Catholics working for peaceful birth of South Sudan

[rug]

Juba, Sudan (CNA): Local and international Catholic organizations are working to ensure a peaceful transition to independence for South Sudan on July 9, after two decades or struggle that killed or displaced over six million people.

South Sudan's people will be “free to build a society the way they want to according to their own vision,” said Bishop John H. Ricard, a representative for the U.S. bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, speaking to CNA from the southern capital Juba on July 8.

Thousands are expected to attend the independence day ceremonies, including northern Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. On the morning of July 9, he will begin the celebration to the tune of the new Sudan National Anthem.

After the anthem, South Sudan's proclamation of independence will be read, and dignitaries from China, the U.S., the European Union, the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development will give speeches.

http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/Catholics-working-for-peaceful-birth-of-South-Sudan-9469-1-1.html

[skepticscott]

1. Any bets on whether

"according to their own vision" will end up including a dose of the Vatican's vision? They're just itching to open a new market...

[rug]

2. The South is already Animist and Christian while the north is Moslem.

One of the many differences.

Sorry to derail your biased innuendo with information.

[demosincebirth]

3. +100

[skepticscott]

4. And your point would be what?

That the Catholic church would never dream of trying to influence the laws and social mores of a developing nation? Of course they wouldn't. How silly.

[rug]

5. Never bet with a fool.

[skepticscott]

6. Ah, your depth and insight

surpasses itself with another superb non-answer. Thanks for not disappointing.

[rug]

7. You're welcome.

[trotsky]

8. Heh, yeah, can't wait to see the church's about-face...

should this fledgling free society try to legalize and/or promote reproductive freedom.

[skepticscott]

9. Yes, and I'm sure

that if South Sudan announced that they were about to pass a law making gay marriage legal and equal in all ways with heterosexual marriage, the Catholic church would say, "Hey, it's their country, they can pass whatever laws they want. It's not our business to try to influence the laws of a sovereign nation"

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

[Dorian Gray]

10. I'm sure that South Sudan

will be trying to pass that law any second now, and it is only the Catholic Church's obstruction that will prevent it from happening.

The development of this nation is a good thing for the people who were tortured and abused by the Northern leaders, and it has support from an influential world leader.
In my eyes, that is a positive.

[trotsky]

11. Of course it's a positive, and I'm happy for the people of South Sudan.

There are those of us, however, who know better than to laud the Catholic Church for supporting this in the name of "freedom" when their demonstrated history of interference with governments, esp. in developing nations, shows them to be interested in anything but. They talk the talk, but do not walk the walk.

[skepticscott]

12. Miss the point much?

I have no idea what laws South Sudan may pass, nor did I ever imply that I do. I said "if", not "when". It's a little exercise called a thought experiment. You might try it sometime.