Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested
Doc Thompson’s 24-hour radio marathon, ‘#24forok,’ continues until 9 am ET — Listen Live!
‘A Step in the Right Direction’: Obama’s Gun Control Proposals Get Support From the Vatican
AP
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican praised President Barack Obama’s proposals for curbing gun violence, saying they are a “step in the right direction.”
The Vatican’s chief spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Saturday that 47 religious leaders have appealed to members of the U.S. Congress “to limit firearms that are making society pay an unacceptable price in terms of massacres and senseless deaths.”
“I am with them,” Lombardi said, in an editorial carried on Vatican Radio, lining up the Vatican’s moral support in favor of firearm limits.
`’The initiatives announced by the American administration for limiting and controlling the spread and use of weapons are certainly a step in the right direction,” Lombardi said.
Obama is trying to rally support for reinstating a ban on assault weapons and requiring background checks on all gun sales. He faces stiff opposition in the U.S. Congress and from powerful gun lobbies.
Considering that Americans possess `’about 300 million firearms,” Lombardi said, `’people cannot fool themselves that it is enough to limit the number and use (of guns) to impede in the future horrendous massacres like that of Newtown that shook the conscience of America and world, as well as that of children and adults. `’
He was referring to the Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school where 20 children and six adults were killed by a sole attacker last month.
`’But it would be worse to be satisfied with words” of condemnation alone, Lombardi said. And while massacres are `’carried out by unbalanced or hate-driven persons, there is no doubt that they are carried out with firearms,” the Vatican spokesman said.
Lombardi renewed Vatican appeals for disarmament and encouragement for measures to fight “the production, commerce and contraband of all types of arms,” an industry fueled by `’enormous economic and power interests.”
Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.
Popular Stories
John McCain Lectures Tea Party Senator on How ‘Business’ Gets Done in Congress: ‘That’s What We’ve Been Doing for a Couple Hundred Years’ 520 Comments
Boy Scouts of America Vote to Allow Gay Members 482 Comments
Pope Francis’ Sermon Sparks Debate: ‘Even the Atheists’ Have Been Redeemed ‘With the Blood of Christ’ 466 Comments
Piers Morgan Bans Dana Loesch From His Show Following Twitter Spat: ‘Show Some Bloody Respect’ 324 Comments
‘War in London Tonight’: Rioters Clash With Police Over ‘Cleaver’ Terror Attack (Plus: Read About Hero Mother Who Reportedly Confronted Killers) 294 Comments
Faith
-
Game-Changing Bombshell? There’s a Major Twist in the Story About a High School Student’s Lesbian Relationship With a Minor
Read More
- Is the Boy Scouts’ Gay Amendment the ‘Beginning of the End’ for the Group? (Plus: Tell Us Where You Stand) Read More
-
MSNBC Hosts Martin Bashir and Chris Hayes Claim London Machete Killers Aren’t Terrorists: ‘These Are Just Murderers’
123 Comments
- Did You Catch the Possibly Policy-Changing Ft. Hood Reference in Obama’s Terror Speech? Read More
-
Dem. Rep. Apologizes for Attending ‘Racist, Anti-Semitic and Homophobic’ Speech
Read More
Business
-
Have You Had Scotch at a NJ TGI Friday’s Lately? You Might Have Been Drinking Rubbing Alcohol
Read More
-
Venezuelan President Blames Toilet Paper Shortage on the Rich
Read More
-
This Terrible Chart Shows the Change in Food Stamp Participation Over the Last 10 Years
Read More
- Disney Makes Absolutely Mortifying Photoshop Mistake Read More
-
Trey Gowdy at It Again — This Time with a Jack Bauer Reference!
116 Comments
Technology
- How 3D Printing Technology Created a Special Part for Baby’s Windpipe and Saved His Life Read More
-
6 Fascinating Spy Gadgets You’ll Probably Want (and Can Have) After Seeing
Read More
-
How Would a 3D-Printed Shotgun Slug Hold Up? Here’s the Test
Read More
-
The Incredible Role Facebook Played in the Aftermath of Devastating Okla. Tornado
Read More
-
Tech Company Demonstrates Remote Disabling of a ‘Smart Gun’
131 Comments
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (245)
Robert999
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:56pmAmerica is an independent, Christian, Protestant nation. No true American should listen to the advice of any foreign Prince or Catholic Idolator.
