NationStates Jolt Archive

Defiance or Truth? Cardinal Condemns War with the Reich, calling it 'unjust' and 'scandalous'.
CRUNN, Carmel.

For perhaps the first time in the recent history of the Archdiocese of Carmel, and indeed, the whole nation, Church and State have clashed. At Ten O'Clock this morning, Joseph Cardinal Marco, the Archbishop of Carmel, held a Press Conference concerning the Reich-Prussian War. His Eminence, flanked by various priests and Archdiocesan officials, decried the quick jump to arms, on both sides of the conflict, saying,

"Both sides are at war in the name of God. Does God want war? No! Will God stop this war? Only if we work to stop it. Now I, in the name of our communal lord, Jesus Christ, beg both sides to declare a Christmas siezefire, at which time, both sides will sit down, and stop this abomination!"

The crowds cheered the Cardinal at the conclusion of his speech. Ironically, the guarding the Cardinal, with six on each side of the steps, were the Carabinieri, the military police of Cherry Ridge.

Sean Fitzgerald is the host of the Fitzgerald Report.

Statistics and Data on the Popularity of the War

Do you approve of the war with the Reich?

Strongly Approve- 18%
Approve- 25%
Unsure- 12%
Disapprove- 30%
Strongly Disapprove- 15%

Margin of error: + or - 2.25%

Imperial Response to the Cardinal

The Imperial Shogunate has no pretense that it is fighting in the name of the Lord. It has been long held here that God supports fighting only when the lives of innocents are at stake. Neither side had innocents at stake. We fight simply to preserve and assist an ally of State.

Though I agree to a cease fire for Christmas [OOC: won't be here for it], this war must continue until Allanea's defense is assured, whether that means simply repelling attackers, or crushing their institutions under foot.

It sickens me that the Reich invokes the name of God for their atrocities. Who, in attacking civilian targets with nuclear weapons, could say that this is God's will, let alone that God looks favorably upon this.

Nay, we fight not for God, but for man and State. War is not an instution of God, but an institution of Man. Thus, it must be called for, fought, and resolved solely by Man. War is not a manner or tool of God. It is solely a flaw of Man. We did not start this war, but we shall end it.

Shogun Nakamura Taiki

You Excellency,
You are engaged in this war, and there will be no peace until all calm down. The Prussia government makes this out to be a crusade, sending ministers as emissaries to sway neutral parties. You are on this side, and I was speaking generally.

God Bless, and Merry Christmas,
His Most Eminent Lordship, Joseph Cardinal Marco, By the Grace of God and the Favor of the Apostolic See, Archbishop of Carmel

In Response To Joseph "Cardinal" DeMarco

I make no pretext that war, outside of the wars of the Old Testament, is a just thing and a thing ordained by God. It is indeed, as the Shogun has insistend, an institution of man. I make a plea to all involved in the name of our Crucified and Risen lord for the following things only...to ensure that the attrocities that the Reich has committed not be allowed to go unpunished in this world and to ensure that they are not allowed to be repeated, and to limit the number of civilian casualties. This War is being fought for a noble goal.

Further, there has been no race to arms in the traditional sense. Allanea was brutally and unjustly attacked without warning by thermonuclear weapons. What recourse do we have? Shall we simply sit back and do nothing, talk to them about why they just killed millions of people and nicely ask them to not do it again? Thousands of Imperial Citizens outside of the Allanean populace have been killed. Imperial Guardsmen posted in Allanea have died. We have no option but to fight back.

As a Christian Emperor who considers War one of the ultimate evils, I ask the following in the Lord's name...let not the dead die in vain. The point of war is not to simply cause more suffering on the other party to repay them for the suffering we feel. The purpose of war is to write a wrong...in this case generations of wrong, of genocide, of warmongering, of pure evil that the Reich has perpetrated upon this world. It would be shameful to merely add to the list of casualties and accomplish nothing just as it would be shameful to merely wait for the next nuclear barrage and do nothing about it.

However, to curb the escalation of Nuclear Warfare, I have issued a decree banning the use of Nuclear weapons by any Imperial Nation against any population.

If you have any concerns with national policy, I urge you to first speak to me as we have been well acquainted instead of immediately airing your discontent with my government to the public without even the smallest attempt to reconcile your differances with me personally.

By the Grace of God, Joseph-Napoleon The First, Emperor of Greater Prussia, King of Reichskamphen, Sovreign of the Imperial Colonies, Defendor of the Faith, Minister to the World.

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*Cherry Ridge* (After the conclusion of affairs in Pantocratonia)

Rev. Graves had been on relatively friendly (personal, not theological) terms with the Cardinal for a good while, and noted with some distaste the Cardinal's swipe at him and his efforts to ensure a greater humanitarian response from neutral countries.

It was for this reason that Rev. Graves intended to pay a visit to the Cardinal. With him, were travelling two douzain Imperial Guardsmen and his personal secretary. He intended to get to the bottom of this matter immediately.

Your Imperial Highness, Joseph-Napoleon I, Emperor of Greater Prussia and King of Reichskamphen,

I write in response to the letter sent earlier to me by Your Highness.

