Deeper and more profound powers are necessary for us to love some people, such as mercy and forgiveness of God the Father. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" may appear to be equality and justice, but it is not. For example, the Good Samaritan showed mercy and helped a wounded man with whom he shared neither religion nor nationality. The message is that we can never heal society without mercy and forgiveness underlying political argument and reform. The road map outlined by the Pope is justice, mercy, forgiveness, healing, harmony, trust and peace. The Pope himself was shot and seriously wounded on May 13th, 1981, showing that the shepherd must suffer with the sheep. He outlined how wounded sides of the community can be healed and come together. He called God the Father "dives in misericordia" (rich in mercy). He issued his second encyclical letter on November 13th, 1980. The Pope returned to Rome, pondering, no doubt, on the words of Cardinal Ó Fiaich and Bishop Cathal Daly. The only consolation is that all admit to living in the same "house". Many people may contest what the cardinal said while knowing it to be true then as it is now. Why does this state of affairs continue?Ĭardinal Ó Fiaich, speaking in 1985, said that the Protestant side of the house suffered from religious bigotry and the Catholic side of the house from political bigotry. If the saintly Pope were to return in 2004, he would have to issue the same request to the men of guns, nail-studded pickaxe handles, pipe and petrol bombs who continue to control their own "side of the house" for gangster prizes and sometimes to attack the "other side of the house" and the PSNI. Pope John Paul 11, speaking in Drogheda in September 1979, begged the men of violence to cease using violent means to promote their aims. Rite and Reason: The Pope was right when he said the road to healing is paved with justice, mercy, forgiveness, harmony, trust and peace, writes Father Denis Faul
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