Pope condemns war in Iraq

[Zorra]

Pope John Paul II has expressed renewed opposition to the possibility of war in Iraq, saying the use of military force had to be the "very last option".

In a New Year address to Vatican diplomats, the Pope said war was "always a defeat for humanity", and called instead for more diplomacy and dialogue.
snip----
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says The Vatican clearly does not consider that America's planned offensive to topple Saddam Hussein meets the conditions of a "just war" laid down by the Roman Catholic Church.
snip----
"War cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions," Pope John Paul said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2654109.stm

Clearly, a mass murderer like Buh should not use the Pope's death as a photo-op. His hypocrisy becomes glaringly apparent in light of these statements by the Pope regarding Buh's warmongering.

[hippiepunk]

1. The pope hated war..

The repukes using him suck

[Zorra]

2. Bingo x 2.

[gratuitous]

9. I believe you are correct

But I just did a search to find where the Pope actually said the words that if George W. Bush were to invade Iraq, he would "go without God," that is to say, that the entire endeavor was not just wrong, but immoral as well.

Unfortunately, what I found was that the phrase "Go into Iraq and you go without God" was merely the gloss of a headline writer at Capitol Hill Blue:

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=15&num=1883&printer=1

What the Pope actually is quoted as saying in the article is: "God is a neutral observer in the affairs of man," the Pope said. "Man cannot march into war and assume God will be at his side."

How much more effective would John Paul's words have been if he had actually said that George W. Bush invaded Iraq without God, instead of the rather tepid comment that Bush should not assume God will be at his side? I don't know why John Paul phrased his comment as he did, but because it was neither hot nor cold, Bush was free to disregard the proffered advice at a crucial point in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq.

Certainly hundreds, thousands, even millions of other people were making a strong statement on principle against the proposed invasion of Iraq, but none of them had the perceived moral standing of the man in Rome. But when the moment came for a forceful statement against the illegal and unjustified murder of tens of thousands of persons, John Paul delivered something less than the best message he could have made.

[Clark2008]

3. The Pope also believe in workers' rights and shunned

corporatism and communism because both hurt workers in real practice (I realize communism, in theory, doesn't).
He was also in favor of living wages and embraced the blue-collar class.
Quite honestly, where he differs from the Democrats is only on reproductive rights.
He was a peacemaker and had a heart of gold.
Thanks for posting this.

[DenaliDemocrat]

4. The Pope STRONGLY supported Unions

and workers'rights.

Sing it from the rooftops, shove it in your repuke acquiantances face....the Pope may have been a sexual conservative BUT HE WAS A LABOR DEMOCRAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lone Pawn]

5. He nearly single-handedly took down communism. He nearly single-

handedly started the Solidarity revolution in Poland. He was pro-Labor, anti-Death Penalty, anti-War, anti-Poverty, pro-Social Spending...

[oasis]

11. Too much credit has been given to Reagan for the fall of communism.

More will be revealed on the role the Pope played during the next few days.

[enough]

6. Thanks for finding this, Zorra.

The world (especially the US) needs to be reminded of this right now.

Nominating for "greatest" page.

[Zorra]

12. Yes; Buh is shamelessly spinning the Pope's death for political points,

and IMO it is important to reiterate the fact that the Pope, the leader of one of the oldest, and probably the most powerful, Christian organizations on the planet, a person considered by many to be God's representative on earth, considered the invasion of Iraq as unjustifiable in the eyes of God and the Catholic Church.

[NNN0LHI]

7. What did he have to say about the destruction of Fallujah?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Fallujah%2Bpope%22&btnG=Google+Search

:hide:

[NNN0LHI]

8. Or what did he have to say about the continued occupation of Iraq?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22iraq+occupation%2Bpope%22&btnG=Google+Search

:hide:

[jonnyblitz]

10. Tell us about how much he loooves gays and lesbians?

:eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

14. Wouldn't hold my breath while waiting for an answer if I were you johnny

[NNN0LHI]

13. He did find time to meet a murdering, CIA puppet and terrorist thug Allawi

http://www.iber-press.com/content/0170/

:bounce: