So the Holy Roman Catholic Church is for A One World Government formed by Satan’s army of followers, ha, what a crying shame that this Rag headlines this story!

A question for Pope Benedict and the rest of the Church establishment: Instead of dabbling in secular international politics, why doesn’t the Catholic Church commit itself to converting the Muslims to the one true faith?

Are you afraid of something or don’t you care about the souls of Arabs?

It would be wonderful if the Palestinian state would recognize the right of Israel to exist and would cease launching bombs. Only then can there be any beginning of a peaceful side-by-side existence. It would also be necessary for other countries who inflame violence to stop. That appears to be a dream, too.

Wow - the Pope has taken the side of the devil.  Unbelievable! But maybe not; U.S. Catholic took the same side in the last election.  Does the Pope think taking the side of the Islamist is going to reduce or stop their murdering Christians in the middle east and elsewhere?  What evidence have they presented that they are even interested in peace with Israel other than jaw boning?

I think Rome would be wise to pay attention to what the official government representatives of Israel feels about this, and factor it into any press release.

The Vatican need not weigh in on every single thing that affects the world, most especially, when it concerns Israel.  I’m tired of hearing a Vatican opinion on every single thing.

Let them clean their own house, for a change, and when it’s all in shape, then their opinions may matterm, on the world-wide scale.

The Pope again against the Jews.  To be for a terrorist nation is to be against the Jews.  I am disappointed.  Being Catholic, married to a Jew—disappointed indeed. I do not want to leave my Catholic faith but this may just be the time to do so.

I believe that this was a violent push to become a state since back in the nineties Isreal has said the would welcome this by giving them back the land they won during their wars and the Palestinians refused. What they really want is Isreal destroyed and the whole land named as Palestine. I don’t think they should be rewarded for their bully tactics.

First, it was the American Catholic clergy that supported BenghaziCare a/k/a ObamaCare because of ‘social justice, only to have Obama turn on the entire Catholic Church community, once he had gotten what he wanted from Catholics.  The same mentality and vice will be applied for the Palestinian state.  Let the Islamic nations carve out an Palestinian state from their lands.

I wonder where the Catholic Church stands on the insidious U. N. Agenda 21?  The Catholic clergy is making it a challenge to remain a Catholic.

Seems to me that the HS has been a bit premature. Everyone wants a permanent solution of the Palestine problem…including Israel. This could have been done years ago except for the primary intransigence of the Muslim leaders refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist. Last I checked they still haven’t and US weakness in the UN and Middle East allowed this end run. This will not solve a thing. To the contrary it will exacerbate it. This reminds me of the Vatican’s blindness to the realty of the “Arab Spring” in Egypt and the overthrow of Mubarak. Again, they naively believed that it was a positive for the country and the Church. Well the only ones that believed it then and now are Morsi and his sharia thugs assembling a mid east caliphate. If any one should know the Islamic faith and it’s extremes you would think it would be the RCC. Apparently, memories are short and Lepanto is just a legend. Political Correctness is killing not only Western Civilization but the builders of it…namely the RCC. We know that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Pope and the RCC. What we don’t know is how small it might become in the process. In 1970 Cardinal Ratzinger predicted it would shrink very significantly.

I would like to hear others thoughts and feelings on this matter. Will the radical elements inside the Gaza still look for the destruction of israel. Should there be a rconition of Israels right to exist????

I have previously written my disappointment in the Church stand with and in favor of a Palestinian State.  Since the “Palestinian” State is currently in the control of terrorists, the Church statement is very perplexing.  “Holy See treats the question of what people have title to what territory as a temporal affair and thus something that goes beyond the Church’s purview.”  So why is the Church so gleeful toward a “temporal” state? Please address this question.  I am not the only one confused regarding your recent article.  Thanks and God Bless.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/israel_whose_land_is_it_anyway#ixzz2DuvrVyb7

As I recall the news from the Vatican was very positive about Mr Obama being elected President of the US because it was time for an African American US President.. As far as I am concerned that dimmed the light of credibility for the Vatican’s political savvy. I do not agree that this UN determination is a good thing .  This is the UN who arbitrarily drew the Israeli borders back in 1940s with abandon regarding Palestine. It is human nature to take unfair advantage of new privileges especially in the political arena . Just wait what can of worms this new move opens up.  This is a mix for more violence now politically sanctioned. What was the Vatican thinking?  Morality and conscience formation is where the minds of the Vatican are supreme experts but not so much with politics.

