Pope Benedict in Lebanon: 'If We Want Peace, Let Us Defend Life!'

Pope Benedict XVI (C) and Gregorios III, Patriarch of the Church of Antioch, attend a ceremony at the St. Paul Basilica in Harissa near Beirut September 14, 2012. ( Osservatore Romano)

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, reported to newsmen this week on Pope Benedict's speech September 15 to political, religious and cultural leaders of Lebanon.

The address -- on the theme of peace -- went to the very depths of what is needed to achieve peace, offering insights into the relationship between peace and anthropology, and the tactics of the devil in seeking allies among man. Father Lombardi said the president of Lebanon's Parliament told him afterward that "all the people and the politicians of the Middle East should hear, read and meditate on this speech of the Pope."

Benedict XVI's proposition was that effectiveness in the commitment to peace depends on an understanding of human life. "If we want peace, let us defend life!," he exclaimed. "This approach leads us to reject not only war and terrorism, but every assault on innocent human life, on men and women as creatures willed by God."

The Pope reflected that God chose the regions of the Middle East, "to be an example, to bear witness before the world that every man and woman has the possibility of concretely realizing his or her longing for peace and reconciliation! This aspiration is part of God’s eternal plan and he has impressed it deep within the human heart."

 The Family Is the First School of Peace

The Holy Father said that a constant returning "to the wellsprings of our humanity" is necessary to find the energy to work for peace. "Our human dignity is inseparable from the sacredness of life as the gift of the Creator. In God’s plan, each person is unique and irreplaceable. A person comes into this world in a family, which is the first locus of humanization, and above all the first school of peace. To build peace, we need to look to the family, supporting it and facilitating its task, and in this way promoting an overall culture of life."
He added that wherever the truth of human nature is ignored, "it becomes impossible to respect that grammar which is the natural law inscribed in the human heart."

The Pontiff spoke of various assaults on human life, including unemployment, poverty, corruption, a variety of addictions, exploitation, different forms of trafficking, and terrorism, adding that "we run the risk of being enslaved by an economic and financial mindset which would subordinate 'being' to 'having'!"
"The destruction of a single human life is a loss for humanity as a whole," he said. "Mankind is one great family for which all of us are responsible. By questioning, directly or indirectly, or even before the law, the inalienable value of each person and the natural foundation of the family, some ideologies undermine the foundations of society."


Benedict XVI proposed that what should lead us to "a new kind of fraternity" amid cultural, social and religious differences is a "shared sense of the greatness of each person and the gift which others are to themselves, to those around them and to all humanity."

The Pope then spoke about the fundamental importance of education in the path to peace, describing the goal of education as "to guide and support the development of the freedom to make right decisions, which may run counter to widespread opinions, the fashions of the moment, or forms of political and religious ideology."

The Devil Needs Man in Order to Act

The Holy Father also warned of a need to be "very conscious" that evil "is not some nameless, impersonal and deterministic force at work in the world. Evil, the devil, works in and through human freedom, through the use of our freedom. It seeks an ally in man. Evil needs man in order to act. Having broken the first commandment, love of God, it then goes on to distort the second, love of neighbour. Love of neighbour disappears, yielding to falsehood, envy, hatred and death."

Still, he reminded, it is possible for us to overcome evil with good. Without such a conversion of heart, "all our coveted human 'liberations' prove disappointing, for they are curtailed by our human narrowness, harshness, intolerance, favouritism and desire for revenge." The Pontiff suggested that such a conversion can even be "exhilarating, since it creates possibilities by appealing to the countless resources present in the hearts of all those men and women who desire to live in peace and are prepared to work for peace."

"True, it is quite demanding," he added. "It involves rejecting revenge, acknowledging one’s faults, accepting apologies without demanding them, and, not least, forgiveness."

From Family to Society

The Pope asserted that peace and Christian-Muslim coexistence is quite possible. "In Lebanon, Christianity and Islam have lived side by side for centuries," he said. "It is not uncommon to see the two religions within the same family. If this is possible within the same family, why should it not be possible at the level of the whole of society?"

Pope Benedict in Lebanon: 'If We Want Peace, Let Us Defend Life!'

