A few weeks ago Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, made a visit to the United States. While in NYC, the Pope addressed the United Nations General Assembly. He spoke in French and English in a half hour speech about human rights, social justice and globilization. Remember religious leaders are often political leaders as well. In the upcoming weeks we will be dicussing Pope John Paul II and his role in Cold War politics and the Dalai Lama and his role in the politics of China. The following is an excerpt from Benedict’s speech:
It is inconceivable, then, that believers should have to suppress a part of themselves – their faith – in order to be active citizens. It should never be necessary to deny God in order to enjoy one’s rights. The rights associated with religion are all the more in need of protection if they are considered to clash with a prevailing secular ideology or with majority religious positions of an exclusive nature. The full guarantee of religious liberty cannot be limited to the free exercise of worship, but has to give due consideration to the public dimension of religion, and hence to the possibility of believers playing their part in building the social order.
You can read the speech in it’s entirety by clicking on this link. Some parts of the address may help you with your essay on your definition of a just war. What is the Pope’s message to the nations of the world?
20 responses so far ↓
1
Vanessa M.
// May 1, 2008 at 9:08 am
The pope’s message to the world is that people should be able to be fully commited to their religion and still have equal political rights s as those who are not religious.
2
Scott
// May 1, 2008 at 9:17 am
The Catholic church is flawed in their beliefs and rules.
3
Danielle M.
// May 1, 2008 at 9:20 am
The Pope’s message to the nations of the world is that you should not have to hide your religion to be an active citizen. You should be able to have the same rights as anyone with the religion you please.
4
Pat curran
// May 1, 2008 at 1:05 pm
The popes message to the world is that a political leader who believes strongly in his or her religion should have just as much power as someone who isnt.
5
Becca
// May 1, 2008 at 1:11 pm
i agree with Sarah. The Pope’s message somewhat states how he feels no one should deny god and that no one should surpress their religion to belong in a community.
6
dolanpresidentjacobs
// May 1, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I think it shouldn’t be a national headline when the pope makes a speech because when a famous rabbi makes a speech we don’t hear about it.
7
Annie Moretto
// May 1, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I heard that the Pope was a Nazi Youth. Is that true?
Not to say that that has anything to do with this particular speech, but I do think that most Catholics (not to generalize) are more close-minded than necessary. But they, just as everyone else, should be allowed to practice as they please, so long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else. Same goes for Jews when they need to take off time from work, and Muslims as they need to pray five times a day.
And BTW, Dolan, there is a difference between a Pope and a Rabbi. the Pop is like the President of the Chruch. Rabbis are like priests, and nobody hears from priests on a daily basis.
Seriously, name a “famous” rabbi. Any rabbi. I dare you.
8
Jessica Balzano
// May 1, 2008 at 1:29 pm
For once, I agree with Dolan. I don’t believe it is right if the pope makes a speech it should not be made a national headline.
9
Kevin w
// May 1, 2008 at 1:53 pm
The Catholic Church needs to shut up and stay out of the World affairs. They must stick to religion and expanding it. Catholic priest have recently been charged as online predators and they are sexually harming teens. They are rapidly destroying their reputation
10
Dylan Colarusso
// May 1, 2008 at 2:02 pm
i agree with dolan on this one
11
Andrew Hunt
// May 2, 2008 at 9:16 am
I do not agree with Dolan on this one because the Pope is a very influential figure. Popes over the centuries have had the power of emporers; they can call for a war, they can call for peace, they can do basically anything. In WW2 Pope Leo (I’m not sure if it was Leo or not. Correct me if I’m wrong.) demanded that the armies not touch Rome and they didn’t. Even Hitler altered his plans for the Pope. Granted that Hitler was a rascist fascist pig and a raging anti-semetic, a rabbi would have never had that kind of power.
12
Andrew Hunt
// May 2, 2008 at 9:18 am
and yes Scott the church is flawed.
Tell me again why we have to give money to get blessed?
13
Taylor Aiello
// May 2, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Although there are serious problems with the Christian faith, I don’t ever remember having to pay to get blessed Andrew. I think that was in the middle ages through the 1700s.
14
Andrew Hunt
// May 7, 2008 at 10:06 am
Taylor I was referencing to how the priest buys his food and supplies with the money we donate at church. You literally don’t have to pay, but figuratively you do.
And I don’t like how a normal man like you and I can tell us if we are going to heavan or hell. How does he know? Has he been there? No. So, why is this man using guilt trips on us to give money. I think Jesus would disagree completely with what has become of his following.
15
anniemyrick
// May 19, 2008 at 2:53 pm
The Pope’s message is that people should be able to be commited to their religion and still have full rights and be anactive citizen as everyone else.
16
sam barrows
// May 19, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I personaly don’t believe in the Christian faith but what the Pope was trying to say was that people who follow religion should have the same rights as people who don’t follow a religion.
17
Scott S
// May 24, 2008 at 6:03 pm
A couple things. First off, Catholicism is not Christianity, it’s a branch of Christianity, Christianity is believing in God as the only and true God and that Jesus died for your sins. Catholicism is NOT all religion, if it was then you would have insulted a lot of people by saying so. Catholicism is a large religion, but quite flawed. It’s more of a government than an actual religion, theres Cardinals, then priest, then the Vatican, and the Pope. Each one has more power than the person below it, and all of them have more religious “power” than you. The Catholic church has many flaws, like priests who are online predators, take money and buy items, and that the Pope is on the front page almost 2-4 times a month. Why aren’t there any Rabbis or Pastors on the headlines, some of them also do great deeds.
18
Marc
// May 27, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I think that the catholic church definately has some flaws. But Scott, I’m not catholic so I don’t really know but isn’t catholicism all religion? I mean if someone says that they’re catholic they’re not talking about anything thats not about their religion, right?
19
Andrew Hunt
// May 28, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Abrahamism is moslty all religion but not all
Muslims Catholics and Jews all believe in Abraham
the rest is a bunch of petty differences that although should be overcame are not due to ignorance
I don’t understand it really its quite a pathetic ordeal
20
Scott S
// May 28, 2008 at 9:32 pm
No, Catholicism is a branch of Christianity. There are many other branches, i’ve had it all explained to me. The other major branches are Orthodox, Protestant, and Anglican, which is halfway between Catholic and Protestant. Then to further complicate things there are different branches of each of those four branches of Christianity. And it’s hardly pathetic Andrew, complicated and confusing, yes, but not pathetic. And the differences are there not because Christians are ignorant and can’t change all of the major and minor branches of their religion into one solitary branch, but because they choose not to. Those “petty differences” are there because people are different and unique and believe different and unique things. And to finish your question mark, no, there are other religions besides Christianity, such as Confuciansim, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Juche, Spiritism, Shinto, Judaism, and Atheism( which is not being religious).
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