm going to call out the hate the Pope spreads with his bigotry, in an attempt to stop the hate

and violence the pope and his vile church impart on the world every day."

"his vile church" is an especially nice touch.

Do you really think you won't get called on this crap?

And if you are going to whine about "attacking me personally", you really have no business typing this:

I always know I've struck a nerve...

When you choose to reply.

[MellowDem]

17. Nothing you quoted was a broad brush...

Maybe you should look up the meaning of the phrase.

I think you find my opinion offensive, so you attack me personally and, when pressed to address substance, you have none. You know you're really offended, but you don't have a good reason why. You certainly rarely/never articulate a substantive reason, you stay as far away from substance as possible. Here, your eventual attempt at a substantive answer almost makes no sense. You quote statements, claiming they are broad brush on their face, when they aren't, then fail to say why you think so.

I think I have the right to respond in kind to a personal attack, so yes, I do have business typing that, as mild as it was. Though, honestly, it's more cathartic than productive.

If you can't come up for a good reason why you are offended with my opinion, you should examine if it is perhaps because you are wrong.

[rug]

18. Yes, "his vile church" has all the precision of microsurgery.

broad-brush

adj.

Sweepingly general in scope or thrust: an unfair, broad-brush indictment of all public officials

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/broad-brush

The rest of your post is an exercise in irony.

[MellowDem]

19. That's not a broad brush....

The church is a single institution, and it's official positions are all the same. So there is nothing broad brush at all when I say I detest the bigotry of the church and find it vile.

It's not overly-general, it's specific, and it certainly is not "unfair".

[rug]

20. There is only one correct statement in that post.

"I detest the bigotry of the church and find it vile."

Except that is not what you said. Why don't you just say what you really feel? You detest "his vile church". Period.

[MellowDem]

21. The Catholic Church is a bigoted institution....

Therefore, I find both it, and it's leader, to be vile. Yep, what I've been saying all along.

I always find it funny how,when people say they're offended by my criticism of the Pope or his church, none of them claim what I say isn't true. It's like... "Well, yes, the Catholic Church and the Pope are textbook bigots, but I'm offended just because!"

Am I being too harsh on bigots? Who knows? They almost never articulate a reason for their offense.

[rug]

22. I just told you that.

Now that we know where you stand on the Church and the Pope, how do you feel about its members?

This should be good. I always enjoy watching careful footwork.

[MellowDem]

23. I feel most members...

In the US are far smarter, more moral, and sophisticated than the Pope is, which is why they ignore him and follow more progressive views. Those members that hew to official Catholic doctrine the most also tend to be the most conservative, from what I've seen.

[skepticscott]

5. No one is forcing you to be here today...if you want a rest, feel free to take one.

But if you're going to defend the pope's rather condescending reference to non-believers, which was hardly "in the spirit of the day", then I see no reason to lie back and accept that.

[onehandle]

6. Joseph Stalin, a non-believer...

Killed millions and created the infrastructure for The Cold War, which killed millions more with trillions of dollars of wasted resources.

Game, set, match.

[skepticscott]

7. For political reasons, not religious ones

Old, tired meme. But nice try.

[rug]

12. No true atheist.

[jessie04]

8. It's funny...Genocide against Christians is on going in the ME..

and the guy doesn't even mention it.

Coward.