Osama Bin Laden Is Dead

[Vouthon]

And I just want to flag up the episode from the Book of Exodus in which the Israelities, Moses and the prophetess Miriam all celebrate the drowning of Pharaoh’s Army with singing, tamborines and dancing? Is this passage of scripture not divinely inspired? Were Moses, Miriam and all of Israel acting wrongly?

We all know it is not right to rejoice in the death of the wicked, as the Prophet Ezekiel tells us. However unless we are willing to throw the Book of Exodus into the rubbish heap, it would appear that it is justifiable to rejoice in the immediate aftermath of an evil person’s death on the pretext that their “evil”, their deeds and ability to harm, are now extinct.

If not then explain this passage to me.

Also although I do not think it is right to rejoice at anybody’s death, even a very evil-minded person, remember that the passage from Ezekiel said that “GOD” does not rejoice in the death of the wicked. It did not say “MAN CANNOT REJOICE” at the death of the wicked. God is perfect, man is imperfect. So although it is not right to rejoice in the death of the wicked, I am quite sure that there is nothing in scripture that would condemn an ordinary, flawed, weak human person from rejoicing at the death of a wicked man. Not morally ideal but the flesh is weak and I am sure God would be merciful and sympathetic.

But rest be assured: I am NOT rejoicing at his death, I am terribly sad that this man has so wandered from the path of love that he has mercilessly taken away the lives of others, and I regret the punishments he will now be enduring. But I won’t be praying for him.

My prayers atm are with his victims, his wife, all the young men he has brainwashed into his cause and for whom there is still hope and Blessed Pope John Paul II.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

My question is:

How can a man who probably never even heard or read the story of Jesus Christ truly repent? Osama bin Laden thought that everything he had done was the right thing to do, he saw no wrong in his actions. And since he could not really make a choice to follow Jesus, not even really knowing who Jesus was, he could not have suddenly repented when faced with his impending death. I would venture to guess that his final prayer would have been to Allah, not Jesus Christ or even God.

So, since we know he did not repent, and could not have repented, are we still to be encouraged to pray for his soul? It’s different if a mass murderer acknowledges what he has done and tries to make amends for it. It’s another thing if he goes to his death never having found peace or asking God to forgive him.

I’m not saying OBL doesn’t deserve mercy - he does. But short of a true miracle, he went to his death fully believing that his own actions were right.

 

[Elizabeth502]

perhaps Bin Laden himself was one of the most sickly people spiritually speaking

Perhaps.

Calculated, deliberate mass murder of civilians, planned by one of his ‘disciples,’ and for which OBL later claimed credit for masterminding.

So I will certainly do my Christian duty and pray for his soul, and hope that he repented in his final moments.

I’m sure that’s perfectly fine. I will also do my Christian duty and pray today for the thousands of innocents who were crushed in the Twin Towers by those ‘inspired’ by this man.

and in the case of Bin Laden we simply do not know his fate,

This is true. We do not who is in Hell, although there have been Catholic visionaries who have assured us that the unrepentant who have committed horrendous crimes are indeed in Hell. I just personally am not interested in wasting any spiritual effort on him, when there are so many who need my prayers, though they have never murdered. Hmmm…

 

[Vouthon]

Perhaps.

Calculated, deliberate mass murder of civilians, planned by one of his ‘disciples,’ and for which OBL later claimed credit for masterminding.

I’m sure that’s perfectly fine. I will also do my Christian duty and pray today for the thousands of innocents who were crushed in the Twin Towers by those ‘inspired’ by this man.

This is true. We do not who is in Hell, although there have been Catholic visionaries who have assured us that the unrepentant who have committed horrendous crimes are indeed in Hell. I just personally am not interested in wasting any spiritual effort on him, when there are so many who need my prayers, though they have never murdered. Hmmm…

Amen!!! Never a truer post was made!

And please also remember his poor wife who was used as a human shield.

 

[JRRTFAN]

Yes, my heart sank when I heard about the burial at sea. With no body to be confirmed by outsiders, al-Qaeda loyalists (as well as run of the mill conspiracy theorists) are likely to say that he is still alive… no doubt schmoozing with Elvis and Tupac at their secret hideaway.

Trust me, they’ve got pictures that will eventually be leaked. Anybody who thinks they didn’t get him is wrong. And now, no shrine for the faithful to venerate, which is dandy with me.

 

[LutheranDK]

Ding dong, the witch is dead

 

[TobyLue]

The Islamic tradition that was upheld is that he was buried within twenty-four hours.

Just out of curiosity since Muslims want to uphold tradition, but what do they do with those Muslims that blow themselves up into a million pieces when they strap bombs to themselves and blow up buses, restaurants, etc.? What about those Muslims that flew the planes that kill thousands on 9/11?

 

[JHow]

…But given that an informed consensus has formed around the opinion that Bin Laden died long ago due to kidney failure, will the people of America hold their President to the highest standard in presenting evidence that the person killed was actually Osama Bin Laden, and that he actually died in the way described, or will this pronouncement go unquestioned like so many other deaths in the never ending war of terror?

There’s probably more than one Republican voter on the SEAL team. Time will tell if it didn’t go down the way it’s being reported.

 

[Gertabelle]

We are told time and again throughout scripture that we are not judge another man’s soul. While we can judge their actions as good or evil, the judgement of their soul is left to God alone.

To those who would so casually and confidently determine that we can be nearly certain that this man is in hell – please be more cautious with your own soul. To judge another’s soul is to call down judgement on oneself. And “who can stand before the Lord?”

I am delighted that Bin Laden has been stopped. And I do pray for his victims (those known to us, and those who will never be known). And I do pray for all the souls in purgatory – with no need to know their names or lists of sins and atrocities.

