The United Nations brings together the countries of the world for mutual understanding and dialogue and the promotion of peace and human rights. The presence the Holy See at this international organization rests on the simple fact that it too is a sovereign state, although its role differs From that of other nations. With no political, military, or economic agenda, the Holy See, by its own choice, enjoys the status of Permanent Observer rather than that of full member and maintains absolute neutrality. Primarily, this means that the Church’s delegation participates in discussions but refrains from voting on propositions. In its interventions, the Holy See offers the international body the moral and spiritual principles that should animate the life of nations and foster their relations. Archbishop Celestino Migliore has carried out this vital task of the Church since his appointment as Permanent Observer by Pope John Paul II in 2002.  -Christ Our Hope, Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Journey to the United States and visit to the United Nations

"Every President since JFK has met the Pope." -History Channel Aired 12-31-11 Secret Access, The Vatican

"[The] feared fighting machine in Christendom-besides their military prowess they also possessed immense wealth and political power, becoming bankers and credit brokers to Medieval Europe and the allies of kings and popes. -The Templars by Edward Burman

(Some Presidents even are bowed at the Pope's feet which surely not Christian activity!)

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 “And since our religion is not merely about individuals reaching up to God but rather of a nation bringing God down to Earth, the sanctuary must be made by the whole nation, va’asu.” -Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, The International Jerusalem Post, Feb. 1-7, 2008

Back to tyranny and totalitarianism

Vatican ambassador attends Holocaust memorial

By Aron Keller
The Associated Press  May 07
     JERUSALEM — The Vatican’s ambassador to Israel attended a Holocaust memorial service Sunday, reversing an earlier decision to boycott the event that threatened to upset fragile ties between Israel and the Holy See.
     Monsignor Antonio Franco said last week he would skip the ceremony at Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial marking the beginning of Israel’s annual Holocaust Remembrance Day because Catholics were offended by a caption at the museum describing the wartime conduct of Pope Pius XII.
     The caption next to the picture of Pius reads, Even when reports about the murder of Jews reached the Vatican, the pope did not protest,” refusing to sign a 1942 Allied condemnation of the massacre of Jews.
     Pius “maintained his neutral position” with two exceptions — appeals he made to the rulers of Hungary and Slovakia toward the end of the War, the caption says. It also criticizes “his silence and absence of guidelines." Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic relations in 1993 following hundreds of years of painful relations between Catholics and Jews. Many issues are unresolved, including the Vatican’s actions during the Nazi genocide of Jews. The Vatican has struggled to defend its wartime pope.

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     "Society today is deeply influenced by what is known as Judeo-Christian ethics, which is essentially based on Torah principles. It was this unique book of instructions that introduced such fundamental concepts as, 'love thy neighbor' and 'do not hate your brother in your heart.' In ancient society there was no such thing as a desire for peace, the nations simply vied for power through military might. The Torah spread the concept of peace to the world to such an extent that The United Nations motto is a verse from Isaiah, calling for a society where people lay down their weapons and sworn enemies become friends." - Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen, writer and educator in Jerusalem.  www.Torah.org 

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     “We are trapped inside a conceptual tunnel, where we walk up and down without ever getting anywhere. We are being held captive by ideals that have no relevance to the situation we find ourselves in. 

     International laws and treaties are designed to regulate relations between different countries.  It has never been the intention of any regulator to grant terrorist organizations immunity. 

     A driver who transported a terrorist to the scene of his act of terrorism has been convicted of being an accessory to murder and has been sentenced to ten years in an Israeli jail. 

     People who voted overwhelming in democratic elections for a leadership whose declared aims and actions include murdering Jews and destroying the State of Israel should not be considered an innocent party, but rather an accessory to murder; and that is how they should be treated.

There is no denying that within this group of people there are those who hold different opinions, but the suffering they would face would be a direct result of the actions taken by their leadership.

     The same thing happened to millions of Germans who were killed because of Hitler (without even counting the victims of the Holocaust). Millions of Russians suffered a similar fate when they were slaughtered by Stalin, and millions of Chinese were murdered by Mao Tse-Tung, while Cambodians lost their lives at the hands of Pol Pot. These examples are but a few. Leaders tend to bring calamity upon their people. It’s always been like that throughout history, and modern day Gaza is another example. One can only assume that the residents of Gaza will continue to suffer until there comes a day when a new leadership comes to power, with an agenda that includes peace and progress for its citizens.  … I have never been, nor will I ever be a member of any political party.  I have never had anything to do with politics, and never intend to!” -Holocaust survivor, Alex Hurwitz; Jerusalem Post February 22, 2008