I am troubled by the public position that the Vatican has taken on this action by the UN. I understand that the Holy See tries to walk the fine line of being in the world while not of the world, but there are realities to which Rome seems to be willingly blind. In my view, the action that the UN has taken is a normalization of a terror-sponsor state, run by a terrorist regime, Hamas. The part this normalization plays in the attempt to establish the new caliphate (however remote or likely that possibility may be) seems to be lost on the Vatican. In case they hadn’t noticed, calls to Hamas to “stop the bloodshed” fall on deaf ears, and does not take into account the close ties of Hamas and the Islamist radicals in Iran, Jordan, Syria and the surround Middle East hot spots. Also, the Vatican’s position seemingly ignores the Biblical admonition that those who bless Israel will be blessed (and the inferred antithesis). Respectfully, these are my views.

All peoples on this earth are entitled to live in peace, have a place to live they can call their own and be gainfully employed. The Holy Father is correct in his assessment of this situation. There is no “right side”. There is only the side of justice which can only be achieved when peoples of all faiths stop hating one another and sincerely strive to build peace and justice for all.

The reality is that no “nation” of Palestine has ever existed.  The land belongs to Israel, (all of it)—the only nation ever created by God Himself.  Israel has a grant deed (if you will) issued by God.  Palestine is only a figment of the imagination.  The Roman empire renamed Israel “Palestine” as an insult to the Jews by using an offshoot name of their hated enemy the Philistines.  In my view, the Vatican is off base in their support of the UN vote because peace is not in the lexicon of Hamas and other terrorist organizations who ultimately seek to have Israel totally destoryed.  The Vatican has forgotten Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.”

How does one go about recognizing the statehood of an organization with an avowed intent to destroy the state o Israel the day after it became a state in 1948?

Since there is Only One True Church I see no way that over 5000 years of history can be made in one kumbya moment.  Get real people the Church is locked in a battle for souls, you do not win by surrendering.  And as a side note the Vatican is Not our Holy Father and he did not weigh in on this atrocity, just the normal political ARM of the church state.

How can anyone condone statehood for those who vowed to destroy Israel the day after it became s state in 1948?

There are Christians who are suffering and no one seems to be talking about this very much. This should not be about one group of people or a terrorist group such as Hamas. The thing is this. Christians are to hate no one. Our Lord called us to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we begin making entitlement demands we reject the command that comes from God. The Vatican is talking about social justice. This is not a new concept. Social justice in providing a place for all to live should be understood as justice for all; not for some.

@Julie:  [” The Vatican is talking about social justice. This is not a new concept. Social justice in providing a place for all to live should be understood as justice for all; not for some.”]  Julie, how about their Palestinian Muslim “brothers” carving a homeland for their fellow brothers in Jordan, Syria, Iran and Iraq?  They have more land than Israel does.  The Palestinians are only a convenient tool used by Islam to destroy Israel.  This has zero to do with “social justice.”  The Vatican should know better than to support this nonsense.

“How can anyone condone statehood for those who vowed to destroy Israel the day after it became s state in 1948?”

You condone it if you’re a politically correct fool who dances to the tune of the secular elite all the while pretending you’re so compassionate..

Any other questions?

It is a very unfortunate to see all these commenters here condemning the HS and the pope.  Maybe it is time to realize that there are two sides to this story.  The HS did not speak against Israel, this is a call for peace and I do not understand that can’t comprehend how Catholics can rally against that.

Doesn’t the Vatican understand that the majority of the 193 nations that ‘vote’ at the UN are oppressive dictator type small countries? So the majority of nations that do not value freedom or human rights vote to give status,  under the name of ‘Palestine’,  to an organization of terrorists and ‘sharia law enforcers’  and the Catholic Church publically approves?  How could this possibly be real?

@Mario:  When establishing “peace” it is presumed both parties seek the same objective.  When has Hamas, other organizations or Islam ever spoken of “peace” with Israel?  They are pledged to destroy Israel and claim it for their own.  Why must Israel always be forced to give up land to accommodate these terrorists who blow up hospitals, cafes, tour buses and the like?  Please remove your rose-colored glasses and realize that everything coming from the Vatican is not holy and sacred but often simply has the “appearance” of same for public relations.

