Cardinal marks Hiroshima A-bomb anniversary
August 07, 2013
Speaking at an interreligious gathering in Japan, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said that “the first atom bomb of 6 August 1945 at Hiroshima is a frightful wound inflicted upon the people of Japan and the whole human family.”
“Individuals and societies are always tempted by the passions of greed and hate; but they do not have to succumb,” said Cardinal Peter Turkson. “Instead of excluding those who are deprived, let us meet their needs. Instead of avoiding those who suffer, let us accompany them. Instead of cursing what we ourselves suffer, let us offer it up for others. Instead of hiding from today’s problems, let us together bravely address the social situations and structures that cause injustice and conflict.”
“From victims of suffering crushed by war, may I invite each of us, and our faith communities, to honor the memory of Hiroshima, by collaborating in solidarity to build real peace,” he continued.
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Further information:
- Cardinal Turkson: Real peace-making is to include and to integrate (Vatican Radio)
- Japan commemorates Hiroshima anniversary (Vatican Radio)
- Cardinal Turkson visits Japan for Hiroshima bombing anniversary (CWN, 8/5)
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Posted by: -
Aug. 07, 2013 10:34 AM ET USA
It's too bad that Cardinal Turkson could not mark this sad anniversary without engaging in anti-American propaganda. The good Cardinal labeled the devastation of Hiroshima as "senseless suffering," when in fact the necessity of attacking Nagasaki proved that it wasn't "senseless," that those atomic bombs saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers. Japan had chosen to take lives when it started the war. Hiro/Naga just kept as many deaths as possible on the enemy's side.
