Comments on: Politics of a papal photo op in Bethlehem http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/05/11/politics-of-a-papal-photo-op-in-bethlehem/ Religion, faith and ethics Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:17:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Pat http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/05/11/politics-of-a-papal-photo-op-in-bethlehem/comment-page-1/#comment-11936 Pat Tue, 12 May 2009 12:37:28 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/?p=5783#comment-11936 The wall, for me, is a symbol of the continued hopelessness of the Mideast situation. The Israelis seem to have achieved their goal of keeping the Palestinians out, but in effect, they are keeping out the rest of the world as well. The communists did it effectively, and for so many years. But what were the results? They were cut off from the developing world. It was only when pressure from the rest of the world became unbearable did the two leaders give in and the wall came down. The wall, for me, is a symbol of the continued hopelessness of the Mideast situation. The Israelis seem to have achieved their goal of keeping the Palestinians out, but in effect, they are keeping out the rest of the world as well. The communists did it effectively, and for so many years. But what were the results? They were cut off from the developing world. It was only when pressure from the rest of the world became unbearable did the two leaders give in and the wall came down.

]]> By: Daniel Rosaupan http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/05/11/politics-of-a-papal-photo-op-in-bethlehem/comment-page-1/#comment-11932 Daniel Rosaupan Tue, 12 May 2009 09:06:10 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/?p=5783#comment-11932 The comments of Dom Martin seems to presume that the Catholic Church had been silent against any atrocities in this world. No doubt his comments was meant to be projected as Gospel truth. Well, history will prove otherwise. The comments of Dom Martin seems to presume that the Catholic Church had been silent against any atrocities in this world. No doubt his comments was meant to be projected as Gospel truth. Well, history will prove otherwise.

]]> By: Ben http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2009/05/11/politics-of-a-papal-photo-op-in-bethlehem/comment-page-1/#comment-11926 Ben Mon, 11 May 2009 17:53:25 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/?p=5783#comment-11926 Source: http://www.dommartin.cc/Petrification%20of%20Christ.htm The Middle East – birth place of Christ and the cauldron of Christianity – in recent times has evolved into a sarcophagus for both. In pursuit of the War on Terror, there have been countless crucifixions, but zero resurrections heralding the covenant of hope, compassion and lasting fraternity. Pope Benedict XVI, who is looked upon by some as equally accountable for the sins of silence professed by his predecessors, should not be mummified deaf, dumb and blind to the trespasses perpetrated in the Middle East. If visiting his flock in Gaza is such a security risk, why doesn't the Pope simply divest himself of his material regalia and entourage, and stand in line at the checkpoint like any other Palestinian — hatless, barefooted, destitute, dehydrated . . . ! And if he is discovered, why not risk crucifixion? Christ would have, if he were around! Such a compelling gesture by the Pope would not only help break the Vatican’s alleged seal of silence but also extend a fraternal embrace to people of all faiths, as well as spare his successor the ignominy of inheriting the contempt he is presently burdened with. To do otherwise, is to further distance Christ and the essence of true Christianity from an augmenting aura of hypocritical faith and partisan allegiance. — Dom Martin Dom Martin is a surrealist artist, poet and writer. He is the author of GENOCIDE: The New Order of Imperialism (2008) and COEXISTENCE: Humanity’s Wailing Wall (2006). His prophetic imagery of the 2008/2009 Gaza Genocide can be seen at www.propheticimagery.com . Source: http://www.dommartin.cc/Petrification%20 of%20Christ.htm

The Middle East – birth place of Christ and the cauldron of Christianity – in recent times has evolved into a sarcophagus for both. In pursuit of the War on Terror, there have been countless crucifixions, but zero resurrections heralding the covenant of hope, compassion and lasting fraternity.

Pope Benedict XVI, who is looked upon by some as equally accountable for the sins of silence professed by his predecessors, should not be mummified deaf, dumb and blind to the trespasses perpetrated in the Middle East. If visiting his flock in Gaza is such a security risk, why doesn’t the Pope simply divest himself of his material regalia and entourage, and stand in line at the checkpoint like any other Palestinian — hatless, barefooted, destitute, dehydrated . . . ! And if he is discovered, why not risk crucifixion? Christ would have, if he were around!

Such a compelling gesture by the Pope would not only help break the Vatican’s alleged seal of silence but also extend a fraternal embrace to people of all faiths, as well as spare his successor the ignominy of inheriting the contempt he is presently burdened with. To do otherwise, is to further distance Christ and the essence of true Christianity from an augmenting aura of hypocritical faith and partisan allegiance.

— Dom Martin

Dom Martin is a surrealist artist, poet and writer. He is the author of GENOCIDE: The New Order of Imperialism (2008) and COEXISTENCE: Humanity’s Wailing Wall (2006). His prophetic imagery of the 2008/2009 Gaza Genocide can be seen at http://www.propheticimagery.com .

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