NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- In a powerful public statement issued from Baghdad, Cardinal Roger Etchegarary today called for an end to the international embargo against Iraq, but also denounced the country's arms build-up.

      Cardinal Etchegaray, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, is on a tour of the Middle East, with stops planned in Jordan and Israel as well. The appearance of such a prominent Vatican official in Iraq-- timed to coincide with an international ecumenical conference in Baghdad-- was a significant new sign of Vatican interest in ending the embargo, which the Pope has repeatedly denounced.

      Cardinal Etchegaray made his condemnation of the embargo a key point of his address to the international gathering, at which the leaders of various Christian denominations will spell out their own positions on the topic. Speaking on the role of the churches as peacemakers, the cardinal said that Christianity offers "exceptional realism" in her analysis of public events. But he added that the Church is "divine as well as human," and cannot be aligned with any earthly power.

      After the symposium, Cardinal Etchegaray will visit the Ur, according to tradition the birthplace of Abraham. That locale has been indicated as the possible site of a papal trip to Iraq-- a project which has been listed among the many goals the Pope would like to fulfill during the Jubilee Year 2000.