Protestant View

The Vatican's pleas on behalf of General Pinochet

THE fact that the Vatican is exerting his influence upon the British government to have General Pinochet returned to Chile and not extradited to Spain, is true to the character of the Papacy. For many centuries it has meddled in the affairs of nations in pursuit of its own interests, and has not hesitated to support evil dictators in order to maintain or increase its own power.

The Pope has urged Britain, through diplomatic channels, to block General Pinochet's extradition to Spain, where he faces charges of genocide, murder and torture. It will be Mr Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, who will have to take the final decision as to whether the general should be sent to Spain, if the Law Lords accept that he can be extradited. Undoubtedly, the Vatican is interfering in Britain's affairs by trying, as one commentator says, "to influence Mr Straw's thinking at this stage".

Not only is the Vatican meddling in the affairs of this nation but it is also supporting a man who, when he took power in Chile in 1973, instituted a reign of murderous brutality. Up to a quarter of a million Chileans were imprisoned in concentration camps, and many were tortured and executed. The BBC has stated that when Pinochet was in power, the Pope was one of his critics. Whatever critical comments he may or may not have made, his support of Pinochet was evident when he visited Chile in 1987.

The leopard has not changed its spots. Rome continues to be a mighty political power masquerading as the Christian religion. In this century alone, its record of intrigue and interference in the political life of Europe, Latin America, the USA and other parts of the world testify to this fact. Scripture reveals that the day is coming when Rome, the great Babylon of Revelation 17:5, will be stripped of her power; and when rulers who are bewitched by her power will mourn, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen" (Rev. 18:2).

The Cardinal's ten point plan for the nation

IT is amazing how the Roman Catholic Church and its pope continue to be portrayed by the media as bastions of morality when, in fact, the Papal system is laden with iniquity. Of course, the media is largely aware of the immorality of Rome and in the present climate cannot avoid reporting court cases involving priests, but when so many supporters of Rome are in positions of influence in the media, the picture of the Church of Rome presented to the public is largely favourable.

In an article in The Daily Telegraph, Cardinal Hume has indicated the need for morality in our society, and proposed a ten point plan of action as we approach the next millennium. One has no difficulty in agreeing with some of his points. First on his list is a society that promotes marriage and the family; next is a society that ceases to be obsessed with sex and curbs pornography.

But it is preposterous for him to write in this vein when the Church of Rome features frequently in the news on account of the scandalous immorality among its priests, which is increasingly coming to light. Very recently, for example, Birmingham Roman Catholic priest Thady O'Malley was jailed for three years for such offences; and Archbishop Ward of Cardiff has been arrested by police investigating allegations of sexual abuse. His former aide, the priest John Lloyd, was jailed for eight years in December for similar offences.

It is also absurd for Rome to put itself forward as the champion of marriage when it is characterised by Scripture as "forbidding to marry" (1 Tim. 4:3). The enforced celibacy of her priests is undoubtedly a cause of much sin. It therefore ill becomes Rome to preach to the nation about morality.

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