Pope Benedict XVI (C) and Gregorios III, Patriarch of the Church of Antioch, attend a ceremony at the St. Paul Basilica in Harissa near Beirut September 14, 2012. ( Osservatore Romano)

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, reported to newsmen this week on Pope Benedict's speech September 15 to political, religious and cultural leaders of Lebanon.

The address -- on the theme of peace -- went to the very depths of what is needed to achieve peace, offering insights into the relationship between peace and anthropology, and the tactics of the devil in seeking allies among man. Father Lombardi said the president of Lebanon's Parliament told him afterward that "all the people and the politicians of the Middle East should hear, read and meditate on this speech of the Pope."

Benedict XVI's proposition was that effectiveness in the commitment to peace depends on an understanding of human life. "If we want peace, let us defend life!," he exclaimed. "This approach leads us to reject not only war and terrorism, but every assault on innocent human life, on men and women as creatures willed by God."

The Pope reflected that God chose the regions of the Middle East, "to be an example, to bear witness before the world that every man and woman has the possibility of concretely realizing his or her longing for peace and reconciliation! This aspiration is part of God’s eternal plan and he has impressed it deep within the human heart."

 The Family Is the First School of Peace

The Holy Father said that a constant returning "to the wellsprings of our humanity" is necessary to find the energy to work for peace. "Our human dignity is inseparable from the sacredness of life as the gift of the Creator. In God’s plan, each person is unique and irreplaceable. A person comes into this world in a family, which is the first locus of humanization, and above all the first school of peace. To build peace, we need to look to the family, supporting it and facilitating its task, and in this way promoting an overall culture of life."
He added that wherever the truth of human nature is ignored, "it becomes impossible to respect that grammar which is the natural law inscribed in the human heart."

The Pontiff spoke of various assaults on human life, including unemployment, poverty, corruption, a variety of addictions, exploitation, different forms of trafficking, and terrorism, adding that "we run the risk of being enslaved by an economic and financial mindset which would subordinate 'being' to 'having'!"
"The destruction of a single human life is a loss for humanity as a whole," he said. "Mankind is one great family for which all of us are responsible. By questioning, directly or indirectly, or even before the law, the inalienable value of each person and the natural foundation of the family, some ideologies undermine the foundations of society."


Benedict XVI proposed that what should lead us to "a new kind of fraternity" amid cultural, social and religious differences is a "shared sense of the greatness of each person and the gift which others are to themselves, to those around them and to all humanity."

The Pope then spoke about the fundamental importance of education in the path to peace, describing the goal of education as "to guide and support the development of the freedom to make right decisions, which may run counter to widespread opinions, the fashions of the moment, or forms of political and religious ideology."

The Devil Needs Man in Order to Act

The Holy Father also warned of a need to be "very conscious" that evil "is not some nameless, impersonal and deterministic force at work in the world. Evil, the devil, works in and through human freedom, through the use of our freedom. It seeks an ally in man. Evil needs man in order to act. Having broken the first commandment, love of God, it then goes on to distort the second, love of neighbour. Love of neighbour disappears, yielding to falsehood, envy, hatred and death."

Still, he reminded, it is possible for us to overcome evil with good. Without such a conversion of heart, "all our coveted human 'liberations' prove disappointing, for they are curtailed by our human narrowness, harshness, intolerance, favouritism and desire for revenge." The Pontiff suggested that such a conversion can even be "exhilarating, since it creates possibilities by appealing to the countless resources present in the hearts of all those men and women who desire to live in peace and are prepared to work for peace."

"True, it is quite demanding," he added. "It involves rejecting revenge, acknowledging one’s faults, accepting apologies without demanding them, and, not least, forgiveness."

From Family to Society

The Pope asserted that peace and Christian-Muslim coexistence is quite possible. "In Lebanon, Christianity and Islam have lived side by side for centuries," he said. "It is not uncommon to see the two religions within the same family. If this is possible within the same family, why should it not be possible at the level of the whole of society?"

Pope En Route to Lebanon: Import Peace, Not Weapons, to War-Torn Mideast

Hezbollah banners welcome Pope Benedict XVI to Beirut (The Lebanaon  Daily Star/Mohammad Azakir)

BEIRUT, Lebanon, SEPT. 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a Vatican Radio transcription and translation of Benedict XVI's reponses to journalists' questions during his flight to Beirut today. The Holy Father answered various questions regarding war and violence in the Middle East, the rise in fundamentalism in the region and the Arab Spring.

