April 20, 2008

Pope Wows U.N. With Intervention Right

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A six-day whirlwind tour of the United States of America by Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI mended fences, gathered in the flock and wowed the United Nations General Assembly with stout support of a concept known as “Responsibility To Protect.”

The concept of benign intervention was conceived by the U.N. to encourage massive aid to Africans displaced by civil wars in places like Darfur.

Benedict’s approval can be applied just as easily to U.S. support against terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Israel.

“Every state has the primary duty to protect its own population from grave and sustained violations of human rights,” he said.

“If states are unable to guarantee such protection, the international community must intervene with the judicial means provided in the United Nations charter and other international instruments.”

He cautioned, however:

“Intervention should never be interpreted as an unwarranted imposition -- or a limitation of sovereignty.

“On the contrary, it is indifference -- or failure to intervene -- that does the real damage.”

Both Shoulders

It appears that the Pope was carrying water on both shoulders. He stressed peaceful solutions to international conflicts, but recognized that intervention sometimes is provoked.

Thus, U.S. declaration of war against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan would seem to have been justified.

However, interventions by Iran, Syria and Hamas in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel are likewise justified.

Benedict averred, “A vision of life -- firmly anchored in the religious dimension -- can help achieve peaceful solutions since recognition of the transcendent value of every man and woman favors conversion of heart, which then leads to a commitment to resist violence, terrorism, war and to promote justice and peace.”

Outreach To Jews

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Benedict’s speech to the U.N. was the fourth by a Roman Catholic pope. Paul VI spoke in 1965, and John Paul II in 1979 and 1995.

After the U.N. speech, Benedict visited the Park East Synagogue founded by Austro-Hungarian Jews in 1890. It was the first papal visit to a synagogue in the United States.

The meeting there with prominent Jewish citizens was particularly symbolic. Pope Benedict XVI is of German birth, born 1927 Joseph Ratzinger, son of a policeman. At age 14 he joined the Hitler Jugend military youth movement as required of all boys at that time.

His studies at Traunstein Seminary were interrupted during World War II when he was drafted into an anti-aircraft unit in Munich. He deserted the German army towards the end of the war and was briefly held as a prisoner of war by the Allies in 1945.

His supporters say his experiences under the German Nazi regime convinced him that the Church had to stand up for truth and freedom.

Sexual Abuse Scandal

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Pope Benedict has been forthright in addressing the sexual-abuse scandals of Catholic priests in recent years.

He broached the issue with journalists during the flight from Rome. On Thursday, he met for a half-hour with several victims of abuse by priests in the Boston area. It is reported that several in attendance wept.

Benedict touched on the matter Thursday during an open Mass at the Washington Nationals Stadium before 50,000 people.

“No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse,” said the Pope. “It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention.”

Despite Benedict’s outreach, many Roman Catholics are dismayed. In a meeting with 200 Catholic educators struggling with money problems, he said, "Church teachings must shape all aspects of an institution’s life – both inside and outside the classroom."

Islam Encounter

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The Pope also undertook to assuage Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu religious leaders whom he had angered on a trip to Germany with remarks that appeared to denigrate Islam.

He asserted that all religions should have a common goal of working for peace and protecting religious freedom for religious minorities subjected to discrimination and prejudice.

Benedict appears to have an up-hill battle with the reconciliation tasks fronting him.

We are reminded of King Sisyphus of Greek mythology who presumed to be all-wise. He was sentenced by the Gods to roll a huge boulder up a high hill – only to have the boulder slip from his grasp when nearing the top and having to start over again endlessly.

Search For Faith And Reason

Nonetheless, Pope Benedict is trying valiantly to complete the restructuring task begun by his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.

See “Sex Scandals Threaten Mandatory Celibacy For Priests” (clk here) -- and "Is Benedict XVI The Next-to-last Pope?" (clk here.)

Religion and politics – together -- are a disaster waiting to happen. This is why the First Amendment to the United States Constitution specifies:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

The world hopes fervently that Pope Benedict XVI -- and co-religionists of all faiths --can find common ground. A Third World War is too horrendous to contemplate.

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist