David Codrea

“Firearms in the hands of civilians should be strictly limited and eventually completely eliminated,” is the position of the Catholic Church, Carol Glatz of Catholic News Service reports.

Citing a November 2000 statement from the U.S. bishops on crime and criminal justice, Glatz calls our attention to a significant footnote:

[W]e believe that in the long run and with few exceptions — i.e. police officers, military use — handguns should be eliminated from our society.

You know, the “Only Ones.”

And it’s not just in the U.S.:

[T]he Vatican has been pushing for decades for…stricter limitations on the illegal and legal sale, trade and use of small firearms and weapons…

How would this be done?  By states imposing strict “gun control”.

You know, like in Mexico.

Tommaso Di Ruzza, “the expert on disarmament and arms control at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace” tells us “armed defense is something appropriate for nations, not for all individual citizens in a state where rule of law is effective.”

So basically subjects need to disarm and give rulers whatever they want.  Because you have to admit, “monopoly of violence” laws seem pretty effective at producing that result.

Di Ruzza said that in “a democracy, where there is respect for institutions (of law), the citizen relinquishes his right to revenge onto the state,” which, through its law enforcement and courts system, aims to mete out a fair and just punishment.

We’re told “The Catholic Church recognizes that “states will need to be armed for reason of legitimate defense.”

But what about individuals needing immediate protection?

Di Ruzza said that in “a democracy, where there is respect for institutions (of law), the citizen relinquishes his right to revenge onto the state,” which, through its law enforcement and courts system, aims to mete out a fair and just punishment.

So apparently the state will be there to protect its citizens when attacks occur. And the fact that government is controlling things miraculously transubstantiates “revenge” into “legitimate defense.”

Understand that Di Ruzza is an official of the Holy See.  Which kind of relegates his pronouncements to…uh…“bull.” One would think Benedict, with his early life experiences, would know better than this.

If the choice were forced on them, I can’t help but wonder how many of the tyranny and genocide-enabling, cloistered clerics who embrace this nonsense would also embrace martyrdom over apostasy if their usefulness is ended.  But here’s the thing: If this is the official position of the Catholic Church, if its leadership truly believes guns in private hands are evil and must be eliminated, they should demonstrate the courage of their convictions:

Declare private gun ownership a sin.

Deny communion to all disobedient Catholics who do not relinquish theirs.

Excommunicate all who willfully remain in a state of defiance and who encourage rebelliousness.

And, for Heaven’s sake, decanonize this guy.

Also see:

• The cross and the gun

[H/T Dave Y/GunLeaders.com]

Original article can be viewed here

  2nd amendment, Catholic Church, Catholic Church against guns, David Codrea, Gun Rights Examiner