* * *

Q: Holy Father, in these days we’re marking terrible anniversaries, such as 9/11 or the massacre at the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps. Close to Lebanon’s borders a bloody civil war is being waged and the threat of violence is always close at hand in other countries as well. With what feelings are you undertaking this journey? Was there a possibility, or did anyone suggest that you should cancel it for security reasons?
A: I am very grateful for this opportunity to talk with you. No one ever advised me to cancel this trip and I never took that idea into consideration, because I know that as the situation becomes more complicated, it is even more necessary to offer a sign of fraternal encouragement and solidarity. Therefore the aim of my visit is an invitation to dialogue, to peace and against violence, to go forward together to find solutions to the problems. My feelings are above all feelings of gratitude to be able to visit at this time this great country, which – as John Paul II said – is a message of encounter for the three religions in this region. I am grateful to the Lord who has given me this possibility, grateful to all the institutions and people who have worked and continue to work for this occasion. And I am grateful for all those accompanying me in prayer, for this protection through prayer. I am happy and I’m sure that we can be of real service to peace and to people here.

Q: Many Catholics are expressing concern about a growing fundamentalism in different parts of the world and about attacks that target Christians in many places around the globe. In this difficult and often bloody context, how can the Church respond to the imperative of dialogue with Islam that you have always insisted upon?
A: Fundamentalism is always a falsification of religion and goes against the meaning of religion which is, instead, an invitation to share God’s peace throughout the world. Therefore the commitment of the Church and of religions is to undertake a purification of such temptations, to illuminate consciences and to try and provide everyone with a clear image of God. We must all respect each other. Each of us is an image of God and we must mutually respect each other. The basic message of religion must be against violence which is a falsification like fundamentalism, it must be education and the illumination and purification of conscience to promote dialogue, reconciliation and peace.

Q: In the context of the wave of desire for democracy which is underway in many countries of the Middle East through the so-called Arab Spring, and given the social conditions in the majority of these countries where Christians are a minority, is there not a risk of inevitable tensions between the dominant majority and the survival of Christianity?
A: In itself, the Arab spring is a positive thing: a desire for greater democracy, more liberty, more cooperation and a new Arab identity. This cry for liberty, which comes from a more culturally educated and professional young people, who want greater participation in political and social life, is positive progress which has been hailed by Christians as well. Bearing in mind the history of revolutions, we naturally know that this vital and positive cry for freedom risks forgetting one aspect – a fundamental dimension for freedom – which is tolerance of the other. The fact is that human freedom is always a shared freedom, which can only grow through sharing, solidarity and living together with certain rules. This is always the danger, as it is in this case. We must do all we can so that the concept of freedom, the desire for freedom goes in the direction of true freedom and does not forget tolerance and reconciliation which are essential elements for freedom. Thus also the Arab Spring requires a renewal in this centuries -old history. Christians and Arabs have built these lands and must live together. I also believe that it’s important to see the positive elements in these movements and, do all that is possible to ensure that freedom is correctly conceived and corresponds to a greater dialogue rather than the dominion of one over the other.

Q: Holy Father, in Syria, as in Iraq a while ago, many Christians feel obliged to leave their country with heavy hearts. What does the Catholic Church intend to do or say to help in this situation and to stem the flow of Christians from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries?
A: First of all I must say that not only Christians are leaving, but also Muslims. There is a great danger that Christians leave these lands and lose their presence there and we must do all that is possible to help them to stay. The most essential help would be the end of war and violence which causes this exodus. Therefore we must do all we can to halt the violence and encourage the possibility of staying together for the future. What can we do against war? Of course we can always spread a message of peace, insist that violence never resolves problems and strengthen the forces of peace. The work of journalists is important as they can help a great deal to show how violence destroys rather than builds anything, that it is of no use to anyone. Then maybe Christian gestures, days of prayer for the Middle East, for Christians and Muslims, to show the possibilities of dialogue and solutions. I also believe that there must be an end to the import of arms: without weapons, war could not continue. Instead of importing weapons, which is a grave sin, we should import ideas, peace and creativity. We should accept others in their diversity and make visible the mutual respect of religions, the respect for man as God’s creation and love of neighbour as a fundamental element of all religions. We must promote all possible actions, including material ones, to support the end of war and violence so that all can contribute to the rebuilding of the country.

Q: Holy Father, You are bringing an Apostolic Exhortation addressed to all Christians in the Middle East. Nowadays this is a suffering population. Apart from prayer and expressions of solidarity, do you see concrete measures that the Churches and Catholics in the West, especially in Europe and America, can take to support their brothers in the Middle East?
A:: We need to influence public opinion. We must urge politicians to really tackle this issue with all their strength and using all means possible, to work with creativity for peace and against violence. All of us must contribute to this. In a certain sense, it’s a very necessary task on our part of warning, education and purification. In addition, our charity organisations should help in a material sense as well. We have organisations like the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, just for the Holy Land, but similar organisations could also provide material, political and human help in these countries. I would like to say once again that visible signs of solidarity, days of public prayer, can have an impact on public opinion and produce real results. We are convinced that prayer has an effect if it is done with much trust and faith.

Pope En Route to Lebanon: Import Peace, Not Weapons, to War-Torn Mideast

Hezbollah banners welcome Pope Benedict XVI to Beirut (The Lebanaon  Daily Star/Mohammad Azakir)

BEIRUT, Lebanon, SEPT. 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a Vatican Radio transcription and translation of Benedict XVI's reponses to journalists' questions during his flight to Beirut today. The Holy Father answered various questions regarding war and violence in the Middle East, the rise in fundamentalism in the region and the Arab Spring.

* * *

Q: Holy Father, in these days we’re marking terrible anniversaries, such as 9/11 or the massacre at the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps. Close to Lebanon’s borders a bloody civil war is being waged and the threat of violence is always close at hand in other countries as well. With what feelings are you undertaking this journey? Was there a possibility, or did anyone suggest that you should cancel it for security reasons?
A: I am very grateful for this opportunity to talk with you. No one ever advised me to cancel this trip and I never took that idea into consideration, because I know that as the situation becomes more complicated, it is even more necessary to offer a sign of fraternal encouragement and solidarity. Therefore the aim of my visit is an invitation to dialogue, to peace and against violence, to go forward together to find solutions to the problems. My feelings are above all feelings of gratitude to be able to visit at this time this great country, which – as John Paul II said – is a message of encounter for the three religions in this region. I am grateful to the Lord who has given me this possibility, grateful to all the institutions and people who have worked and continue to work for this occasion. And I am grateful for all those accompanying me in prayer, for this protection through prayer. I am happy and I’m sure that we can be of real service to peace and to people here.

Q: Many Catholics are expressing concern about a growing fundamentalism in different parts of the world and about attacks that target Christians in many places around the globe. In this difficult and often bloody context, how can the Church respond to the imperative of dialogue with Islam that you have always insisted upon?
A: Fundamentalism is always a falsification of religion and goes against the meaning of religion which is, instead, an invitation to share God’s peace throughout the world. Therefore the commitment of the Church and of religions is to undertake a purification of such temptations, to illuminate consciences and to try and provide everyone with a clear image of God. We must all respect each other. Each of us is an image of God and we must mutually respect each other. The basic message of religion must be against violence which is a falsification like fundamentalism, it must be education and the illumination and purification of conscience to promote dialogue, reconciliation and peace.

Q: In the context of the wave of desire for democracy which is underway in many countries of the Middle East through the so-called Arab Spring, and given the social conditions in the majority of these countries where Christians are a minority, is there not a risk of inevitable tensions between the dominant majority and the survival of Christianity?
A: In itself, the Arab spring is a positive thing: a desire for greater democracy, more liberty, more cooperation and a new Arab identity. This cry for liberty, which comes from a more culturally educated and professional young people, who want greater participation in political and social life, is positive progress which has been hailed by Christians as well. Bearing in mind the history of revolutions, we naturally know that this vital and positive cry for freedom risks forgetting one aspect – a fundamental dimension for freedom – which is tolerance of the other. The fact is that human freedom is always a shared freedom, which can only grow through sharing, solidarity and living together with certain rules. This is always the danger, as it is in this case. We must do all we can so that the concept of freedom, the desire for freedom goes in the direction of true freedom and does not forget tolerance and reconciliation which are essential elements for freedom. Thus also the Arab Spring requires a renewal in this centuries -old history. Christians and Arabs have built these lands and must live together. I also believe that it’s important to see the positive elements in these movements and, do all that is possible to ensure that freedom is correctly conceived and corresponds to a greater dialogue rather than the dominion of one over the other.

