Pope as Human Shield

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If John Paul II is serious about stopping the Iraq War, there is a way. Right now there are over two hundred people who have gone to Iraq to act as human shields. Why is Pope John Paul not one of them? In fact, why don't all the great religious leaders of the world head to Iraq and volunteer as human shields? Surely Jesus would not have hesitated... neither would Gandhi. Pope John Paul II is in his final years on this earth, wouldn't it be the greatest legacy he could leave us if he put his life on the line for his beliefs?

My question: Is he up to the task?

Rob Moitoza Seattle,

-- Rob Moitoza (holycrow@earthlink.net), February 27, 2003

Answers

I'm not quite sure how the world's religious leaders commiting suicide will help anyone. Human bodies make poor shields against bombs and missiles.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), February 28, 2003.

seems to me that the Church needs its leader more than ever at a time like this. i have to say, though, that the more fundamental logic of this, namely, that Bush, Blair, Berlusconi and Aznar should be first over the top, does hold some appeal.

-- Derek Duval Jnr (derek.duval@virgin.net), February 28, 2003.

What makes you think that Jesus would abandon His Messianic Mission, for which He was sent to earth by His Heavenly Father, so he could make a political statement? Jesus addressed the moral and spiritual issues of the day, and the left the politics to Ceasar. The Holy Father is doing the same. Viva el Papa!

Pax Christi.

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), February 28, 2003.


I agree with Atila. The Pope is making crystal clear to Muslims that the impending war is not a Christian vs Muslim thing. He has clearly distinguished between what America does and what "The West" does, and between what the Catholic Church would do and what other Christians do... in other words, there is no reason for the mad mullahs in Qom (Iran) or the Wahabis in Saudi Arabia to claim that what is about to happen is the direct result of Catholic or Western influence.

I think this is very wise. After all, in all the 30 or so Muslim countries there are sizable minorities of Catholics...if the Pope came out in favor of a war, those minorities would be immediately placed in a catch-22 bind...their fellow nationals, their neighors, the majority just might take the war as an excuse to kill them, burn down their churches and otherwise call an end to the preaching of the Gospel...

One thing is sure: the "Religion of Peace" isn't. The Church has dealt with lots of religions before but nothing to compare with Islam. The Pope is wise in making clear that what ever happens is not and can not reasonably be called a "crusade". (After all, the real "crusades" were convoked by the papacy...)

-- Joe Stong (Joestong@yahoo.com), February 28, 2003.


The Pope has asked that all Catholics fast on March 5th for peace through the conversion of hearts of those in charge of affairs in the Middle East.

Let us pray for those Palestinians who are now planning future suicide attacks - may they change their mind and stop their self- destructive walk towards hell and spare both their own immortal souls as well as those of their intended civilian victims.

Let us pray for the Israeli Defense Forces who are now planning future strikes against Palestinian targets. May they stop their self- defeating tactics and pull back from the brink of feeding only extremists with further violence.

Let us pray for Saddam and his Baath hencemen. They can give up their mad drive to conceal and continue work on hideous weapons. They can choose a moral solution, and give their nation a new tomorrow of justice and true security...let us pray for their conversion so no blood is shed.

Let us pray for our President and the members of our armed forces, that wisdom, fear of the lord, prudence, and patience may flow and turn their minds and hearts towards diplomatic solutions - to peaceful manuvers and constructive strategies. May they find the way to restore justice and security without resort to violence.

But if Lord, Our prayers are too little, too late, may you protect the innocent civilians in all these lands, the Israelis, the Palestinians, the Iraqis, and the Americans from the worst repercussions. Let freedom and justice, charity and mercy return swiftly to all hearts so that Your Peace, the peace which the world cannot give, may find a resting place in our hearts. Bring our soldiers home safely and may war be swift and limited.

Amen

-- Joe (Joestong@yahoo.com), February 28, 2003.



By Johanna Bennett (Catholic Weekly)

Pope John Paul II has called on Catholics to fast for peace on Ash Wednesday, saying "the future of humanity" will never be determined "by terrorism and the logic of war".

