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Cry of the Poor |
"How can it be that even today there are still people dying of hunger? Condemned to illiteracy? Lacking the most basic medical care? Without a roof over their heads? . . .
"Christians must learn to make their act of faith in Christ by discerning His voice in the cry for help that rises from this world of poverty."
Pope John Paul II
Novo Millennio Ineunte, no. 50
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 Vatican Status Raised at UN |
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Item submitted by Unregistered on Mon 5 Jul 2004 - 13:39 h |
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On July 1, 2004, the United Nations General Assembly voted unanimously to permanently upgrade the "Permanent Observer State" status at the United Nations. Prior to this resolution, the Vatican's primary means of communication with the General Assembly was through press releases. In order to speak at the General Assembly, the Vatican had to secure a sponsor from a Member State. This unanimous resolution effectively allows the Vatican's permanent observer, Papal Nuncio Celestino Migliore, to be more directly involved in Assembly and conference debates and to provide written communiques that will be included as official U.N. documents.
Among the new rights granted to the Vatican are the right to participate in General Assembly debates; the right to reply to speeches made during debates; the right to raise points of order; and the right to be seated in conference rooms behind Member States, and before other Observer States; and the ability to pursue voting coalitions among Member States.
While this was a unanimous resolution, it was not achieved without a fight. Arguing that the Vatican's unbending stands on abortion, marriage and use of condoms are unwanted intrusions of religion into civil affairs, as many as 400 non-governmental organizations (NGO's) at the United Nations were pressing to have the Vatican's status downgraded to NGO status.
The Vatican, for their part, had once entertained applying for Member State status. Vatican lawyers were involved in weighing the pros and cons of such a move.
While the Vatican opted out of pursuing Member State status, this raised Permanent Observer State status ensures the Catholic community a stronger voice in this international body. |
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Queen of Peace |
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