The Holy Land Thread

[Del]

More Than 500 Rockets Fired By Palestinian Terrorists Have Fallen Inside Gaza

Hamas does not care about their own people.

The Hamas rocket that landed in a Baptist hospital parking lot in Gaza made its own headlines. Within minutes, Hamas claimed the missile came from Israel, striking the hospital building and killed 500 people. Liars.

[Wosbald]

+JMJ+

Source: Vatican News
Link: vaticannews DOT va/en/pope/news/2023-10/pope-renews-appeal-for-humanitarian-aid-and-release-of-hostages.html

Pope renews appeal for humanitarian aid, release of hostages in Gaza

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At Sunday's Angelus, Pope Francis renews his appeal for the free flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and for the release of the hostages, saying every war is really a defeat.

Vatican City — Speaking after Sunday's Angelus prayer, Pope Francis expressed his concern and grief over what is happening in Israel and Palestine.

I am very concerned, grieved. I pray and I am close to all those who are suffering, the hostages, the wounded, the victims and their families.

The Pope said he is very concerned over "the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza," and he was "saddened that the Anglican hospital and the Greek Orthodox parish" were hit in the war violence in recent days.

I renew my appeal for spaces to be opened, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive and for hostages to be freed.

"War, any war that there is in the world — I also think of martyred Ukraine — is a defeat," the Pope continued. "War always is a defeat, it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop! Stop!"

The Pope then recalled that he has called for a day of fasting, prayer and penance on Friday, 27 October.

That day, in St. Peter's, at 6 pm, there will be an hour of prayer for peace in our world.

[Del]

+JMJ+

Source: Vatican News
Link: vaticannews DOT va/en/pope/news/2023-10/pope-renews-appeal-for-humanitarian-aid-and-release-of-hostages.html

Pope renews appeal for humanitarian aid, release of hostages in Gaza

Hamas won't listen to the Catholic Pope.

[Hovannes]

War is an evil we don't have to look for, rather war comes looking for us (or Israel, or Ukraine/ Taiwan/the PI/Nigeria/Armenia.)
Screwtape offers clues to more logical responses to evil than Francis and his cohorts seems able.
https://www.barrons.com/news/never-seen ... s-4df16b2f

[Wosbald]

+JMJ+

[…]

Screwtape offers clues to more logical responses to evil than Francis and his cohorts seems able.

[…]

As I said upthread, I see "no coherent philosophical or theological" response (of the kind you seem to favor).

And — as you and Del and the literary voice of Chesterton have not ceased to remind us — an incoherent response, no matter how logical, is still incoherent.

[Hovannes]

+JMJ+

[…]

Screwtape offers clues to more logical responses to evil than Francis and his cohorts seems able.

[…]

As I said upthread, I see "no coherent philosophical or theological" response (of the kind you seem to favor).

And — as you and Del and the literary voice of Chesterton have not ceased to remind us — an incoherent response, no matter how logical, is still incoherent.

Do you favor Thomas as being incoherent?

[Wosbald]

+JMJ+

As I said upthread, I see "no coherent philosophical or theological" response (of the kind you seem to favor).

And — as you and Del and the literary voice of Chesterton have not ceased to remind us — an incoherent response, no matter how logical, is still incoherent.

Do you favor Thomas as being incoherent?

Since 1) Aquinas is not here to apply his thought to this sitch and 2) I can't say whether or not "Alternate Timeline St Thomas" would apply his own thought coherently to this selfsame sitch, your question appears to be a nonstarter.

To reiterate, I see "no coherent philosophical or theological" path to get where you apparently want to go, whether you use St Thomas as a jumping-off point or not.

[Wosbald]

+JMJ+

Source: The Hill
Link: thehill DOT com/homenews/administration/4269749-biden-pope-francis-discuss-israel-gaza-in-rare-call/

Biden, Pope Francis discuss Israel, Gaza in rare call

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Oct. 22, 2023 — President Biden and Pope Francis spoke in a rare phone call Sunday about the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, stressing the need to prevent an escalation of the conflict and steps towards peace in the Middle East.

Condemning the attacks by Hamas, which is recognized by the U.S. and several other countries as a terrorist organization, Biden spoke with the pontiff about his trip to Israel and efforts to guarantee the delivery of food, medicine and humanitarian aid to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to a readout from the White House.

The two leaders spoke about preventing the conflict’s escalation in the region and how to “work toward a durable peace in the Middle East,” the White House said.

Citing the Holy See Press Office, Vatican News reported the conversation lasted around 20 minutes and highlighted the “need to identify paths of peace.”

[…]

[Hovannes]

Maybe some pictures will help:

[Wosbald]

+JMJ+

Source: Vatican News
Link: hvaticannews DOT va/en/church/news/2023-10/patriarchs-heads-churches-jerusalem-archbishop-canterbury-gaza.html

Jerusalem’s Church leaders, Archbishop of Canterbury urge restraint in Gaza

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Church leaders in Jerusalem join the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, to call for restraint, de-escalation, and protection of civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Jerusalem — The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, along with the Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, have issued a joint statement to condemn Israeli airstrikes that hit near St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza.

The blasts led to the collapse of two church halls where scores of refugees, including women and children, were seeking shelter.

The attack resulted in the deaths of eighteen people, nine of whom were children, and left many more injured.

In the statement, Church leaders denounced the attack and others like it that result in the death of civilians.

“In condemning this attack against a sacred place of refuge, we cannot ignore that this is but the latest instance of innocent civilians being injured or killed as a result of missile strikes against other shelters of last resort.”

The Israeli Defense Forces admitted to bombing a command and control center belonging to Hamas, but said that the church was not the target of the strike.

Christian mission to serve suffering people

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches say they remain committed to fulfilling their duty to offer assistance to people in need, despite the destruction of social, religious, and humanitarian institutions.

They and the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is making a pastoral visit to the Holy Land to express solidarity with the local Anglican community, also promise that Christian churches will continue providing refuge.

“Even in the face of ceaseless military demands to evacuate our charitable institutions and houses of worship,” they say, “we will not abandon this Christian mission, for there is literally no other safe place for these innocents to turn.”

Recalling Jesus’ injunction to feed and clothe those in need, the Christian leaders say the Church must especially act as the Church “in times of war, for that is when human suffering is at its greatest.”

Appeals for ceasefire and de-escalation

Recognizing that the Church cannot accomplish this mission alone, the statement urges the international community to enforce protections in Gaza for Sanctuaries of Refuge, including schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

The Church leaders also call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, “so that food, water, and vital medical supplies can safely be delivered to the relief agencies ministering to the hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians in Gaza, including those operated by our own churches.”

In conclusion, the Patriarchs and heads of Churches in Jerusalem appealed to all parties to the war to “de-escalate the violence, cease from indiscriminately targeting civilians on all sides, and operate within the international rules of warfare.”

“Only in this way, we believe, can the groundwork be laid for an eventual diplomatic consideration of longstanding grievances so that a just and lasting peace can finally be achieved throughout our beloved Holy Land — both in our time, and for generations to come.”