Vatican Spokesman Praises Cairo Speech

Thanks for this blog post John. It is good to know that the Vatican isn't taking orders from the Republican party, unlike many Catholics here. Most of the world still wants and cares about world peace.

Steve

Thank god for this!
(from the speech):
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Now, let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible.

(APPLAUSE)

Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said, I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power and teach us that the less we use our power, the greater it will be. Today America has a dual responsibility to help Iraq forge a better future and to leave Iraq to Iraqis.

I have made it clear to the Iraqi people...

(APPLAUSE)

I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no basis and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. And that's why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012.

(APPLAUSE)

We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner and never as a patron.

And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable. But in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals.

We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States. And I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.

God bless America, dudes!
Read this now, from the speech:
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It's easier to start wars than to end them. It's easier to blame others than to look inward. It's easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is one rule that lies at the heart of every religion, that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

Amen, amen.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. John, thank you for your continued excellent reporting around the world. My students (some of whom are Catholic) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo follow your blog and your stories.

Thank you, again. Pax tecum.

Thank God for the intelligent and wise leadership of our President, reminding us of our nation's ideals and calling on all of us to seek coomon ground in discussing and resolving our differences.

I feel so blessed that our country has elected this brilliant, intelligent man who is a real Peacemaker. Shame on some Catholics in this country who constantly condemn him. It took a non-Catholic to teach some Catholics in this country what it really means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ!!

Even though I think he is a good man, I do not think President Obama is a true follower of Christ. It takes much more than saying the right thing. It takes living the gospel and that includes the defense of life from conception to death, and that is something he has not been willing to do. Again, I do believe that he has good intentions and that he is committed to peace, which is good, but to say that this makes him a "true follower of Christ" is streching it.

Obama for Presiding Bishop of the US hierarchy!

He could have a field-day slapping around some of the bozos that are currently in power for no reason other than knowing when to say the right things to the right people.