I would not have spoken against the war, had it not been for the complete lack of any attempt, on either side, to make a move towards peace.

Yours in the Lord,
His Most Eminent Lordship, Joseph Cardinal Marco, Archbishop of Carmel
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After Graves' plane had touched down at Carmel International Airport, five black Mercedes-Benz luxury cars pulled up, and formed a semi circle around the steps leading up to the plane door. Twenty-Five navy blue uniformed Carabinieri sat inside a black armored transport, behind the convoy.

The Cardinal's personal guard consisted of fifty Carabinieri, usually with twenty-five on duty at a time. Now, because of the visit, all were on duty.

Ten guards exited, and threw a large mat leading from the plane, to the car the Reverend would be taking. The glistening snow was being slowly melted by the emerging sun, and crunched when one applied pressure to it, followed by the cry of frustration when one got their foot yet, hence, the mat. The Reverend was lead to the car, along with his assistant, and a guard. Another black truck pulled behind, and the other Imperial Guardsmen were ushered inside. As the convoy took off, two squad cars, again, Carabinieri, took the lead, and sped off to the Cathedral office.

Once they arrived at the Cardinal's office, they were met at the door by twenty-five more guards. The Imperial Guards were moved around back, though up to five were allowed to accompany Graves, and his assistant. They were led up a long hallway, put through security, though the Guards were allowed to keep their weapons. They then were ushered into an elevator, and taken to the correct floor. A nun smiled as she walked past, motioning for them to follow her.

She led them to an open room, with three small desks. At two sat veiled sisters, at the other, an attractive young brunette in a modern woman's business suit. The latter smiled at Graves, making eye contact, before pushing a button on her desk. The cardinal's voice came through, "Yes?" She replied, "Eminence, Reverend Graves and his party are here to see you." She was given the order to send them in, and they were sent through the wooden, soundproof door, marked:
Joseph Cardinal Marco
Archbishop.
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When they entered, the Cardinal stood up, buttoning the top two buttons on his jacket. He wore a modern clerical suit, trousers, shirt, and a jacket. The chain of his pectoral cross was visible, though the cross was not, as it was in his pocket. His collar was lined with a thin line of scarlet.

If one glanced around his office, they would first notice that it was not extremely large, yet not tiny. His massive wooden desk had his computer, though what was in the drawers behind was a mystery. There was a small crucifix facing his chair, along with pictures of his family, and a black office telephone. Behind his desk were two glass French doors, leading out to a small covered balcony, with a table, four chairs, a smaller table with a radio, and a barbecue. Overlooking a cobblestone street, a picturesque pond, and a small, though nice, and extremely delicious, little restaurant, the patio provided a beautiful view in which to conduct an informal meeting, or simply to have a friendly meal. Before this, view, however, was a lawn, and beautiful trees, a garden, and other shrubberies.

if one were to glance around the interior of the office again, one would see various religious pictures, personal pictures, a small altar, and a statue of Mary, inviting you to join her and her son. There was also a small closet, with a safe in the back, and a bathroom.
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The Cardinal extended his hand, and walked across the beige carpet, with his black suit contrasting to the spotless white walls. He motioned to three red-leathered chairs, and two red-leathered couches, which were near the television and stereo. After shaking hands, he took his seat behind the desk, his chair slightly higher than the others.

"Good Morning, Reverend. I assume I am correct in guessing that this is not an ecumenical meeting." Two Carabinieri guards stood at Parade Rest behind the Cardinal, two priests stood at corners of the room, with one more standing behind the Cardinal. This one offered the guests a drink, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or an alcoholic beverage, soft drink, or iced tea, motioning towards a cabinet across the room.

Before the Reverend could answer, the black desk phone rang. The Cardinal turned around and said, "Strange, they were supposed to hold all calls. Must be important." The Cardinal walked over, and answered, his ruby ring glinting in the light. All that Graves would hear was:
Praise God. Yes, release the statement.

A smile cracked across the prelate's face, "Reverend, Allanea and God's Own have declared a ceasefire." He motioned for him to sit again, then added, "Thank the lord, prayers do work. However, I still believe we must, ah, discuss?" The Cathedral bells crashed wildly, and slowly, one could hear the distant sound of bells from all over the city. Marco glanced out the window, and the Cathedral's main choir poured out the doors, and began to sing Christmas carols, praising God.

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Archdiocese of Carmel
Office of the Archbishop

The Archbishop, Joseph Cardinal Marco, who has previously called for peace, and opposed the war from the start, has issued the following statement:

"Prayers do work. Let this be counted as proof, and as a miracle, that prayers can indeed, and will, stop war, as long as man cooperates with God's will. I thank all those who have declared a ceasefire, and urge them to stay the course agaisnt those who would rather a surrender. To those who have not declared a ceasefire, I beg them, let it be. Let God guide his people to peace and true freedom. A mass will be offered for all victims."

Well, There's always debates between God and science. For lots of reasons...

ooc: What was the point of that? Don't clog my threads please, with needless posting.