R
romano
Guest
The following passage, apparently censored in a BBC news broadcast to
the States, will repay CAREFUL reading. Once discover the real source
of the lies and you will have discovered the source of the world’s
troubles:
"I wish to reiterate the steadfast resolve of the Holy See to continue
serving the cause of peace. The very name Benedict, which I chose on
the day of my election to the Chair of Peter, is a sign of my personal
commitment to peace. In taking this name, I wanted to evoke both the
Patron Saint of Europe, who inspired a civilization of peace on the
whole continent, and Pope Benedict XV, who condemned the First World
War as a '‘useless slaughter’'and worked for a universal
acknowledgment of the lofty demands of peace.
= = = =
Who and what, then, can prevent the coming of peace? Sacred Scripture,
in its very first book, Genesis, points to the lie told at the very
beginning of history by the animal with a forked tongue, whom the
Evangelist John calls ‘‘the father of lies’’ (Jn 8:44). Lying is also
one of the sins spoken of in the final chapter of the last book of the
Bible, Revelation, which bars liars from the heavenly Jerusalem:
‘‘outside are… all who love falsehood’’ (22:15). Lying is linked to
the tragedy of sin and its perverse consequences, which have had, and
continue to have, devastating effects on the lives of individuals and
nations. We need but think of the events of the past century, when
aberrant ideological and political systems wilfully twisted the truth
and brought about the exploitation and murder of an appalling number
of men and women, wiping out entire families and communities. After
experiences like these, how can we fail to be seriously concerned
about lies in our own time, lies which are the framework for menacing
scenarios of death in many parts of the world. Any authentic search
for peace must begin with the realization that the problem of truth
and untruth is the concern of every man and woman; it is decisive for
the peaceful future of our planet.
= = = =
Peace is an irrepressible yearning present in the heart of each
person, regardless of his or her particular cultural identity.
Consequently, everyone should feel committed to service of this great
good, and should strive to prevent any form of untruth from poisoning
relationships. All people are members of one and the same family. An
extreme exaltation of differences clashes with this fundamental truth.
We need to regain an awareness that we share a common destiny which is
ultimately transcendent, so as to maximize our historical and cultural
differences, not in opposition to, but in cooperation with, people
belonging to other cultures. These simple truths are what make peace
possible; they are easily understood whenever we listen to our own
hearts with pure intentions. Peace thus comes to be seen in a new
light: not as the mere absence of war, but as a harmonious coexistence
of individual citizens within a society governed by justice, one in
which the good is also achieved, to the extent possible, for each of
them. The truth of peace calls upon everyone to cultivate productive
and sincere relationships; it encourages them to seek out and to
follow the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation, to be transparent
in their dealings with others, and to be faithful to their word."
= = = =
the States, will repay CAREFUL reading. Once discover the real source
of the lies and you will have discovered the source of the world’s
troubles:
"I wish to reiterate the steadfast resolve of the Holy See to continue
serving the cause of peace. The very name Benedict, which I chose on
the day of my election to the Chair of Peter, is a sign of my personal
commitment to peace. In taking this name, I wanted to evoke both the
Patron Saint of Europe, who inspired a civilization of peace on the
whole continent, and Pope Benedict XV, who condemned the First World
War as a '‘useless slaughter’'and worked for a universal
acknowledgment of the lofty demands of peace.
= = = =
Who and what, then, can prevent the coming of peace? Sacred Scripture,
in its very first book, Genesis, points to the lie told at the very
beginning of history by the animal with a forked tongue, whom the
Evangelist John calls ‘‘the father of lies’’ (Jn 8:44). Lying is also
one of the sins spoken of in the final chapter of the last book of the
Bible, Revelation, which bars liars from the heavenly Jerusalem:
‘‘outside are… all who love falsehood’’ (22:15). Lying is linked to
the tragedy of sin and its perverse consequences, which have had, and
continue to have, devastating effects on the lives of individuals and
nations. We need but think of the events of the past century, when
aberrant ideological and political systems wilfully twisted the truth
and brought about the exploitation and murder of an appalling number
of men and women, wiping out entire families and communities. After
experiences like these, how can we fail to be seriously concerned
about lies in our own time, lies which are the framework for menacing
scenarios of death in many parts of the world. Any authentic search
for peace must begin with the realization that the problem of truth
and untruth is the concern of every man and woman; it is decisive for
the peaceful future of our planet.
= = = =
Peace is an irrepressible yearning present in the heart of each
person, regardless of his or her particular cultural identity.
Consequently, everyone should feel committed to service of this great
good, and should strive to prevent any form of untruth from poisoning
relationships. All people are members of one and the same family. An
extreme exaltation of differences clashes with this fundamental truth.
We need to regain an awareness that we share a common destiny which is
ultimately transcendent, so as to maximize our historical and cultural
differences, not in opposition to, but in cooperation with, people
belonging to other cultures. These simple truths are what make peace
possible; they are easily understood whenever we listen to our own
hearts with pure intentions. Peace thus comes to be seen in a new
light: not as the mere absence of war, but as a harmonious coexistence
of individual citizens within a society governed by justice, one in
which the good is also achieved, to the extent possible, for each of
them. The truth of peace calls upon everyone to cultivate productive
and sincere relationships; it encourages them to seek out and to
follow the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation, to be transparent
in their dealings with others, and to be faithful to their word."
= = = =
- From the Vatican, 8 December 2005.