Julie

“Our Lord called us to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we begin making entitlement demands we reject the command that comes from God. The Vatican is talking about social justice. This is not a new concept. Social justice in providing a place for all to live should be understood as justice for all; not for some.”

So, who’s teaching this to the Palestinian Islamist?

Those of you who condemn the Vatican’s position are not looking through the “same lens” as the Vatican because the Vatican is thinking and seeing as God sees. This is not about politics, sharia law or anything else except the fact that every human being on the face of the earth (yes, every human being whether you like them or not) is a child of God. If we are to think as Christians then we know that God does not discriminate against anyone. The Vatican is reinforcing Christian belief. If you are not Christian then perhaps this is “alien thinking” to you. Christianity goes beyond the law of the Hebrew Scriptures and speaks to us and God always intended for us to hear it and understand it. We are all children of God; not just a select few, but all!

Mario

“...this is a call for peace and I do not understand that can’t comprehend how Catholics can rally against that.”

This Catholic doesn’t like caving in to evil, which was done by the UN giving recognition to these Islamist in this manner who continue to vow to destroy Israel.

@Stilbelieve - Evil can also be understood as not cooperating to give ALL PEOPLE an opportunity for a better life.There are plenty of good Christians who suffer in the Middle East. We need to remember that before we condemn the Vatican’s position.

Julie

“We are all children of God; not just a select few, but all!”

That is true, but not all “children of God” will be with Him in heaven; notice only the repentant sinner crucified next to Jesus was assured eternity with Him, not the one who “reviled” Him. (Lk 23: 39-43).  Furthermore, those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit are also “children of God” whose sin will not be forgiven. (Math 12: 31).

“.... as the Vatican because the Vatican is thinking and seeing as God
sees. “

Or so the Vatican would like to think.

@Kenny - Jesus gave us the Catholic Church. He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide it. As Catholics we believe that. So your comment that the Vatican WOULD LIKE TO THINK it is thinking and seeing as God sees is in error.

This is what is wrong with the American Catholic Church.  God is a big purple Barney and that is how it sees sin, ooops sin isn’t a noun or a verb It’s “just” a word.  Do you think that the Muslim denile of the divinity of Jesus is OK?  Guess your one of the Catholics in name only.  Read the condemnation of social justice by our 20 th century Popes.

Julie

“Evil can also be understood as not cooperating to give ALL PEOPLE an opportunity for a better life.”

Who are you talking about here that is “not cooperating?”
Who is the party that is “cooperating to give All PEOPLE an opportunity for a better life?”
Who are the “people” that do not have an “opportunity for a better life?”
What makes those peoples’ lives in need of “a better life?”
Define “better.”
And where is it talked about in the Gospel of being “evil” to not cooperate “to give all people” this “opportunity for a better life?”

Julie

“So your comment that the Vatican WOULD LIKE TO THINK it is thinking and seeing as God sees is in error.”

Was it the Holy Spirit that inspired the selling of indulgences?

Was it the Holy Spirit that told Pope John Paul II to change the millennium of years of teaching on capital punishment because modern, high tech prisons are able to keep the innocent public from any further harm by such capital offending criminals? This would apply to only economically advanced countries like the U.S., but poor countries could still execute capital offenders.  In either case, there has never been sin assigned to carrying out capital punishment in the U.S. and never will be.  So, what was the justification in JPII’s new teaching?

Individuals were responsible for the selling of indulgences by virtue of their free will. The Dignity of the Human Person is critical to Catholic decision making. Pope John Paul II did not change Church thinking, he expanded on it. If the accused can be securely housed, imprisonment is preferred. If the accused cannot be securly housed, execution is acceptable.

@Julie:  Jesus never said the church would be free from Satanic attack.  So long as man is on the earth, this is Satan’s domain.  Even the Pope and clergy are subject to error and evil.  Guidance by the Holy Spirit does not mean men do not make mistakes.  We in the pew are not immune from attack and neither are church leaders.

New flash to Julie:

The Vatican is not infallible. Nor is the Pope when he dabbles in secular political issues.

Check it out.

And your misunderstanding goes further when you say, “Jesus gave us the Catholic Church. He promised that the Holy Spirit would guide it.”

Guide it, yes, but not to the point of overriding the will of churchmen. If the churchman want to sin or to commit error, they are free to do so irrespective of the Holy Spirit guidance. And the history of the Vatican amply shows popes and the Vatican have indulged themselves in the freedom of free will.