Report this comment
barber2
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 9:53pmWasn’t Jesus from a foreign land ?
Report this comment
freedomofspeech
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:55pmThe Vatican, really? And they have their hands pure?
Report this comment
Colin Maynerdson III
Posted on January 20, 2013 at 8:59pmToo bad all the altar boys victimized by predator Priests weren’t armed and able to defend themselves from the perverts in robes.
Report this comment
pahrumper
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:54pmOnward Christian solders, marching “ON TO WAR”, and then the one that said, “kill them all god will sort them out”. Does the vat have anything else to add!?!?
Report this comment
lel2007
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:52pmThe Vatican’s chief spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi, made the statement in question, not the Pope. Lombardi did not attribute the statement to the Pope or stipulate it was the Pope’s opinion. Lombardi’s JOB is Vatican chief spokesman, that doesn’t mean every time he opens his mouth he’s speaking for The Vatican.
“Watch out that you are not deceived.”
Report this comment
PA_Iraq_Vet
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:50pmGreat. The Chomo’s are on board.
Report this comment
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:46pmLeft the catholic church long ago. Who needs a pope standing between one’s self and God?
Report this comment
Uechi
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:45pmSince when do we take direction from the Catholic or another church?. Since when do we take direction from foreign nations. The Catholic church should spend a little more time preventing the molestation and coverup of those crime on children an less time on gun issues. Where was the Catholic Church when Jews, Christians the mentally ill or deformed etc where being gased by the Nazis? I was born and raised a Catholic and the church has gone down the path of leftist ideas like Social Justice and now gun control.
Report this comment
rsanchez1
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:45pmVatican, what the ****?
Report this comment
iampraying4u
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 7:52pmvatican? you mean the city that sits on 7 hills
Report this comment
Uechi
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:38pmThere is no such thing as an ‘Assault Wepon”. The term was invented by anti-gun politicians to further there agenda. The word was never used by the military, the police or by gun owners. Please define exactly what an assault weapon is. The whole argument is a joke. For all the unenlightened morons like”Sendthem”eteors there are thousands upons thousands of local, state and federal gun regulations that are on the books that are not enforced. Parts of the annointed ones 23 executive actions was basically to enforce existing laws duh!
Name me one mass slaugther of people with firearms where people own and carry firarms? You won’be able too. These massacres happen in so called ” Gun Free Zones”. If you are going to argue for anti-gun measures first learn what you are talking about and stop talking thru your ****.
Report this comment
fande3rls
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:23pmSorry Pope your WRONG
Report this comment
CathyvanDyke
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:52pmfande3rls
The Pope is wrong regarding the disarming of the people and … the Pope is wrong regarding a personal relationship with God. Jesus Christ is the ONLY intermediate.
Luke 22:36
He (Jesus) said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”
1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”
Report this comment
Harvey
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:21pmThe pope ,or anyone ele has anything to do with what goes on this Nation.These people cant get their own house in order, they can andstay out of the American peoples buisness.
Report this comment
lassiegirldawn
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:18pmLombardi renewed Vatican appeals for disarmament and encouragement for measures to fight “the production, commerce and contraband of all types of arms,” an industry fueled by `’enormous economic and power interests.” This statement from a guy where the Vatican Bank is laundering mob money and tourists had to use cash when buying anything from Vatican City. Look up who will be aligned with the antichrist in end times.
Report this comment
CathyvanDyke
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:16pmIS THERE SOMETHING I AM NOT GETTING? While America is focused on the attack encompassing the 2nd Amendment by the current Administration … was the 1st Amendment signed away in secret by Barack Obama with the support of Congress? The silence from the major liberal networds is deafening. The silence from Glenn Beck is deafening?
