REGARDING THE POPE'S CALL SUPPORTING TALKS BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA

During his annual speech to diplomats, Pope Francis expressed his concern about the threat of nuclear war on the Korean peninsula.  The Holy Father called upon the nations of the world to support talks between North and South Korea.

He said, in part, "It is of paramount importance to support every effort at dialogue on the Korean peninsula, in order to find new ways of overcoming the current disputes, increasing mutual trust and ensuring a peaceful future for the Korean people and the entire world."

The pope's comments come the day before North and South Korea are scheduled to hold high-level talks for the first time in more than two years.

Always, we commend the Holy Father’s consistent pleas and prayers for world peace as well as the means of dialogue, mutual trust and support which can bring calm and resolution to international disputes.

However, Pope Francis must know that the present North Korean regime is as trustworthy as was the regime which preceded it.

Frankly, I see this latest move by North Korea to be nothing less than a publicity stunt aimed at stalling any significant discussions regarding the dictator regime’s alarming nuclear program.

South Korea has already proposed sending a five-member delegation led by a government minister to rare talks with North Korea next week, the Unification Ministry in Seoul said Saturday.

The offer came a day after the two Koreas agreed to hold their first official dialogue in more than two years to discuss the North's participation in the Winter Olympics.

Let no one be surprised that following the Olympics, North Korea likely will return to its old ways, dialogue will end, and the regime will once again boast its commitment to becoming a nuclear power in the weeks and months ahead.

North Korea must never be allowed to become a nuclear power.

Sadly, the window for negotiating a resolution to this impasse is narrowing quickly and will close soon enough.

The world and the Church must be prepared for what I believe will be the inevitable resolution to North Korea’s nuclear threats and that is by military intervention.

War is looming on the Korean peninsula.  While no one wants war, the world must be prepared to understand that North Korea is leaving little other options open.

We join with Pope Francis in his call for a peaceful resolution, but we do so open to the reality that such a peace may only come by way of conflict and bloodshed.

Dear Lord, may this not come to pass.  But give us the wisdom and resolve to protect our country and our world from nuclear holocaust at the hands of a regime which both arrogant and fearfully dangerous.