Q: Holy Father, in Syria, as in Iraq a while ago, many Christians feel obliged to leave their country with heavy hearts. What does the Catholic Church intend to do or say to help in this situation and to stem the flow of Christians from Syria and other Middle Eastern countries?
A: First of all I must say that not only Christians are leaving, but also Muslims. There is a great danger that Christians leave these lands and lose their presence there and we must do all that is possible to help them to stay. The most essential help would be the end of war and violence which causes this exodus. Therefore we must do all we can to halt the violence and encourage the possibility of staying together for the future. What can we do against war? Of course we can always spread a message of peace, insist that violence never resolves problems and strengthen the forces of peace. The work of journalists is important as they can help a great deal to show how violence destroys rather than builds anything, that it is of no use to anyone. Then maybe Christian gestures, days of prayer for the Middle East, for Christians and Muslims, to show the possibilities of dialogue and solutions. I also believe that there must be an end to the import of arms: without weapons, war could not continue. Instead of importing weapons, which is a grave sin, we should import ideas, peace and creativity. We should accept others in their diversity and make visible the mutual respect of religions, the respect for man as God’s creation and love of neighbour as a fundamental element of all religions. We must promote all possible actions, including material ones, to support the end of war and violence so that all can contribute to the rebuilding of the country.

Q: Holy Father, You are bringing an Apostolic Exhortation addressed to all Christians in the Middle East. Nowadays this is a suffering population. Apart from prayer and expressions of solidarity, do you see concrete measures that the Churches and Catholics in the West, especially in Europe and America, can take to support their brothers in the Middle East?
A:: We need to influence public opinion. We must urge politicians to really tackle this issue with all their strength and using all means possible, to work with creativity for peace and against violence. All of us must contribute to this. In a certain sense, it’s a very necessary task on our part of warning, education and purification. In addition, our charity organisations should help in a material sense as well. We have organisations like the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, just for the Holy Land, but similar organisations could also provide material, political and human help in these countries. I would like to say once again that visible signs of solidarity, days of public prayer, can have an impact on public opinion and produce real results. We are convinced that prayer has an effect if it is done with much trust and faith.

Bishop of Abuja: Nigeria Resisting Religious Polarization, Christians Still Under Attack by Muslim Fanatics

Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria: The majority of the nation lives in peace and cooperation.

The nation of Nigeria is struggling to resist religious polarization in the face of continued violent attacks by the Islamic fundamentalist Boko Haram terrorist organization Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, told a Washington, D.D. audience Sept. 14. The archbishop was addressing a discussion panel at the “International Religious Freedom: An Imperative for Peace and Common Good” symposium held at Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. this week,

The event was hosted by the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies and co-sponsored by the several institutions, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB chairman Cardinal Timothy Dolan addressed the symposium earlier in the week.

Archbishop Onaiyekan spoke on the violence currently besieging the nation at the hands of the extremist group, Boko Haram. The terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for many of the anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria. The archbishop explained that what makes Boko Haram different from other violent organizations in the region is that they are “unusually virulent in its attacks, including the use of suicide terrorist tactics”, and that they also claim to act “in the name of God, deliberately targeting Christians and their institutions presumably for the promotion of Islam.”

“Although the members are few and constitute a small minority within the Nigerian Muslim community, they are a real danger to the entire Nigerian community because they are fanatics, with warped logic and twisted minds,” he said.

“They have almost succeeded in polarizing our nation along religious lines, hitting at our fragile harmony built over many years of patient efforts and trying to make us enemies of one another. They have definitely succeeded in giving us the bad name of a nation that is unstable and unsafe, where Christians are being persecuted and indiscriminately killed with impunity by freely rampaging Muslim terrorists.”

