archives

On Tuesday, the General Assembly of the United Nations approved a resolution calling for a global moratorium on the death penalty by a vote of 104 nations in favor, 54 against, and 29 abstentions. Today, L’Osservatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper, carried an interview with Cardinal Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, commenting on the result. The following is an NCR translation of that interview from the Italian.

By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
New York

In what amounts almost to a valedictory address, the current leader of the Jesuit order, set to resign in early January, has praised his controversial predecessor for committing the Jesuits to a path of reform, steering between what he called “fanatical proponents” of the status quo and a radical break with the past that “leaves nothing but empty spaces and ruins.”

I do find these lessons very powerful in getting us to understand who Jesus really is and what he expects of us. When you look at the gospel lesson, it is suggested - by some at least - that John the Baptist really didn't have any doubts about Jesus; he knew who Jesus was, what he was doing and why, and so he just sent his disciples [to Jesus] for their benefit, because they were reluctant to leave him and follow Jesus. He wanted them to go and be really convinced.