Obama signs bill ‘in secret’ making FREE SPEECH ILLEGAL!
January 18, 2013
http://teapartyorg.ning.com/video/obama-signs-bill-in-secret-making-free-speech-illegal
Report this comment
Small World
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 11:36pmGod help us.
Report this comment
Gr8ful1jim
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:13pmAgain THE BLAZE is looking to further the effort in their incessant attack on the Catholic Church. Here they show a picture of Pope Benedict XVI, yet he has made no statement on the matter. A European style broad stroked statement on gun control is supported by a few church leaders and everyone jumps to the conclusion that the entire body of the Catholic Church supports taking guns away from law abiding citizens. Come on, wake up… The majority of Catholics in the US or the world do not support gun control. The Catholic Church has not come out and said we should lay down our arms. We should be educating those in the Church that a ban will not end the violence until we win the war on the “Culture of Death ” that liberals, secularists, and Hollywood have shoved down our throats. Jesus didn’t tell Peter to throw his sword away, only to put it back in its sheath.
Report this comment
lel2007
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:25pmFor the record, I agree.
Report this comment
Small World
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 11:41pmYou need to enlighten yourself and watch http://patdollard.com to see where your money is going.Its a viscous circle.
Report this comment
christos
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:12pm…Of course a follower of the anti +CHRIST+ would need back up from another follower of the anti +CHRIST+ lock step,,,maybe they can call on Mary to intercede.
Report this comment
dado7
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 3:11pmThese comments are merely Lombardi’s personal opinion, and not the teaching of the Church. The issue of gun control is a matter of prudential judgment and not a matter of faith or morals. Therefore, Catholics can and in my opinion should, disagree with any member of the Church, even the Pope, if they come out in support of gun control measures. Here is the teaching of the Church right from the Catechism (paragraph 2265): “Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.” The civil community entrusted to my responsibility is my family. I love the Church and I love my Catholic faith. I also love my second amendment right to keep and bear arms, and these things are not incompatible.
Report this comment
gz22ll
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:56pmHey Catholic Church keep your priests hands off our kids an our guns.
Report this comment
MrArbitrage
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:54pmCoward John Boehner & the Useless Idiots
John Bohener being re-elected as House Speaker GUARANTEES that after each dog & pony show – the GOP will capitulate to Obama and betray authentic Americans on every issue. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THESE USELESS IDIOTS. Shore up your State Legislatures.
http://youtu.be/dZTVWIaWRXA
Report this comment
gz22ll
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:54pmWhat is really amazing is the Pope is responsible for more deaths by not getting behind condoms in third world countries. There refusal to deal with birth control is responsible for more death and misery in these poor countries than firearms in the US.
Report this comment
MisterSarcastic
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:52pmDear Mr. Pope. I’ll support you concerning most things but when you come after my guns I will no longer support you concerning anything.
Report this comment
wbaranowski
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:50pm“…and the Earth is flat and is The Center Of The Universe, so there.” (Trans. from the Latin.)
Report this comment
Cuthalu
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:46pmWhat does an opinion of the Vatican have anything to do with our laws? Nothing but an appeal to authority on the part of the anti-gun zealots. Pathetic.
Report this comment
Cavallo
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:46pmHey, Beck, are we still all Catholics now? I’ve defended the Catholic church for the last time. They can lay in the fascist bed they have made. When the government forces them to violate the dogmas of their faith, I’ll f’ing laugh. Their path to God seems to need to be walked in the chains of the fascist State. Think on that.
Report this comment
Tigress1
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:43pmYour Holiness, would WWII have been different if the Jews had been armed against the Nazis?
Report this comment
hades3
Posted on January 19, 2013 at 2:38pmThe Catholic church is continuing it’s legacy by siding with another dictatorial regime. They played footsy with Soviet officials and the Hitler machine. One would think after sitting down with two previous
oppressive government machines they would have learned their lesson. If they actually believe they can pacify Obama into supporting people of faith, they might as well lay out the red carpet for the Antichrist. At least according to the prophesy his goals are “transparent”, unlike Obama’s.
Report this comment