@Kenny - You don’t much about Catholicism, yet you are quick to be on the offense. Any sin committed by any human being (that includes the Pope) is a personal sin. In the area of faith and morals the Pope is infallible. Scripture, Tradition and the teaching body speak for the Church. The Pope together with the Bishops in unison with him lead the Church. This is what makes Catholicism different than Protestanism. Getting involved in politics is the result of people getting involved in the relgious beliefs of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church cannot remain silent when faced with immoral or evil positions.

@Casting Crowns - This is not Satan’s domain; it’s God’s Kingdom on earth but that doesn’t stop Satan’s influence. The Catholic Church is infallible in the area of faith and morals and the Church has every right to make statements in what it believes. If anyone does not care to follow what the Church teaches they are free to do so. The Church doesn’t demand anyone follow. That being said it’s important to point out that Jesus established the Catholic Church. He wanted one church not thousands. He commanded St. Peter to lead it and that is why the Catholic Church has apostolic succession.

I am glad Rome has stopped being part of the Israeli lobby and decided to stand up for the rights of the Palestinians.  The age of Israeli power is over.  Even American Jews have given up the cause.  This is a new mideast where Isreal will no longer control the regions but the people will.

@Julie:  How much of the gospel do you actually know?  Jesus told Pilate “My kingdom is NOT of the this world.”  Since you bothered to mention Peter, he also disagrees with you.  The earth is not God’s kingdom to wit in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  That includes even Catholic leaders.  If God’s kingdom “on earth”—(your words) is without end then you have yet another disagreement with Jesus in Matthew 24: 25 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.  Since the earth will pass eventually, this is not God’s kingdom on earth.

Julie, Mike is a good example of what your beliefs lead to.  He doesn’t sound like he’s supportive of Israelis having a right to “a better life.”

@Stilbelieve - “Mike is a good example of what your beliefs lead to.” Mike is entitled to his own opinion but I would not assume they are mine nor did the Catholic Church make such a statement so please don’t make generalizations.

@Casting Crowns - God made heaven and earth. (Please read Genesis and the Creation Story of Adam and Eve). His Kingdom has been established here on earth and in heaven but if you are a proponent of dispensationalism then of course you don’t believe that there is a kingdom on earth. Jesus established a religion on earth - that is the Christian religion. Christianity is alive and breathing on the earth and Jesus will come again to earth. We look forward to the heavenly Kingdom where we will live with God forever. Jesus is also Truly Present in all the tabernacles of Catholic Churches so His Kingdom is indeed present on earth. Scripture and Magisterial Teaching assist me in understanding all of this.

@Julie:  It’s still a free country so you are entitled to believe anything you wish.  You’ve also made a number of interesting comments along the way.  One is that I support the idea of dispensationalism which I do not.  (I’m not sure you even know what dispensationalism is). (2), Jesus established no religion.  Religion is man-made.  Christianity is a relationship with Christ Jesus, it is not a religion.  (3), Jesus is present in all the tablernacles of every Catholic church.  Julie, you sound like an OT Jew who could only find God in the Holy of Holies at the Temple.  To the contrary, Christ (by His Holy Spirit) lives inside all believers thus one does not need to go and look for Him residing only in some tabernacle.  He abides with the believer 24x7.  (4), Magisterial teaching is not sacrosanct.

@Casting Crowns. Your comments are ridiculous. Christianity is a religion. Just look at all the churches around the world who worship as community? Would you like to tell them that Christianity is not a religion? Your interpretation of Sacred Scripture leaves something to be desired and you know nothing about Catholicism so please don’t mock the Catholic faith. There are 1 billion Catholics in the world so I think there are a lot more who agree with me than you. Let’s just agree that I will believe what I choose and you will believe as you choose.

@Julie:  Thank you.  My interpretation?  I am more concerned with YOUR interpretation.  So I am clear, then you do not agree the Holy Spirit resides within every believer?  You must really not be Catholic since the Catholic church doesn’t teach that.  He only resides in the tabernacle?  That’s OT Judiasm.  Perhaps your teachers have misled you or your own “interpretation” has your understanding at odds with the gospel.

Julie

You said in your comment on this article the following, “There is no ‘right side’. There is only the side of justice which can only be achieved when peoples of all faiths stop hating one another and sincerely strive to build peace and justice for all.” 

