Madam, - I was delighted to see that the Vatican has come out strongly against the death penalty for Saddam Hussein.
Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has asked that Saddam be treated with compassion and given a fair trial. Speaking at a press conference to present Pope John Paul II's World Day of Peace message, the cardinal made it clear that the Vatican was against the death penalty.
He went on to express the Vatican's displeasure at the broadcast of TV images of a bedraggled Saddam Hussein undergoing a medical examination shortly after his capture. He said: "What caused me pain was seeing this ruined man treated like a cow whose teeth are being examined. They could have spared us these pictures."
Yes, it goes without saying that Saddam Hussein is responsible for the most terrible crimes, but he is still a human being and, as such, his dignity must be respected. I found the treatment of his capture by the tabloid press utterly revolting and sickening. But, then again, the tabloid press is invariably vile and disgusting.
Cardinal Martino also says: "If the West finds itself unable to demonstrate justice with humanity then it will be guilty of the most unforgivable hypocrisy. Saddam Hussein must be treated humanely. It is the least Saddam can expect from leaders who protested so strongly against the inhumanity of his regime, and who sent us all to war in the name of democracy, freedom and respect for the human person."
The cardinal went on to add that the detention of Saddam does not justify the terrible war against Iraq which was "Useless and served no purpose".
Let us ask ourselves: did this awful war lead to a peaceful Iraq or has it caused untold suffering and chaos in that unfortunate country? What's more, there is no sign of an end to this pain and suffering in sight. It is certainly clear that the Iraqi people don't want the US in Iraq. - Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY REDMOND, North Great George's Street, Dublin 1.