here is another hint.. Jim Nicholson Head of the VA> says we are PAPAL STATES ha, so right he is... DIDN'T KNOW THAT DID YA!! WE WERE considered PAPAL states until
1870-( AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF Abe Lincon when WE found involvement of the Jesuits!) we were free until 1984!
BIO snipets>> he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the prestigious John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, and on January 7, 2003 he was presented with the coveted President's Medal from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. On October 16, 2003, Pope John Paul II named him a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX. The Grand Cross is the highest papal award given to a layman who is not a head of state.
Nicholson's tenure as Chairman was marked by record fund raising and flawless adherence to the rules and ethics, and culminated in the history making victories of the 2000 elections. Under Nicholson the Republican Party won the Presidency, the Congress, a majority of Governorships and state legislatures, a feat not achieved by Republicans in nearly fifty years
In 1999, Nicholson was honored by induction as a Knight in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, one of the highest honors awarded to a Roman Catholic.
In 2000, Nicholson was given the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, recognizing his climb from humble beginnings to a position of success, which has enabled him to serve others in America now less fortunate. Among community honors, Irish America magazine has named him one of the top 100 Irish Americans in the country. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Public Service, Honoris Causa, by Regis University in Denver in May of 2001. On August 10, 2001 Nicholson was sworn-in as the sixth U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, and presented his credentials to the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II on September 13, 2001.
The launch of the book* by Jim Nicholson, Ambassador of the United States to the Holy See, at the Pontifical Lateran University, 31 March 2004. The speeches by Senator Giulio Andreotti, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and the author
snipet>> Your mission, Mr. Ambassador Nicholson, will go down in history for the fact that you presented your letters of credentials a few hours after that 11 September 2001 which, with the massacre in New York, has given rise to an anguishing global problem, in facing which no one can avoid deep reflection and sacrifices
JIM NICHOLSON: This year marks the 20th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See. I have often characterized our relationship as one between the world's temporal superpower and its spiritual superpower, both sharing a common priority to promote human dignity. When I became U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, I realized that the history of this distinctive partnership was not well known. When Trenta Giorni approached me about the possibility of writing this history, I welcomed the opportunity to add to the story of the diplomatic relationship between my country and the Holy See. I want to thank Senator Andreotti and Trenta Giorni magazine for their interest in the United States, and for the opportunity to write about our relationship with the Vatican. I would also like to express my special thanks to Trenta Giorni editor, Giovanni Cubeddu, and his team, for their outstanding collaboration and professionalism in both publications of The Long Road – it has been a pleasure to work with him. Giovanni is a patient man when it comes to publishing deadlines, although I know we tried his patience a time or two. I am honored that His Eminence Cardinal Tauran and Secretary of State Powell have enriched this book with a preface in which they eloquently share their perspectives on this relationship. Finally, I want to thank Bishop Fisichella for his interest in this subject and for his hospitality here at the Lateran tonight. It is a pleasure to see so many friends here this evening. I'm particularly pleased to see so many colleagues from the Vatican and the diplomatic corps with whom I have had the privilege of working these past two plus years. When I began work on the first edition of "The United States and the Holy See, The Long Road" two years ago with the help of a group of young research assistants I was intrigued to find out that this relationship began during the very first years of the American Republic. Its early protagonists included such personalities as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, the Jesuit, John Carroll, and Pope Pius VI.
The second edition of "The Long Road" takes our story right up to our 20th anniversary. The central issue of this most recent period was of course the war in Iraq – an issue in our relationship that has been subject to some considerable misunderstanding
For some two hundred years the diplomatic relationship between the United States and the Holy See ebbed and flowed as the geo-political climate of each historical period influenced the relationship. The early years saw the appointment of consuls and resident ministers to what was then the Papal States, here to assist U.S. citizens and promote U.S. commercial interests. With the loss of the Papal States in 1870 the relationship entered a long pause, as the United States and the Holy See continued to engage each other, but at a diplomatic distance. With the outbreak of World War II and the challenge it posed to freedom and justice, this limited engagement was no longer tenable. Recognizing the important role the Holy See played throughout Europe, President Roosevelt appointed Myron Taylor as his Personal Representative to Pope Pius XII. Taylor would emerge as a crucial intermediary between the president and the pope as the U.S. tried unsuccessfully to keep Italy from entering the war. True to the humanitarian face Roosevelt had placed on his mission – a mission we