Pope renews Mideast cease-fire call

[Freedom_from_Chains]

So does this mean that if American Catholics head the Popes call that they become un-patriotic, un-American?

LES COMBES, Italy (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday renewed his appeal for an immediate cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon and encouraged all sides to start negotiations.

Benedict issued his latest plea as he greeted some 3,000 pilgrims in a meadow near his Alpine vacation retreat on a day that he had dedicated to prayers for peace in the Middle East. He reiterated his recent statements in support of Lebanese sovereignty and of Israel's right to live in peace.

"I renew with vigor my appeal to all sides in the conflict, so that they immediately cease fighting and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, and so, with the help of the international community, they search for ways to begin negotiations," Benedict said.

"I take the occasion to reaffirm the right of Lebanese to the wholeness and sovereignty of the country, the right of the Israelis to live in peace in their state and the right of the Palestinians to have a free and sovereign country," the pope said.

(con't) http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/07/23/pope.mideast.ap/index.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Good for the Pope!

Cease fire is the only way to stop the killing. Cease fire is the only way to get the sides to calm down and think for a minute. Both sides should consider these questions, I think:

1. Are my actions being supported by others with ulterior motives?

2. Are my actions going to result in the long-term ends I desire?

[BayCityProgressive]

2. I will give it to

the Catholic Church as of late. They have been publicly anti-war in all it's forms and criticized the excesses of capitalism.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

3. Yeah, every now and then they do something right

I find it interesting that before the civil war the catholic church, along with the quakers, were anti-slavery, when the majority of christian church's were pro-slavery.

[neebob]

4. The Pope has an Alpine vacation retreat?

I did not know that.

[varkam]

5. Normally, I'm not this pope's number one fan.

But, in this case I have to give credit where credit is due. We need more voices on the world stage calling for an end to the violence in the Middle East.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

6. Normally, neither am I, but at this point I would jump in with about

anyone who might have a chance of stopping this insanity.

[NMMNG]

7. You mean he's actually doing something worthwhile?

Is it snowing in hell?

[varkam]

8. No.

But a pig did just fly past my window. :evilgrin:

[NMMNG]

9. And Pink Floyd is *not* in town?

:rofl: