...'Discrimination' (click title to entry - thank you)
Speaking in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Pope Benedict said the aim of the summit would be to "to solemnly renew the effort of those with faith of all religions to live their faith as a service for the cause of peace".
"Facing the threatening tensions of the moment, especially discrimination, injustices and religious intolerance, which today strike Christians in a particular way, once again, I make a pressing appeal not to give in to discouragement and resignation," he said.
He said the summit would also "honour the memory of the historical event promoted by my predecessor".
Pope John Paul hosted a similar event in 1986, which was attended by leading Jews and Muslims, as well as the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop of Canterbury....
The Pope finds the current global 'tone' of the hatred between religions 'palpable.' The USA needs to act in prohibiting displays and demonstrations of such hatred from its public forums. The 'tone' of the Right Wing media is chronically that of 'hatred' and 'war mongering.'
When someone like the Pope finds it necessary to bring leaders together at a Summit, the major powers of the world need to support the 'purpose' of the Summit and incorporate its 'will and spirit' into its laws. In the USA, there are laws that designate stronger laws for crimes of hate, however, those laws need to be at least 'symbolically' reviewed in support of the Peace Summit of Pope Benedict XVI. There needs to be an examination of the 'media's role' in promoting hatred and/or preventing it.
