pope: all faiths should unite against violence

[Miss Molly]

There is definitely an effort to unite all religions isn't there? Note the reference also to the "green pope". I guess if the violence angle doesn't work they'll back it up with the "save the earth" angle. :tsk

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQWrOpONrX_Zx5OMn4NLysrBsDWgD9208CQ80

[Abigail]

The version of this article that was on Charter Communications start page seems to be a bit different, although it cites the Associated Press as the source...

Pope: All faiths must unite against violence

Friday, July 18, 2008 12:33 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By ROHAN SULLIVAN Associated Press Writer

SYDNEY, Australia — Pope Benedict XVI told representatives of Islam and other faiths that they must unite to combat religion's role in "sinister and indiscriminate" violence.
Without mentioning terrorism directly, the pontiff said there were those in who were using religion "as a cause of division rather than a force for unity" in a 40-minute exchange with Australian Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist leaders in Sydney.
"In a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate forms of violence, the unified voice of religious people urges nations and communities to resolve conflicts through peaceful means and with full regard for human dignity," Benedict told the leaders, gathered in the gothic surrounds of Australia's largest Roman Catholic cathedral as part of the church's global youth festival.
Harmony between religion and public life is especially important in these days, he said.
The remarks come as the Vatican tries to cool lingering anger among Muslims over a speech Benedict gave in 2006 that appeared to associate Islam with violence. Benedict quickly apologized for the link.
In reply, the delegates from the other creeds welcomed the pope's inclusionary stance, though Sheikh Mohamadu Saleem of the National Imams Council of Australia noted discrimination between faiths was still a problem.
Muslims should be more understanding of other religions, he said, adding: "At the same time, a significant amount of the Christian groups and other religions must overcome their prejudice to Muslims and Islam."
The meeting was one element of a busy Friday schedule for the 81-year-old pontiff at World Youth Day, which organizers say has attracted more than 200,000 young Catholics to Australia's largest city. Two days into his four-day official program, the pope looked fit and energetic.
Benedict, who last week said his church was in "crisis" in the West because of many had lost faith in God, held a separate meeting with deputies of Christian denominations.
He urged them to cooperate against secularism and apathy — saying those shared problems were greater than any differences among them.
"I think you would agree that the ecumenical movement has reached a critical juncture," he told the Christian representatives. "We must guard against any temptation to view doctrine as divisive and hence an impediment to the seemingly more pressing and immediate task of improving the world in which we live."
The pope blessed the opening scene of a live reenactment of the stations of the cross — the Bible's depiction of Christ's last days — that was played out through Sydney, with some of the city's most recognizable landmarks in the backdrop.
Pilgrims lined the streets to watch the recreation, which stretched over three hours and included often stark scenes of brutality toward Jesus, including his being nailed to a cross. As night fell on a clear but cold midwinter day, many watching clutched each other and wept openly. Organizers estimated the live television audience for one of the festival's most dramatic events topped 500 million.
Benedict met later with a group of disadvantaged youth at a Catholic university campus, where he decried "the cult of material possessions."
"Our materialistic society," he said, too often sought happiness "by acquiring as many possessions and luxuries as we can."
On Saturday, the pope will spend part of the day with bishops and other Catholic officials, and has signaled he may make express regret about past sexual abuse by Australian clergy as he did during his trip to the United States earlier this year.
Later, he will for a couple of hours join a mass of pilgrims camping out at a horse racetrack in Sydney — the only open space so close to town that could accommodate the size of the crowd — at an overnight vigil. He will return there by helicopter Sunday to hold Mass, the culmination of the festival.
A small group of protesters, who have criticized the church's handling of the abuse scandal that has dogged it in recent years, gathered Friday near St. Mary's Cathedral, where the pontiff is staying. The waved placards reading "Hands off our kids" and "Clergy sexual abuse turns Christianity upside down." The demonstration ended without incident.
This statement by the head of the RCC decrying materialism is IMHO simply mindblowing, when one considers the great wealth of the RCC. This is only one of a number of reasons why I am an ex-Catholic.

Another statement that was not included in the link in the OP was as follows:

Benedict, who last week said his church was in "crisis" in the West because of many had lost faith in God, held a separate meeting with deputies of Christian denominations.
He urged them to cooperate against secularism and apathy — saying those shared problems were greater than any differences among them.


Seems to me that the Pope might consider hypocrisy of their church leaders as a greater reason why so many are "losing faith," rather than the reasons he listed...but that's just my two cents...

I also thought it strange that the same article was quoted differently on two separate sites...:idunno An example of the media manipulating public opinion, perhaps?

[Miss Molly]

I have no idea why there are two versions of the same article. Maybe it was a matter of formatting or something?

You echo my sentiments with regard to the hypocrisy of the RCC. Sadly, there are millions of people who do not see this. I think they reason theirs MUST be the one true church since God has so generously blessed it. They see wealth in a physical sense and miss how poor that church is spiritually. :doh