"Never, never, never!" he told the gathering in St Peter's Square as he announced the Day of Peace - March 5 - in his Sunday message, calling on Catholics to show support for peace on this first day of Lent.

And, in concluding his peace appeal, he echoed Matthew's gospel in which it says: "Blessed are the peacemakers".

His appeal for peace came in the wake of his historic meeting the previous day with British Prime Minister Tony Blair - the first meeting between a Pope and British Prime minister in 30 years. Mr Blair was accompanied by his black-veiled Catholic wife, Cherie, and three of their four children, who later also met the Pope.

The meeting was said to be "cordial" although "the message was politely but firmly put", according to Vatican sources.

The Pope called on Mr Blair to "avert the tragedy of war".

The Vatican has refused to bless a war on Iraq, which Mr Blair strongly supports.

It believes such a war could unleash a wave of terrorism.

Pope John Paul told the British prime minister in their 15-minute private meeting that a war with Iraq would be an unjust war.

There has been much talk that an attack on Iraq would qualify as "a just war". (The concept of a 'just war' is a Catholic tradition that was refined out of the experiences of World War II. The theory is included as part of the Catechism).

In recent weeks the Pope has emerged as the voice of moral argument against war with Iraq. And in his Sunday message he said: "The international community has lived with great apprehension due to the danger of war which could upset the entire Middle East region."

At a news conference after meeting the Pope, Mr Blair addressed the moral question, saying: "If we fail to disarm Saddam peacefully then where does that leave the authority of the United Nations? And if we leave Saddam in charge of the Iraqi people, who are the principal victims?"

The comment was by way of reply to the leaders of the Catholic and Anglican Churches in England and Wales, who have questioned the moral legitimacy of a war on Iraq.

The Vatican said the meeting was part of the Pope's peace plan and that Pope John Paul also hopes to make a direct appeal to the US President, George Bush.

As we went to press Britain and the US, with Spanish backing, were believed to be preparing a UN resolution declaring Saddam Hussein in breach of UN resolution 1441, which orders Iraq to disarm or face "serious consequences".

However, not much is expected to happen until Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector, delivers his latest progress report early this month.

In the meantime, the Pope has urged Catholics to turn to prayer and fasting, and appealed to all parties concerned to try to "resolve with pacific means" the current crisis.

-- Derek Duval Jnr (derek.duval@virgin.net), February 28, 2003.


Rob,

Surely Jesus would not have hesitated

I disagree. Jesus retreated from crowds several times, and don't think He would just die for no reason. If it would save souls to do so, without question He would be willing, but to die pointlessly? I think not.

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.cam), February 28, 2003.


If religious leaders in 1944 would have been human shields for Hitler, then Europe would have been run by the Third Reich. The best thing that the Pope can do is tell Saddam to stand down and free his people. Don't leave the people of Iraq in bondage. Because that is what they are. The Pope should go to Iraq and demand to set the people of Iraq free. Then there will be no war. And the Iraqis can live in peace, not fear. The Pope has lots of work to be done soon after all this mess has passed. Getting him killed accomplishes nothing.

-- Diamond Dave (Breccasdad@hotmail.com), February 28, 2003.

Diamond,

the Pope has already met Sadaam; and i do not imagine for a second that Sadaam is in any doubt about what the Pope would like him to do (ie go away for ever). the sad reality is that the world is more complicated than that. eg: the American case against Sadaam is premised upon disarmament, not human rights -- so if Iraq disarms, to hell with human rights. there is a hell of an opportunity here for the world to get its act right. if only the rest of the world could think as His Holiness does.

-- Derek Duval Jnr (derek.duval@virgin.net), February 28, 2003.


bump for Joshua

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 03, 2003.


Hi Derek, we meet again :-)

Human rights are threatened by the US? really? So you believe the Iraqi government respects inalienable human rights as ennumerated in the US Declaration of Independence? How about in the UN charter?

I suppose since the Iraqi regime is a totalitarian dictatorship in which the state contols every aspect of life, you think that all those supposed Iraqi children who died in the past 10 years to have NOT been the direct result of a regime's refusal to spend UN Oil revenues on medicines and food instead of Palaces and SA-11 missile engine parts?

You can't blame the US for a UN embargo. You can't blame the US for the Iraqi regime's refusal to spend what money it had prior to UN oil for food program on food and medicine instead of Palaces... we didn't force them to spend their domestic income on weapons programs Derek.

But you want to blame us for things we did not do in order to bloster an argument that Iraqi civilians are better off in the hands of the Saddam regime than under US occupation. You almost sound like an unreconstructed Southerner from Vicksburg circa 1870. "Them dam- Yankees is no good."

Your argument: "The Iraqi regime is much kinder to its people right now and in the past 10 years than the US will be"

"Fewer Iraqis will die in the next 10 years under Saddam than under a US led invasion and occupation"

Thus, the status quo is morally superior to a change...in your opinion.

But EVERYTHING pivots on our presumptions of civilian casualties and Arab reaction...except the argument based on human rights.

Because Derek, human rights - to be "human" are not based on local governments. The American Revolution "discovered" for the first time in world political history that certain rights were "inalienable" - not granted to people by the whim of a king or ruler, but intrinsic to human beings by virtue of being human!

This revolutionary idea means that even the North Koreans and Chinese people - precisely because they are human, and not because they either recognize or "officially sanction" such rights, still have the rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of blessedness if not happiness"!

Now, we can't morally force them to officially recognize such rights but these rights still exist. AND CURRENTLY the Iraqi regime is severly curtailing the free exercise of said rights... yet those rights still exist. Thus those governments, while having power do not logically have ultimate moral authority because they are based not on the respect for human rights but on police power.

Or don't you think people have a right to the free exercise of human rights until their dictatorship agrees Derek?

Do you think the Iraqi regime is legitimate just because it happens to be in power? (Does this mean the Nazis or Communists were the legitimate legal governing authorities in their countries?)

I am really baffled by what kind of systematic moral reasoning you are trying to erect here Derek. It just doesn't make much sense to me. Perhaps you can clarify why some people have a right to live under repressive regimes who do not allow them free exercise of human rights.... would this be akin to a right to sin?

-- Joe Stong (Joestong@yahoo.com), March 03, 2003.


JOE STONG,

IS THIS THE POST TO WHICH YOU ARE RESPONDING?? "the Pope has already met Sadaam; and i do not imagine for a second that Sadaam is in any doubt about what the Pope would like him to do (ie go away for ever). the sad reality is that the world is more complicated than that. eg: the American case against Sadaam is premised upon disarmament, not human rights -- so if Iraq disarms, to hell with human rights. there is a hell of an opportunity here for the world to get its act right. if only the rest of the world could think as His Holiness does."

-- derek duval jnr (DEREK.DUVAL@VIRGIN.NET), March 03, 2003.


I was trying to get Pope's email address as suggested by Dr Helen Caldicot then I realized that I can't tell anybody else to put themselves at risk if I am not willing to do so myself.

-- j sakal (roxanne @ cuic.ca), March 06, 2003.

I have doubts the Pope can do anything to stop Bush. Bush is so obssesed with KILLING Saddam that not even the Pope will stand in his way. The Pope could try to act as a Human Shield and go to Iraq: if he's well enough and able to get there in time.

I hope people don't blame the Pope for this war if he doesn't go to Iraq. Its always the Pope's fault when something goes wrong isn't it?

If the Pope doesn't go to Iraq he'll have his reasons. Maybe it will be because of his ongoing negotiations between Iraq and the US. Maybe he'll think that it won't work.

Please don't think the Pope doesn't care if he doesn't go to Iraq. He's a very caring man, he just doesn't know what to do right now....

-- Ms. Brazel (rbraz@rogers.com), March 19, 2003.


Mrs. Brazel,

Beggin pardon, the pope knows just what he is to do!

He is praying and fasting, and calling his flock to do the same.

That is the job of a religious leader.

He is not a political activist. That is why he isn't leading--nor is he following--the ridiculous and possibly deadly anti-war protestors into Bagdad.

Let's pray & fast for peace, and for our Holy Father, God love him!

Pax Christi.

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 19, 2003.



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