Despite the violence inflicted by Boko Haram, the Nigerian prelate assured that religious freedom still remains a principal tenet of the Nigerian government. The archbishop also noted that Nigeria still remains “the greatest Islamo-Christian nation in the world” adding that there is “no other nation with so many Christians living with so many Muslims in the same nation, in mutual equality and respect."

However, he acknowledged, the sometimes sporadic violent clashes that have occurred overshadow the fact that the majority of the nation lives in relative peace and harmony. “Apart from Fridays and Sundays, when we go our different ways for weekly worship, we live most of our lives as citizens of the same nation, living and struggling to live under the same socio-economic conditions and sometimes members of the same family. One only needs to visit any government office, market or business premise to appreciate this fact,” he said.
Archbishop Onaiyekam expressed hope that fanatical groups, such as Boko Haram, can and will be contained in the future, saying that so far, there is a sense of normalcy returning to the African nation. He also added that the Nigerian government is finally taking a united stand against the terrorist group.

The archbishop of Abuja did lament the slow response of the major Christian/Muslim organization, the Nigerian Interreligious Council (NIREC), mainly due to what the prelate described as a “charged atmosphere of religious tension. However, that does not mean that religious groups in the region have not been inactive in taking a united stand against fanaticism."

“Individual religious leaders, women, and youth groups have been reaching out to one another to say 'no' to religious polarization. For example, with a group of Muslim and Christian leaders in Abuja, we have set up an 'Abuja Interfaith Peacebuilding Forum'”, he said.

Archbishop Onaiyekam concluded the panel discussion thanking the organizers for the opportunity to give testimony. Although dismayed by the lack of a united front among Christians in the region in addressing the violence caused by the fanatical terrorist group, the Nigerian prelate was consoled by the solidarity shown through the Catholic Church, through the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). “My wish, request and prayer is that the USCCB and the Christ’s faithful of the United States of America will continue to journey with us as we work with all our fellow Nigerians in building a great nation 'under God,' where justice, peace and solidarity reigns,” he said.

Bishop of Abuja: Nigeria Resisting Religious Polarization, Christians Still Under Attack by Muslim Fanatics

Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria: The majority of the nation lives in peace and cooperation.

The nation of Nigeria is struggling to resist religious polarization in the face of continued violent attacks by the Islamic fundamentalist Boko Haram terrorist organization Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, told a Washington, D.D. audience Sept. 14. The archbishop was addressing a discussion panel at the “International Religious Freedom: An Imperative for Peace and Common Good” symposium held at Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. this week,

The event was hosted by the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies and co-sponsored by the several institutions, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). USCCB chairman Cardinal Timothy Dolan addressed the symposium earlier in the week.

Archbishop Onaiyekan spoke on the violence currently besieging the nation at the hands of the extremist group, Boko Haram. The terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for many of the anti-Christian attacks in Nigeria. The archbishop explained that what makes Boko Haram different from other violent organizations in the region is that they are “unusually virulent in its attacks, including the use of suicide terrorist tactics”, and that they also claim to act “in the name of God, deliberately targeting Christians and their institutions presumably for the promotion of Islam.”

“Although the members are few and constitute a small minority within the Nigerian Muslim community, they are a real danger to the entire Nigerian community because they are fanatics, with warped logic and twisted minds,” he said.

“They have almost succeeded in polarizing our nation along religious lines, hitting at our fragile harmony built over many years of patient efforts and trying to make us enemies of one another. They have definitely succeeded in giving us the bad name of a nation that is unstable and unsafe, where Christians are being persecuted and indiscriminately killed with impunity by freely rampaging Muslim terrorists.”

Despite the violence inflicted by Boko Haram, the Nigerian prelate assured that religious freedom still remains a principal tenet of the Nigerian government. The archbishop also noted that Nigeria still remains “the greatest Islamo-Christian nation in the world” adding that there is “no other nation with so many Christians living with so many Muslims in the same nation, in mutual equality and respect."

