Cindy Sheehan’s vigil mobilizes Catholics against the war in Iraq

http://press.arrivenet.com/pol/article.php/684570.html

Sheehan’s faith has once again focused the spotlight on the role that religion plays in the public sphere, particularly in regard to the war in Iraq. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI both strongly criticized the U.S.-led war. Before his death in Ap

Distribution Source : ArriveNet

Date : Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Washington D.C. -- (ArriveNet - Aug 23, 2005) -- The ongoing protest of Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a U.S. Marine killed in Iraq, epitomizes more than three years of sustained criticism from the Catholic Church regarding the war in Iraq. Sheehan’s two-week vigil outside of President Bush’s vacation ranch in Crawford, Texas has mobilized millions of people of faith in the U.S. who question the practicality of the continued U.S. presence in Iraq, and wonder about the lack of any clear exit strategy offered by the Bush Administration.

Sheehan, a Catholic who served as a youth minister for her church, lost her son Casey, a former altar boy, on April 14, 2004 in Sadr City, Iraq. She has asked the president for another meeting with her and other family members who have lost loved ones in Iraq, but has so far been denied a second meeting.

“As national Catholic organizations, we applaud the efforts of Cindy Sheehan and the many others who have lost loved ones in Iraq, in calling for an end to this war. We urge President Bush to meet with Cindy Sheehan.” The Vatican and many others within the Catholic Church have expressed sustained and strong criticism of the war in Iraq,” stated Dave Robinson, executive director of Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic human rights organization.

Sheehan’s faith has once again focused the spotlight on the role that religion plays in the public sphere, particularly in regard to the war in Iraq. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI both strongly criticized the U.S.-led war. Before his death in April 2005, Pope John Paul II repeated his condemnation of the Iraq war, which he called “a defeat for humanity,” and challenged the “arrogant” use of power by the Bush administration, saying that the Iraq war has led to incalculable material damage, and fomented hatred and tension in the region. “The arrogance of power must be countered with reason, force with dialogue, pointed weapons with outstretched hands, evil with good,” he said.

Pope Benedict XVI has stated that “the concept of ‘preventive war’ does not appear in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

This is good news to hear. :thumbsup: