The "See Change" Broadside #6: New Research Throws Light on the Holy See at the UN (fwd)

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The "See Change" Campaign <info at seechange.org> 2001.05.21. 16:13:11 -4h-kor írta:

Welcome to The "See Change" Broadside, a regular email to supporters of The "See Change" Campaign reporting on the involvement of the Catholic church hierarchy in public policy issues. To subscribe and receive this email regularly or to unsubscribe, see below.  If you have not already signed up to support the campaign, please visit our website www.seechange.org and click on "Sign a Postcard."
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Contrary to some claims, the Holy See was not invited to participate in
the United Nations. The Holy See itself initiated the process to become
recognized as a state by international bodies. The Holy See wanted to be
admitted to the League of Nations, the precursor to the UN, and reportedly
"regretted its exclusion" due to concerns about its statehood status and
the possibility that it would have undue influence on the votes of
Catholic member states.

This finding is among many in a new briefing paper from The "See Change"
Campaign, "Church or State? The Catholic Church at the United Nations."
The paper examines the history, status and role of the Holy See at the UN,
and, drawing extensively on legal sources, provides answers to some of the
many questions that have been raised about the legitimacy of the Holy
See's Non-member State Permanent Observer status. It also contains a
timeline on how that privileged status was obtained.

The briefing paper raises and answers such questions as:
1. Why does the Catholic church have this position?
2. How does the Vatican use its position at the UN?
3. What has happened in the campaign so far? What does the campaign hope
to achieve?

Key facts:
 
ˇ Of the four criteria for statehood laid out in the 1933 Montevideo
Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, the Holy See meets only
one: it exchanges diplomats with countries.

ˇ In October of 1944, Pope Pius XII inquired of US Secretary of State
Cordell Hull what the conditions of membership would be for the future
United Nations. Hull replied that "the Vatican would not be capable of
fulfilling all the responsibilities of membership."

ˇ The Holy See is, by definition, the government of the Roman Catholic
church and a "non-territorial religious entity"-not a state.

ˇ No vote was ever taken on the Holy See's presence at the UN by the
General Assembly.

The "See Change" Campaign is an international effort to open a review of
the "state" status of the Catholic church at the United Nations. Hundreds
of organizations from more than 80 countries and tens of thousands of
individuals worldwide have signed on to support the campaign. We believe
that the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic church, should
participate in the UN in the same way as the world's other religions do-as
a nongovernmental organization.

"The Holy See is not a state, but is accepted on the same footing as a
state."
"[T]he Vatican City State was not established as an autonomous purpose,
but as a means to support a religious body."
[Hyginus Eugene Cardinale, Titular Archbishop of Nepte, Apostolic Nuncio
to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Community in "The Holy See and the
International Order," 1976.]

To obtain your own copy of the briefing paper, see below. 

Action Points:
ˇ Forward this mail to five of your friends and ask them to support The
"See Change" Campaign by signing up at www.seechange.org.

ˇ Order your copy of "Church or State? The Catholic Church at the United
Nations." Copies cost $5.00. Please mail a check made payable to Catholics
for a Free Choice to: The "See Change" Campaign, 1436 U Street, NW, #301,
Washington, DC 20009, USA. You may also order a copy by phone with a
credit card by calling (+1) 202 986-6093. We accept Visa, MasterCard and
American Express.

ˇ Endorsing organizations may obtain copies for free.

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The "See Change" Broadside is a regular publication, emailed to supporters of the campaign, progressive Catholics and collegial organizations. We aim to show how the hierarchy of the Catholic church involves itself in public policy debates and, relying on sectarian religious positions, can, and does, obstruct progressive legislation. There is no copyright on this information. All we ask is that you tell people where it came from.

If you have not already signed up for the campaign, please visit our website www.seechange.org and click on "Sign a Postcard." You can also request campaign materials and sign your organization up as an endorser.
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The "See Change" Campaign is an international effort to open a review of the "state" status of the Catholic church at the United Nations. Hundreds of organizations from more than 80 countries and tens of thousands of individuals worldwide have signed on to support the campaign. We believe that the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic church, should participate in the UN in the same way as the world's other religions do-as a nongovernmental organization.
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If you do not want to receive emails about The "See Change" Campaign, please email us at info at seechange.org. 

Feel free to forward this email to other people and listservs encouraging them to sign up. 

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Join the "See Change" Campaign - www.seechange.org
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David Nolan, Senior Associate, Communications and Education
Catholics for a Free Choice, 1436 U Street, NW #301
Washington, DC 20009-3997, USA
T: (202) 986 6093; F: (202) 332 7995; 
E: djnolan at catholicsforchoice.org U: http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/