The only people “hating” in this story are the people calling themselves “Palestinians” who are also Islamist.  Israel is surrounded by people and countries who hate her and have tried over and over to destroy her.  Rewarding such behavior as the UN did recently is only going to make things worse for this story, and the leader of the Catholic Church being in support of that is a mistake in judgment that was unnecessary and very disappointing.

As for my remark about Mike, I wasn’t saying that you believe like he does; I was saying your belief in what the Pope did encourages people like Mike to continue the war against the Jewish people in Israel and continue the hating as his own words reveal. 

@Casting Crowns - The Catholic Church teaches the following: the Blessed Trinity resides in the soul of those who are not in a state of grave sin. Belief ALONE is insufficient. We must live our faith as Christians. God cannot dwell in a soul that is not in a state of grace and has committed grave sin. Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist Who resides in the Tabernacle. These are the beliefs of the Catholic Church and so they are mine as well. By the way, it was the Catholic Church that put together the New Testament writings and determined which Gospels were Divinely inspired. The Church existed before the New Testament writings were available to the masses. The Church did not come out of the Bible; the Bible came from the Church and that Church is the Catholic Church.

Whomever does not know the Holy Spirit resides within every believer really needs to read the New Testament letters, most especially, the 13 letters written by St. Paul and the letter to the Hebrews.  Each are gifts to the Church.  Each contain promises from God to us.  The holy Scriptures are the Word of God Himself to us.

@Terah James - Catholics believe in Scripture, Tradition and Magisterial Teaching. All three help form us in a correct conscience and understanding of our faith. The Holy Spirit cannot reside in the soul of a “believer” who is in a state of grave sin. Does this even make sense to you that God resides in the soul of someone who believes but sins in a grave manner? If we are believers then we live our life in a way that expresses that. St.Paul also said that neither fornicators or adulterers will inherit eternal life. This speaks to the necessity for conversion and not simply believing.

@Julie:  So people like Arafat, the PLO and Hamas are where (your words) “the Blessed Trinity” also reside because they are of goodwill?  The Pope is biblically off base with his endorsement of the UN vote.  BTW, every believer is a Temple of the Holy Spirit thus he/she is also a tabernacle.  Christ does not make His presence “real” only at Catholic Mass.

@Casting Crowns - “So people like Arafat, the PLO and Hamas are where (your words) “the Blessed Trinity” also reside because they are of goodwill?” When did I say this?  Are you Christian? Then you should know the Blessed Trinity resides in the souls of Christians.

“BTW, every believer is a Temple of the Holy Spirit thus he/she is also a tabernacle.  Christ does not make His presence “real” only at Catholic Mass.” Agree with a disclaimer - the Holy Spirit cannot reside in the soul of someone who is in a state of grave sin.

@Julie:  [” the Holy Spirit cannot reside in the soul of someone who is in a state of grave sin.”]  So, once the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, and then you sin a *grave* sin, (Such as King David), He then leaves you?

@Casting Crowns - I’m not into playing games.

@Julie:  Neither am I.  I have exposed a problem with your own words which you now find difficult to process and cannot explain.

@Casting Crowns - God cannot dwell in the soul of a person who has committed a serious sin.When we have sinned gravely we willingly separate ourselves from God. So for argument’s sake someone who committed adultery would need to go to confession. Your grave sin is absolved in confession by the priest (who sits in the person of Christ). Once you have been forgiven through the Sacrament of Confession the Trinity dwells in your soul. Confession is one of the Seven Sacraments instituted by Christ.

@Julie:  So you are saying the Holy Spirt (which you receive at the Sacrament of Confirmation) departs the person when he/she commits a serious sin.  The Holy Spirit will then will re-enter the person only after receiving (going to) the Sacrament of Confession.  Ok.  Thanks.  Now I understand.

@ Casting Crowns:
I think you would do well to read the writings of the earliest Christians. Justin Martyr, Ignatius etc. They didn’t believe that religion is man-made and I think they have a strong case due to proximity. The idea that religion is man-made is a very new idea that would have baffled the earliest Christians. Religion is any set of efforts made by man to know God better so your regular prayer & attendance to worship services “count” as a religion.

@cb:  That’s the difference.  Religion is, in fact, man-made and performance oriented.  Christianity is relational with Christ Jesus.  With Him, it’s personal.