U.S. Cardinal Accuses Bush of Moral Failure in Iraq

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5180232

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A senior American cardinal in the Vatican has accused the U.S. administration of "moral failure" and deception in Iraq and warned the war had severely compromised future relations with the Arab world.
In an interview due to be published in the June edition of "Inside the Vatican" magazine, Cardinal James Francis Stafford also said the abuse of Iraqi prisoners was the work of "barbarians." An advance copy was made available to Reuters.

Stafford, the former archbishop of Denver who has been working in the Vatican since 1996, said the reasons for starting the war in Iraq were a "moral failure" because there had been no conclusive proof of weapons of mass destruction.

"Why did the president, the vice-president and the secretary of defense say there was an immediate danger to the peace of American society by the proximate use of weapons that would come from Iraq, either directly or through al Qaeda?" he said.

"Why did they say that when they didn't have direct evidence?" Stafford said.

Stafford, who is close to Pope John Paul, said he feared the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by the U.S. military would have long-term consequences on relations with Arabs and Muslims.

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a Christian acting like one. Let's hope there are more that will come out like this. Good on him! :bounce:

For that comment. Sometimes I despair of Christians who actually believe in "love thy neighbor as thyself" and all that "unpatriotic" "Peace" stuff speaking out.

Catholic boys school.

said so.

War in Iraq is not the only moral failure in Washington. Encouraging Hatred and Exclusivity is furthur straining our relationships and standing in the world. Of course, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and the gang do not want to have good relationships with the world community. They intend to dominate it.

How can the media let so many things be whitewashed, glossed over, ignored and just plain lied about?

This gives me faith in my religion. I think this is the first criticism that the Catholic faith has had with Shrub!

It does not fit the just war theory developed by St Thomas Aquinas

should not take communion?

Does a cardinal trump a bishop?

And that includes Kerry, though I still will vote forhim, whether or not he gets to take communion.

Maybe we should take out an ad informing them?

;)

disagreed with him about the war. Shows how much he really cares. According to * the Vatican lacks moral clarity

But no priest, bishop or Cardinal can ex-communicate someone without Catholic Church "due process." There is some type of court style medieval procedure which takes years before someone can be denied communion. So, it galls me when these other wacky Bishops suggest they will withold communion. I'm glad this article is out there. FINALLY!!! O8)

Saying it's a "moral failure" is one thing but are they going to start denying communion to * voters? Somehow I doubt it.

the american voters won't Listen to the church... unLess it's about kerry. :eyes:

Didn't Bush say that a couple of days ago?

And I'm sorry, but they DID NOT approve your question.

Bush has a moral authority that stems from himself. Whatever he *believes* is moral - IS.

Webster Definition of Moral:

Main Entry: 1mor·al
Pronunciation: 'mor-&l, 'mär-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin moralis, from mor-, mos custom
1 a : of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ETHICAL (moral judgments) b : expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior (a moral poem) c : conforming to a standard of right behavior d : sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment (a moral obligation) e : capable of right and wrong action (a moral agent)
2 : probable though not proved : VIRTUAL <a moral certainty>
3 : having the effects of such on the mind, confidence, or will (a moral victory) (moral support)

Webster Definition of Authority:

Main Entry: au·thor·i·ty
Pronunciation: &-'thär-&-tE, o-, -'thor-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Etymology: Middle English auctorite, from Old French auctorité, from Latin auctoritat-, auctoritas opinion, decision, power, from auctor
1 a (1) : a citation (as from a book or file) used in defense or support (2) : the source from which the citation is drawn b (1) : a conclusive statement or set of statements (as an official decision of a court) (2) : a decision taken as a precedent (3) : TESTIMONY c : an individual cited or appealed to as an expert
2 a : power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior b : freedom granted by one in authority : RIGHT
3 a : persons in command; specifically : GOVERNMENT b : a governmental agency or corporation to administer a revenue-producing public enterprise (the transit authority)
4 a : GROUNDS, WARRANT (had excellent authority for believing the claim) b : convincing force (lent authority to the performance)


Bush is in power and he *thinks* he is right, obviously giving him "moral authority".

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

It's focusing on that rather than on abortion, stem cells, or gay marriage?

Something must have really shocked them. I know: the prisoners being abused weren't altar boys.

IMHO

I didn't think we had to be politically correct here on DU.

?

I think its fine. Cutting remarks are meant to draw blood. Hence the name.

I'm sorry that offends you but it is history.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. But we do REMEMBER it.

I recently read that the Pope and/or some close to him are wondering if Bush* is the anti-christ! Maybe the Pope is infallible...

LOL.

"Cardinal James Francis Stafford also said the abuse of Iraqi prisoners was the work of "barbarians."


Yes, and those same barbarians are on our payroll..

Impeach the barbarians!

Or are we a nation of Wimps?

Radio Canada/CBC on Sunday and they were reading letters in response to the previous week's guest, a Catholic bigwig.

Many of the writers were scathing about the "bully" nature of all religious bigwigs butting into politics, but special criticism was leveled at the Church harping on Kerry being a "bad Catholic." The writers were wondering...and so have I....why they didn't level some judgment against Bush and his lies, needless war, and suffering of innocents at his hands..

Is this the former bishop of that Colorado diocese? Even so, it seems to be sending a "message" to other bishops joining on the political Right bandwagon of "special moral election issues". It is rather a blunt maneuver, not the kind of direct action I'd like to see the Vatican use
about now.

What this is saying is that the most flagrant moral abuse has to be tackled on its merits and not sidle the Church hypocritically into issues that would defeat candidates who would restore morality to foreign policy(at least).

This was no accident either in message or choice of spokesman. Besides the Pope's fervent idealism against the war this is also SOP for the Vatican to squelch American bishops who stray away with independent authority into typically American arrogance. No they were NOT fooled by Sheridan couching his shilling in selected Church stands.

At least someone up there does not have to read my posts to get the right idea.

:kick: