Catholic League president William Donohue spoke today on how the pope’s words on the war are being exploited by anti-war activists:
“It comes as no surprise that the pope is viscerally anti-war. But he is also no pacifist. Pope John Paul II has said repeatedly that war cannot be decided upon ‘except as the very last option.’ What he has not said, though such words have been attributed to him, is that there is no legal or moral justification for the war. In any event, it is striking how many new friends the Pontiff has these days.
“Jessica Lange is anti-war and pro-abortion. The NARAL enthusiast is now praising the pope for his position on the war. What she fails to mention is that when the pope told a gathering of world leaders to say ‘No To War’ on January 13, he began by admonishing them to say ‘No To Death’; he specifically cited ‘the incomparable dignity of every human being, beginning with that of unborn children.’ Hear that Jessica?
“Michael Moore is quoted today saying, ‘The pope even came right out and said it: This war in Iraq is not a just war and, thus, it is a sin.’ But the pope never said this is not a just war, never mind a sinful exercise.
“The reaction of Catholic dissidents and anti-Catholics who are part of the anti-war crowd to the pope is even more comical. The National Catholic Reporter is a Catholic weekly that never tires of railing against papal authority; ditto for Call the Action, an organization of Catholic malcontents. Yet both are now lauding the pope for his leadership on the war. Even that inveterate Catholic basher Frances Kissling is now speaking of the ‘humanitarian’ vision of the Vatican and the ‘religious authority of the pope.’ Maybe she’ll convert to Catholicism yet.
“We’ll call these people sincere when they stop exploiting the pope’s words on the war and start showing real and consistent respect for his teachings on all subjects.”