continue to fulfill today – Taylor worked closely with the Vatican to feed refugees streaming across the borders of Europe, to provide material aid to the victims of war-torn Eastern Europe, and to assist allied prisoners of war. Despite an effort by President Truman to formalize the relationship by appointing WWII hero, General Mark Clark, as U.S. Ambassador, the effort again ran aground in Congress, where emotional concerns about Church-State separation continued to generate opposition. As a result, there were occasional representatives in the 1970's and early 1980's, but it was only in 1984, with Pope John Paul II emerging as a critical voice for freedom and justice that President Reagan decided that the United States could no longer afford to be without an Ambassador to the Holy See. Recognizing in the Polish, globetrotting pope a friend and ally in his drive to "tear down" the Iron Curtain, President Reagan succeeded in getting, for the first time, the needed consent of the U.S. Congress and appointed William Wilson as the first U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. When Wilson presented his credentials to Pope John Paul II in April 1984, the Pope told him that renewed collaboration between the United States and the Holy See should mean, "exerting common efforts to defend the dignity and the rights of the human person." The Pope's words would set the direction for the future of this vital partnership between two of the world's leading voices for freedom, justice, and human dignity. Twenty years later, I can attest that the partnership has proven its value – to the United States, to the Holy See, and to the cause of human dignity. Working together during these past twenty years, the United States and the Holy See helped spur the collapse of communism both through our close consultation on developments in Poland, and, more profoundly, from what one of President Reagan's advisors termed "a unity of spiritual view and a unity of vision on the Soviet empire" – that right would ultimately prevail. Likewise, in Central America, the United States and the Holy See opposed communist insurgents and ultimately restored stability to the region. In the Philippines, the U.S. and the Holy See were again on the side of freedom as we both helped steer that country toward a peaceful democratic transition. In international fora, we continue to actively promote human rights, religious freedom, and the dignity of human life on every continent. The first edition of The Long Road covers the relationship from the beginning to my arrival here, coinciding with the tragic attacks of September 11. It includes the Holy See's support for United States' actions against the al Qaeda threat – a position then forcefully articulated by His Eminence Cardinal Tauran. The second edition of "The Long Road" takes our story right up to our 20th anniversary. The central issue of this most recent period was of course the war in Iraq – an issue in our relationship that has been subject to some considerable misunderstanding. I therefore welcomed the opportunity offered by Trenta Giorni to undertake a "second edition" of The Long Road in order to bring some clarity to these misconceptions. First, let me say that the true test of a strong relationship between nation-states is whether it withstands tension and disagreement. The Iraq War provided such a test for the United States and the Holy See, although it was a test due more to disagreement over means than ends. We weathered that test for the basic reason that the United States and the Holy See never ceased to share a focus on the Iraqi people, and how we could work together to help build a democratic and prosperous future for the long-suffering Iraqis. In fact, the Holy See's CARITAS relief organization has been active in Iraq before, during, and after the war, and is working closely with U.S. efforts to rebuild the health infrastructure. Likewise, the Chaldean Church, with over half a million Catholics in Iraq, has offered a needed voice of moderation and religious tolerance. The Chaldean Patriarch maintains a regular dialogue with U.S. Administrator, Ambassador Bremmer, on issues of relief, reconstruction, and religious freedom. Suzanne and I had the privilege of meeting the Patriarch in Rome shortly after his election, and he greeted me by saying: "Thank you for freeing my country!" Despite our cooperation in Iraq, there is no doubt that the period before the war was a particularly intense time in our bilateral dialogue. The Holy See emerged as a focal point for diplomatic activity for countries on both sides of the Iraq issue. Recognizing the importance of the Holy See's voice, my Embassy worked hard to convey U.S. concerns about Iraq to Vatican officials, highlighting Iraq's 12-year defiance of United Nations resolutions, its use of weapons of mass destruction on its own people, and its continued internal repression and human rights abuses. We found that Vatican officials shared our concerns about Saddam Hussein's regime and our desire to prevent the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. In fact, senior officials went out of their way to counter a misleading public impression that the Holy See was sympathetic towards Iraq. This is not to say that the Holy See supported war. The Pope was not in favor of the war. He's against all wars because he's a man of peace. But he is not a pacifist! He consistently affirmed what the Church teaches about war – that sometimes it is necessary as a last resort, and that it falls to civilian leaders to make the prudential decisions on whether military action is required to protect their citizens. The Holy See conveyed to us the moral and ethical framework they used to evaluate the situation in Iraq. Cardinal Laghi, representing the Pope, did an able job explaining the Vatican's position. The President listened carefully; I was there. He then made his decision based on the threat information he had, and his responsibilities to the American people.
IRAQUI CONSTITUTION. The president of the governing Iraqi Council, Mohammed Bahr al-Ulloum, signs the provisional Constitution, 8 March 2004
As a result, the people of Iraq now have a chance to live in freedom and to move beyond the era of mass graves, torture, and repression. This transition is not without its costs, and will not be easy, but the world will be better off with a peaceful, stable, and democratic Iraq. In recognition of this new chance, the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano told Vice President Cheney in January that the Holy See regretted American and other casualties in Iraq, noting that the Holy See regarded these brave soldiers as "workers for peace." Our efforts on behalf of human rights and human dignity in Iraq are part and parcel of the broader strategy of the United States to speak out against violations of the non-negotiable demands of human dignity and to work actively to advance freedom. In fact, the National Security Strategy of the United States makes clear that the first goal of our international engagement today is to: "stand firmly for the non-negotiable demands of human dignity, the rule of law, limits on the absolute power of the state, free speech, freedom of worship, equal justice, respect for women, for religious and for ethnic tolerance and respect for private property."1 This goal is also the core of the Holy See's vigorous international engagement. This shared desire to defend human dignity gives rise to an active dialogue on human rights. Last year, the United States sought the Holy See's moral voice to condemn the summary executions and detentions in Cuba. The Holy See indeed did speak up, with us and with other nations that support freedom and democratic values against the arbitrary actions of the Cuban government. Similarly, the Holy See has also been quick to bring to our attention its concerns about human rights threats whether in Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe, or Saudi Arabia, and to urge U.S. action to address these problems. One of the greatest affronts to human dignity in today's world is the crime of trafficking in persons, and it is another area in which the United States is leading the defense of human dignity. President Bush surprised many when he devoted nearly a third of his address to the UN General Assembly last September to what he termed a "humanitarian crisis spreading, yet hidden from view" of nearly a million human beings bought, sold or forced across the world's borders. Among these victims are hundreds of thousands of women and teenage girls, who fall victim to the sex trade. To help defeat this evil, my Embassy has been actively working in partnership with the Holy See, particularly to develop prevention and rehabilitation strategies for trafficking victims. In May 2002, we sought to expand awareness of this modern day slavery by organizing with the Holy See an international conference with 400 participants from 35 countries. We were pleased to have Cardinal Tauran represent the Holy See at that event and to affirm the Pope's commitment to defeating this evil. As attention to this problem has increased, we have turned to ways to actively combat the problem. Working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) we have recently funded and developed a training program specifically targeted at women religious workers to provide them with anti-trafficking strategies and skills. This course is strengthening the commitment and capacity of people willing and able to combat this odious 21st century version of slavery. To further build on these initiatives, I have also shared the outcome of our conference and training session with Vatican Nuncios the world over, encouraging them – with good effect – to work with their own Bishops Conferences and local U.S. Embassies to develop their own anti-trafficking efforts. Starvation claims a child every six seconds. To spare millions from starvation in the future, the United States is determined to help troubled nations avert famine by sharing with them the most advanced methods of crop production. Through advances in biotechnology, many farmers in developed nations are able to grow crops resistant to drought, pests and disease, friendly to the environment, with greater yields per acre. In this effort, as well, we are working closely with the Holy See, which has recognized the moral imperative of feeding the world's hungry and has maintained a welcome openness to the potential of biotechnology to curtail famine and malnutrition. I believe this is an issue in which the Holy See needs to invest its moral authority even more forcefully. For this is not only a political and economic issue; it is a vital moral issue – a life issue – for a child who dies from starvation is just as dead as one who dies of an abortion. We want the Vatican to join us in the forefront in allowing the potential of biotech food to be shared with those in the greatest need.
TRAFFIC OF HUMAN BEINGS. The Secretary of State Colin Powell during the presentation of the annual report on the trafficking in persons, Washington, June 2003
AIDS claims 8,000 lives every day. It is an affront to human dignity. President Bush has termed it a "challenge to our conscience." AIDS kills over 3 million people per year. We must act decisively to meet this humanitarian crisis. Here, too the United States is showing unprecedented global leadership as we begin to implement the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – a plan aimed at preventing AIDS on a massive scale, and treating millions who already have the disease. To make good on this commitment, the United States has pledged $15 billion over five years to fight AIDS around the world. Our Embassy is also contributing to this effort, by facilitating financial support from the Presidential Fund for the Sant' Egidio Community's successful anti-retroviral treatment program in Mozambique, and other priority countries in Africa. Through Catholic Relief Agencies, Americans also support the tremendous efforts of the Catholic Church worldwide to provide care and assistance to 25 percent of all victims of this dreaded health catastrophe. As we join together to make progress on these and other issues, I believe that this still young, but maturing, diplomatic partnership between the United States and the Holy See – a relationship rooted precisely in the primacy of the human person and his freedom – will prove increasingly central to our ability to meet the many challenges of our time. Today's challenges are moral challenges, and they must be resolved with moral clarity and the ability to translate that clarity into action. Working together, the United States and the Holy See can help build a world of freedom, hope and peace. Already we have done much to elevate the human condition, but there is much more to do. With faith and determination, we will continue to advance the cause of human dignity. This second edition of The Long Road celebrates our past achievements and looks forward to an even brighter future. Once again, I commend Senator Andreotti and Trenta Giorni for their interest, initiative, and support in making it possible to share this story of our important partnership for human dignity.
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