However, he acknowledged, the sometimes sporadic violent clashes that have occurred overshadow the fact that the majority of the nation lives in relative peace and harmony. “Apart from Fridays and Sundays, when we go our different ways for weekly worship, we live most of our lives as citizens of the same nation, living and struggling to live under the same socio-economic conditions and sometimes members of the same family. One only needs to visit any government office, market or business premise to appreciate this fact,” he said.
Archbishop Onaiyekam expressed hope that fanatical groups, such as Boko Haram, can and will be contained in the future, saying that so far, there is a sense of normalcy returning to the African nation. He also added that the Nigerian government is finally taking a united stand against the terrorist group.

The archbishop of Abuja did lament the slow response of the major Christian/Muslim organization, the Nigerian Interreligious Council (NIREC), mainly due to what the prelate described as a “charged atmosphere of religious tension. However, that does not mean that religious groups in the region have not been inactive in taking a united stand against fanaticism."

“Individual religious leaders, women, and youth groups have been reaching out to one another to say 'no' to religious polarization. For example, with a group of Muslim and Christian leaders in Abuja, we have set up an 'Abuja Interfaith Peacebuilding Forum'”, he said.

Archbishop Onaiyekam concluded the panel discussion thanking the organizers for the opportunity to give testimony. Although dismayed by the lack of a united front among Christians in the region in addressing the violence caused by the fanatical terrorist group, the Nigerian prelate was consoled by the solidarity shown through the Catholic Church, through the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). “My wish, request and prayer is that the USCCB and the Christ’s faithful of the United States of America will continue to journey with us as we work with all our fellow Nigerians in building a great nation 'under God,' where justice, peace and solidarity reigns,” he said.

Abortion Never Medically Necessary to Save the Life of a Mother

Irish women take to the streets of Dublin to proclaim that abortion is not medical care.

The destruction of an unborn child in its mother's womb--euphemistically known as abortion--is never medically necessary to save the life of a mother. That was the premise examined and elaborated  at a Dublin symposium of medical experts this week

The International Symposium on Excellence in Maternal Healthcare was attended by more than 140 Irish medical professionals from the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, mental health, and molecular epidemiology.

Professor Eamon O'Dwyer, speaking for the committee of the symposium, said that attempts are being made to confuse legitimate medical treatment with abortion. “Irish Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have previously pointed out that treatment for conditions such as ectopic pregnancy are not considered abortion by doctors, yet misinformation in regard to this abounds in public debate,” he said. "The symposium clarifies that direct abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of a woman, and that’s good news for mothers and their babies,” said Professor O’Dwyer.


Professor Eamon O'Dwyer, speaking for the committee of the symposium, said that the outcome of the conference "provided clarity and confirmation to doctors and legislators."

A major theme of the symposium was the management of high-risk pregnancies, cancer in pregnancy, fetal anomalies, mental health and maternal mortality.

The Sept. 8 press release by the symposium organizers presented the conclusions contained in the Dublin Declaration on Maternal Healthcare, which states:

• As experienced practitioners and researchers in obstetrics and gynecology, we affirm that direct abortion is not medically necessary to save the life of a woman.
•  We uphold that there is a fundamental difference between abortion, and necessary medical treatments that are carried out to save the life of the mother, even if such treatment results in the loss of life of her unborn child.
•  We confirm that the prohibition of abortion does not affect, in any way, the availability of optimal care to pregnant women.

Christian morality recognizes a differencebetween a direct abortion, and the unintended though foreseen death of the child as a secondary consequence of certain treatments.

Dr Eoghan de Faoite of the organizing committee for the symposium said that the research presented provided clear evidence that best practice medical care for pregnant women does not involve abortion.
"It was fascinating to learn about new therapies involving the safe delivery of chemotherapy during pregnancy and the exciting field of in-utero fetal surgery" he said. "When discussing matters of pregnancy and medicine it is vital that the voices of the real experts, those that actually care for pregnant women, be heard.”

“This Symposium puts an end to the false argument that Ireland needs abortion to treat women, and it was encouraging to hear the international speakers commend Ireland's high standards of maternal healthcare and low rates of maternal mortality," he added.

"The Dublin Declaration stating that abortion is not medically necessary was a statement of fact agreed by medical experts and reflecting best medical practice in maternal healthcare," stated the medical advisor to the Life Institute, Dr Seán Ó Domhnaill. "This is a globally significant outcome, which shows abortion has no place in treating women and their unborn children," he affirmed.