Silent Culpability Poem by Saiom Shriver

Note:

Part of Pope Francis' speech to the US Congress, the first time in 239 years that a Pontiff spoke to the legislative body.



'Being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world. Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.'



Full text of speech

http: //www.politico.com/story/2015/09/pope-francis-speech-to-congress-transcript-text-video-214016



Pope Francis calls for global abolition of the death penalty

http: //www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/24/pope-francis-congress-abolish-death-penalty



http: //allpoetry.com/column/12161140-Pope_Francis_Pope_Of_The_Poor__Of_Mother_Earth__Of_Prisoners-by-saiom



http: //mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/shared/npr/styles/x_large/nprshared/201509/443111443.jpg