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Mission Leader Pays Tribute to Pope John Paul II as Champion of Peace |
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The Rev. R. Randy Day paid tribute to Pope John Paul II, who died today (April 2), as “a powerful champion of peace between and within nations” and a steadfast opponent of the death penalty. Rev. Day is the chief executive officer of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, an international mission agency that counts the promotion of peace and justice among its goals. The 84 year-old pope, Day said, “was consistent throughout his long papacy in the promotion of non-violent solutions to disputes large and small, and he was unswerving in his opposition to the menace of nuclear weapons.” The United Methodist mission leader noted that affinity exists between John Paul’s views on war and weapons and those of The United Methodist Church and its Council of Bishops. “John Paul’s mighty voice for peace and his frequent calls to transform swords into plowshares will be acutely missed,” Day said. “So will his strong opposition to capital punishment in all forms. I hope that his successor will be as clear and as forceful in his witness for a world of peace and justice.” The United Methodist Church is opposed to the death penalty. The full text of Day’s statement follows: Pope John Paul II was a powerful champion of peace between and within nations. He was consistent throughout his long papacy in the promotion of non-violent solutions to disputes large and small, and he was unswerving in his opposition to the menace of nuclear weapons. Great affinity exists between his views on war and weapons of mass destruction and those expressed by The United Methodist Church over the last two decades by our representative General Conference and our Council of Bishops. John Paul’s mighty voice for peace and his frequent calls to transform swords into plowshares will be acutely missed. So will his strong opposition to capital punishment in all forms. I hope that his successor will be as clear and as forceful in his witness for a world of peace and justice. The Rev. R. Randy Day
Date posted: Apr 02, 2005 |
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