FOR 4-29-06 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

We are coming off of a week in which Armenians and Jews solemnly remember the genocide of their ancestors. Yet, in the case of the Armenian Genocide, the American government has not recognized it officially. Does the government have a moral responsibility to officially recognize this part of history? If so, is such recognition important from a religious point of view?

Sometimes it is very difficult to face the truth. A teacher will tell a parent that his son is not doing well in class. Too often the parent makes excuses because it is too painful to face the truth. Governments and churches have the same problem especially when facing sensitive issues. Nations engage in diplomatic negotiations to make things better but sometimes they need to avoid causing more harm than good. Eventually we all must face the truth and better sooner than later.

At least 23 countries recognize the Armenian massacre as ≥genocide≤. So too does the Vatican. From 1970 there have been at least 4 meetings between the Pope and the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians which resulted in a mutual statement in November of 2000. ≥For both of us, the 20^th century was marked by extreme violence. The Armenian genocide, which began the century, was a prologue to horrors that would followäNevertheless, without diminishing the horror of these events and their consequences, there may be a kind of divine challenge in them, if in response Christians are persuaded to join together in deeper friendship in the cause of Christian truth and love.≤

The statement of John Paul II and His Holiness Karekin II is about 2 pages long and ends with ≥Finally, we seek the intercession of the Holy Mother of God for the sake of peace. May the Lord grant wisdom to the leaders of nations, so that justice and peace may prevail throughout the worldä≤

REV. GENE FRILOT

Pastor Emeritus

Incarnation Catholic Church

Glendale