Gertie

 

[Catholicpotato]

My question is:

How can a man who probably never even heard or read the story of Jesus Christ truly repent? Osama bin Laden thought that everything he had done was the right thing to do, he saw no wrong in his actions. And since he could not really make a choice to follow Jesus, not even really knowing who Jesus was, he could not have suddenly repented when faced with his impending death. I would venture to guess that his final prayer would have been to Allah, not Jesus Christ or even God.

So, since we know he did not repent, and could not have repented, are we still to be encouraged to pray for his soul? It’s different if a mass murderer acknowledges what he has done and tries to make amends for it. It’s another thing if he goes to his death never having found peace or asking God to forgive him.

I’m not saying OBL doesn’t deserve mercy - he does. But short of a true miracle, he went to his death fully believing that his own actions were right.

How can you claim that a man who declared war on the followers of Christ didn’t know about Christianity? Weird. UBL was VERY educated. You should study his life and family.

invincibly ignorant? I think not
invincibly evil. Yup.

Even if you could make some kind of case for that. He violated the law that is written on our hearts. Saul is in heaven as Paul. UBL is still called UBL the last I heard.

 

[TobyLue]

Has any Catholic on this forum prayed for his soul? If not why?

I have on many occasions. Just as I continue to pray for the conversions to Jesus’ Church of all Muslims, all unbelievers, all of our Christian brothers and sisters.

 

[Catholicpotato]

We are told time and again throughout scripture that we are not judge another man’s soul. While we can judge their actions as good or evil, the judgement of their soul is left to God alone.

To those who would so casually and confidently determine that we can be nearly certain that this man is in hell – please be more cautious with your own soul. To judge another’s soul is to call down judgement on oneself. And “who can stand before the Lord?”

I am delighted that Bin Laden has been stopped. And I do pray for his victims (those known to us, and those who will never be known). And I do pray for all the souls in purgatory – with no need to know their names or lists of sins and atrocities.

Gertie

are you saying that if I think or even hope that UBL is in hell and am comforted by that that I may be sinning and go to hell? Kinda funny when you think of it.
I’ll take my chances that out of all my sins this one is not going to be the one that condemns me for an eternity.

I think you should stop judging those who judge…

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

As stated before…his fate is in God’s most capable hands. As for me…the world is just a bit safer and better today. Good work all involved.

John

Yep,

 

[BlsdBGd]

The point is, Gd is the Author of Life and is the ONLY ONE who has the right to take it back. Gd gave us His commandments and He defined love as obeying His commandments. Jesus said that those who live by the sword will die by the sword and we are not to return evil for evil. How much money, time and lives has the USA wasted searching for one man? But in your own backyard, many turn a blind eye to the number of innocent unborn being murdered. How many Americans have been killed by Americans in your own nation? Should America expect that Gd will remain silent about that? As for UBL, America should worry about the homegrown UBL’s.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

I do want to note that there are credible, searchable news reports as far back as 2001 from the major news agencies that had Osama bin Laden dying of kidney failure. Don’t know what it means, just saying…

 

[LilyM]

How can you claim that a man who declared war on the followers of Christ didn’t know about Christianity? Weird. UBL was VERY educated. You should study his life and family.

invincibly ignorant? I think not
invincibly evil. Yup.

Even if you could make some kind of case for that. He violated the law that is written on our hearts. Saul is in heaven as Paul. UBL is still called UBL the last I heard.

Plenty of very educated people claim to hate, and in fact do hate, various racial/religious/social groups without understanding or really knowing that which they hate. In fact most often people hate BECAUSE they don’t understand or properly know that which they hate.

 

[Catholicpotato]

The point is, Gd is the Author of Life and is the ONLY ONE who has the right to take it back.Are you condemning the soldier that took the shot? Gd gave us His commandments and He defined love as obeying His commandments.Lets see how did UBL do on the ole comandment list? Jesus said that those who live by the sword will die by the swordyup, nad ubl did didn’t he? and we are not to return evil for evil. No evil was returned. Just justice. How much money, time and lives has the USA wasted searching for one man?Tons! But in your own backyard, many turn a blind eye to the number of innocent unborn being murdered.I agree, so does everybody here. How many Americans have been killed by Americans in your own nation?what is your point? Should America expect that Gd will remain silent about that?We pray that justice takes whatever form God deems. As for UBL, America should worry about the homegrown UBL’sYup, they are in our sights too!.

It must be nice to be free and live in a country that has the luxury of not having the heavy task of protecting, what without all the nasty territory that being a superpower and protector of freedom. Go ahead, level your accusing stare, post on a Catholic site anything you want about this subject, fear no retribution from the Church or the US! tell us how wrong we are, then bask in the fearless glow of your freedom.

You’re welcome!

 

[PatrickSebast]

Aircraft carriers have well-equipped hospitals and plenty of room to bring whatever equipment and personel they need on board. As for timing, I don’t know how long it takes to do DNA testing, but 12 hours sounds like plenty of time. I think that most labs that are doing this in a commercial setting are spending more time checking your insurance and filling out forms than they are running the tests.

Also most labs have far more than one sample to run.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I do want to note that there are credible, searchable news reports as far back as 2001 from the major news agencies that had Osama bin Laden dying of kidney failure. Don’t know what it means, just saying…

He was on dialysis. So yes, there were reports he was dying. He was actually supposed to have been dead some time ago. As far back as 2002. The lack of a body now iwll only cause te consoiracy theorists to come out like mad. So, yes, I know what you are talking about.

 

[kaid100]

It said on the news that he was identified as Bin Laden by his wife. I didn’t hear any mention of DNA.