The Vatican has issued a strong condemnation today of the killing of US ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and other embassy officials on Sept. 11th.
From VIS: "Given below is the text of a declaration made by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J., concerning the recent attack against the United States consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi:
The very serious attack organised against the United States diplomatic mission in Libya, which led to the death of the ambassador and of other functionaries, calls for the firmest possible condemnation on the part of the Holy See. Nothing, in fact, can justify the activity of terrorist organisations and homicidal violence. Along with our sadness, mourning and prayers for the victims, we again express the hope that, despite this latest tragedy, the international community may discover the most favourable ways to continue its commitment in favour of peace in Libya and the entire Middle East."
Fr. Lombardi's statement today follows an earlier one that was criticised for not explicitly condemning the atrocity. That statement was issued relatively early yesterday, before the full extent of the attack had become known. The violence which began in Cairo with the burning of American flags is reported to have been provoked by an anti-Islam film made by an American director that was posted on the web.
In comments to the Register this afternoon, Fr. Lombardi clarified that the first statement was "born as a result of the protest movement against the offensive film. However, it included a condemnation of the violence that was developing. But the information on the assault in Benghazi and the death of the Ambassador, and the organization of the assault (which was different to the reaction of offense to symbols), developed during the day and therefore required taking a new specific position."
Yesterday's press release:
"Profound respect for the beliefs, texts, outstanding figures and symbols of the various religions is an essential precondition for the peaceful coexistence of peoples. The serious consequences of unjustified offence and provocations against the sensibilities of Muslim believers are once again evident in these days, as we see the reactions they arouse, sometimes with tragic results, which in their turn nourish tension and hatred, unleashing unacceptable violence.
The message of dialogue and respect for all believers of different religions, which the Holy Father is preparing to carry with him on his forthcoming trip to Lebanon, indicate the path that everyone should follow in order to construct shared and peaceful coexistence of religions and peoples."
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I am glad that they made that updated statement. Pray for Benedict in Lebanon tomorrow!!!
Pax.
I have the highest respect for Fr. Lombardi as both a priest and man. However it must be admitted that - by almost any journalistic standard - he precipitously jumped the gun here. He clearly failed to ‘reserve judgment’ till the ‘facts’ of the story had been checked out!
As a former press secretary [including on one U.S. Presidential Campaign] I can assure one and all that is a failure at one of the most absolutely basic elements of sound journalism. The ‘Check your facts before publishing’ requirement has been taught in virtually every beginning Freshman Journalism class since Universities began teaching Journalism as a subject.
Especially in the Vatican, we need the highest level of professional standards when dealing with the Media…
Islam is a religion of conquest. There are two types of people in islam; followers of islam and those who are to be converted or killed. We have fought with these people since the inception of their make believe religion in the 600’s. Had the Ottomann turks not been stopped at Lepanto in the 1500’s Europe would be Muslim today. There is no reason to believe that we will not continue to struggle with these people. This IS a religious war.
I can’t imagine Pope St. Gregory the Great, Augustine, or Pope Urban II ever saying something so profoundly absurd as was uttered by Fr. Lombardi. I want to be part of a Church that is more interested in spreading the Gospel of Jesus and less concerned with having “respect for the beliefs, texts, outstanding figures and symbols of the various religions”. Pluralistic hogwash.
I don’t think anyone doubts this is a permanent religious war, but if you still want to teach tolerance, my only comment is the hatr of non Islamists is written in the book they consider holy. So the only peaceful Islamists are those who don’t follow the ‘religion’ made up from the imagination of a person mi.itary leader. Once a killer always a killer.
Whereas we are called to live like Christ, Islamists are called to kill like mohammed. Like it or not, its the simple fact.
Why should we have “profound respect” for the beliefs and texts of other religions? The Islamic faith teaches explicitly that there is no Trinity. That Jesus is not God. That is a Satanic lie. I have no respect whatsoever for that. Now, that doesn’t mean that we purposefully disrespect Muslim people. But neither should we respect their false Satanic religion. There is no fellowship between light and darkness. Pope St. Pius X, pray for us.
I can’t imagine Pope St. Gregory the Great… ever saying something so profoundly absurd as was uttered by Fr. Lombardi.
Ahem:
“For there is nothing which Almighty God, who wishes that all men should be saved and that no man should perish, more approves in our conduct than that a man should first love God and then his fellow men ... Most certainly you and we ought to love each other in this way more than other races of men, because we believe and confess one God, albeit in different ways, whom each day we praise and reverence as the creator of all ages and the governor of this world.” - Pope St. Gregory VII to the Sultan of Bougie in North Africa, 1076
Not Gregory the Great, but still rather a long time before Vatican II. And also a saint, by the by. To be deep in history is to cease to be a politicized American Catholic.
Enough already with the Fr. Lombardis and the Mark Sheas of the world. They have done and continue to do their damage.
By the way, Shea, what was the context of those remarks from the Saint? I mean, since you’re so “deep in history” and all.
You are no different than the hacks who post photos of Catholic prelates shaking hands with Hitler as a means of implying that Hitler was Catholic or that the Church was in approval of his regime.
Spare us please your wonderful locutions.
The decrees of an ecumenical council,authorized by the pope, are binding on all Catholics. From Nostra aetate, paragraph 3:
“The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
“Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.
Catholics are ridiculed all the time, and we don’t go burning builidings and killing people. There’s no excuse for the killings of Americans in Libya.
Pope Benedict is a great Pope who is strong and firm in spreading the truth in the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Donald Morgan is absolutely right, there is nothing else I can add…
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