Priest Voted U.N. Gen. Assembly President

The Rev. Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann Says World Most Needs "Love."

(AP)  A Nicaraguan priest who has been a stern critic of the United States won election Wednesday as the next president of the U.N. General Assembly, beginning his post with a "sermon" that touched on love, politics and the Iraq war.

The presidency of the 192-nation assembly rotates by region and lasts for a year. The assembly elected 75-year-old Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, a Roman Catholic priest who was born in Los Angeles. He succeeds Macedonian diplomat Srgjan Kerim.

"They elected a priest. And I hope no one is offended if I say that love is what is most needed in this world. And that selfishness is what has gotten us into the terrible quagmire in which the world is sinking, almost irreversibly, unless something big happens," d'Escoto said during a news conference. "This may sound like a sermon. Well, OK."

In his acceptance speech, d'Escoto spoke out against what he called "acts of aggression" in Iraq and Afghanistan - without mentioning the U.S. by name.

"The behavior of some member states has caused the United Nations to lose credibility as an organization capable of putting an end to war and eradicating extreme poverty from our planet," he said.

The remarks drew immediate protests from the U.S.

"The president of the General Assembly is supposed to be a uniter," said Richard Grenell, a spokesman for the U.S. Mission. "We have made it clear that these crazy comments are not acceptable, and we hope he refrains from this talk and gets to work on General Assembly business."

D'Escoto has long been a supporter of Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega, who once allied himself with Fidel Castro and the Soviet Union and won re-election as Nicaragua's president in 2006.

D'Escoto was foreign minister of Nicaragua for the leftist Sandinistas during the 1980s. Last September, he addressed the General Assembly on climate change as a presidential adviser to Ortega.

He told reporters he has always had a "great love" for the U.S., though he acknowledged that he once described President Bush in an interview years ago as an adherent of manifest destiny whose policies had made the world less safe.

D'Escoto also criticized the veto power the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China exert over the U.N. Security Council.

"Certainly I hope that my presidency will address what has become a universal clamor all over the world for the democratization of the United Nations," he said, adding that some people refer to the U.N. as the "longest-lasting dictatorship in the world."

Unlike the Security Council, whose votes can set international law, the General Assembly's resolutions aren't binding. But the assembly controls the U.N. budget and it serves as a world forum for debate.

[dsr57]

The UN is worthless and has outlived it''s usefulness. I don''t think there is a counrty on earth that really cares what they say

[ramos937]

OK...let''s give the guy a chance.

On another note.....I firmly believe that the UN should be relocated to another country - preferably Switzerland. It would be best for us and best for the other countries.
For reasons too numerous to list here.

[Latrocinor]

.His priestly garb is only a misleading cover.

Posted by ozonmojo
.. .. ..

kinda looks like a suit.

[Latrocinor]

Another Child Molister from the cathloc church?. Who will stop them now

Posted by WarDogLRS
... ... ...

You know you want him...that''s why you brought it up.

[omded]

You know, I hear a lot of people who call themselves "conservatives" also tout their faith in "Jesus Christ". Well, remember folks, that Jesus is the one who scolded his supporter when he cut off the ear of the high priest''s servant. This was during Jesus'' arrest, and Jesus told the man (regarding his sword), "Put that away! He who lives by the sword sooner or later dies by it." Then he healed the servant''s ear. If you "conservatives" really do "believe in Jesus Christ", then I frankly don''t see why you can''t listen to this new UN official. I think that''s what Jesus would have done, and would want you to do. Jesus wasn''t someone who solved his problems by loading up his guns.

Regarding the generalization of all priests being child molesters, let''s be realistic. Not all priest molest children. Many of them truly sacrifice their lives in the belief that, by doing so, they''ll be drawing the rest of us closer to God. These good priests are very honorable men, and your blanket condemnation of them is wholly inappropriate. It sounds like something you''d expect in your local high school.

Obviously, like the fact that not all priests are child molesters, not all "conservatives" are idiots. But, I have to tell some of you. You''re giving true conservatives a real bad name. Grow up.

[deacon20081]

...sorry folks I was going to make a post but I can''t stop laughing at some of your posts......
It''s a Catholic Conspiracy!! OMG

[ozonmojo]

Nicaraguan priest is actually an oxymoron.The guy from the present government of that country could only be a hardcore Marxist who hates America like his government''s mentor Hugo Chavez does.His priestly garb is only a misleading cover.

[trishab4]

if he is pissed off about US agression, corruption and lies..wait TILL HE GETS A CLOSER LOOK AT HIS EMPLOYER..I give it a few months before this guy runs out of that place.
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Posted by libsluv2spit at 10:13 PM : Jun 04, 2008

-His employers are the citizens of all Nations of the World. When it comes to American citizens, they certainly are not so well represented by the IDIOT-In_CHIEF, whose approval has dropped to a record low since this constitution has been voted and adopted. They are suffering a dictator and a war criminal mistakenly voted in for president.

[haoli25]

Uh oh, bend over altar boys.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "In his acceptance speech, d''Escoto spoke out against what he called "acts of aggression" in Iraq and Afghanistan"

Wow!

I don''t have much respect for the Catholic Church in general, but more power to this guy!

[wardoglrs]

Another Child Molister from the cathloc church?. Who will stop them now