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A Holy Mission
On this joyous Easter Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI called for peace around the world. At the same time, however, he took a strong stand in his choice to publicly baptize and welcome Magdi Allam into the Catholic Church. This Italian Journalist and former Muslim drew death threats from Hamas for his criticism of Palestinian suicide bombings and support for Israel. Just days before, Osama Bin Laden targeted Pope Benedict, accusing him of launching a crusade against Islam. While I hardly call it a crusade, I am pleased to note that Benedict is making a strong impression as the leader of the Church. His predecessor, John Paul II was known for his leading role in the fight against communism. Benedict seems to be acting in a similar vein, taking a stand against the largest threat facing the world today: terrorism justified by radical Islam.
Benedict emphasizes his desire for peace, while also flexing the power of the Church. Many think that the Church is losing influence, particularly due to declining mass attendance, but tickets to the masses to be celebrated by Benedict in the United States were tremendously difficult to obtain. These coveted tickets were distributed mainly through lotteries by the various dioceses. Thousands of the faithful gathered today in St. Peter’s Square to attend Easter mass despite thunder and rain. The conversions celebrated all around the world at Easter Vigil indicate the continued strength of the Church. As long as the millions of Catholics around the world believe, Pope Benedict will have the opportunity to take a leading role in uniting the world against this threat to the safety and security of all.
Featured posts
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October 18, 2009
When Love Beckoned in 52nd Street
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October 9, 2009
D Afraid of a Little Competish
So our colleague and Dartblog writer Joe Asch informed me that the D has rejected our cunning advertising campaign. Uh-oh. The Dartmouth is widely known as a breeding ground for instant New York Times successes,… -
September 4, 2009
How Regents Should Reign
As Dartmouth alumni proceed through the legal hoops necessary to defuse a Board-packing plan—which put in unhappy desuetude an historic 1891 Agreement between alumni and the College guaranteeing a half-democratically-elected Board of Trustees—it strikes one… -
August 29, 2009
Election Reform Study Committee
If you are an alum of the College on the Hill, you may have received a number of e-mails of late beseeching your input for a new arm of the College’s Alumni Control Apparatus called… -
August 23, 2009
Fare Thee Well, Tom Crady
And now Dean Tom Crady has precipitously announced his departure from the College after only 20 months on the job. How to read this? By way of background, prior to coming to Dartmouth, Crady had… -
May 31, 2009
Kangaroo Court, Indeed
In an interview with The Dartmouth, alumni-elected trustee T.J. Rodgers ‘70 explained his reasons for declining to participate in future evaluations of trustees up for “re-election,” namely the “kangaroo court” nature of such discussion in…