Statements [Criticizing the stance and Performance of the Christian clergy]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

This is the second time that the Pope «1» has sent his emissaries to me. The last time it was in connection with the" spy den" which our dear youth found out was not actually an embassy, and the personnel not diplomats but spies who had gathered in that particular center in Iran- which was in the name of the American Embassy- to work against our nation and our country. Maybe the Pope requested their freedom unknowingly. And, at that time, I notified him in detailed about it. This time it concerns their school in the name of" Andisheh School." He has written me a letter and sent an emissary, requesting me to recommend that their school be (established) here. We have no animosity against the Christians or the Jews or other religions, and we will not hinder the construction of their schools, except if they are used for reasons other than education. There is no problem with the teachings of the Christ (`a) or other religions. But if we realize that the program in these schools is not education as was the case of the" Spy Den" [in which espionage was the main activity instead of diplomatic affairs], we will not tolerate such schools being manipulated in our country for purposes other than education. Of course, it is the Government's responsibility to look into this issue in detail and deliberate upon it. If the schools are going to be used for education there would be no problem for starting such schools. But if, God forbid, these schools have other aims in the name of" school", then our nation will not tolerate it, and neither will we.

I must ask the Pope through you [i. e. his representative]: is he not aware of the conduct of the United States?! Is he not aware of the conduct of those who consider themselves Christians?! Or is he aware but is heedless and overlooks it? Is he aware that we lost everything in the past fifty years while our country was under the influence of Britain and America? Is he aware of the damage that Britain caused us by forcing on us the tyranny of Rida Khan and the damage that Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union caused us [later on] by imposing the rule of Muhammad Rida Shah and of what they did to our land, our country? Are you ever willing to pay heed to the cry of the oppressed or is it that you only comply with the orders of the oppressor? Do you realize what the United States and its police are doing to our youth, our boys and girls? Do you know that the United States' Government cooperated with the traitors who held meetings and demonstrations against our oppressed nation, and so did what they wanted to do, but then when our Muslim students who wanted to hold demonstrations so as to let the world know about the oppression that we have been subjected to, the American police confronted them [with hostility]? Does the Pope know that our youth have been chained and shackled; some with broken ribs, others unconscious; that our daughters have also been shackled and chained and some are unconscious? Does he pay any attention to these issues? And how Prophet Jesus (`a) treated the people?! And you, who claim to be representing him, do not care about such issues! I wish he [i. e. the Pope] had also sent an emissary to Carter. I wish they would send you with a letter to Carter about what they (the American Police) are doing to the youths who demand justice and want to inform the world that our nation has been a victim of oppression. They [i. e. the United States' police forces] have arrested them [i. e. the students] and have been sending them from one jail to another. They have chained their hands and feet and have broken their teeth [ruthlessly by kicking them] with their boots. They are still being harmed, locked up in chains and brutalized under the crushing boots of Carter's henchmen and American oppressors. How am I supposed to reply to the people if they see that the Christian clergy is serving the superpowers [instead of assisting the oppressed]? I am very sorry that I cannot defend the Christian clergy for if I attempt to do so, they will point to the signs and proofs of their claim [which are undeniable].[They will ask why ]the Christian clergy did not say a word on their behalf all this long time when we were under oppression, when our youth were being slaughtered on the streets of Iran with their blood flowing on the ground. Why do they discriminate like this? Did Jesus Christ teach prejudice? Was Jesus well disposed towards the wealthy class and ill-disposed towards the other class; the oppressed, unfortunate and the poor; for you to do such things?

I know that this is not the religion of Christ. And whoever intends to follow him must defend the oppressed and stand up against the superpowers, just as a follower of Islam must stand up to the big powers and extricate the oppressed from their clutches. Why is it that the Pope does not mention anything about these boys and girls who, as I am speaking to you now, are being oppressed and tortured, and are chained up in bondage? Why should not these people who consider themselves Christians and church-goers, ask them (the oppressors) as to why they do such things while being Christian? How can I reply to these tormented people? Will they not ask why the [Christian] clergy do not denounce the world powers and their oppression against the people and the meek; and even the oppression in America itself? «2» Why have they not uttered a word in this regard? Why has neither message nor an emissary been sent to them? But when a" spy den" is discovered in which espionage is evident, they send envoys and letters?! And now that they have their schools, their educational centers, here, and though I am not sure of this, the people who have visited them say that they are not educational centers, but exist for other purposes. The Pope has sent a letter and has made recommendations. Are we against knowledge? Are we against education? Are we against having schools? When were we against Christian, Zoroastrian or Jewish Schools? But we cannot tolerate the existence of such schools [for non-educational purposes]. They [ the authorities of the Catholic Church] must first send agents to look into the activities of these schools which our government has not been able to tolerate. This matter concerns the government, but I have a message that you must convey to the Pope. You being priests, ought to change your approach. You must ask why they (Americans) are mistreating the oppressed; the ones that are being crushed under American boots. You must ask about our youths; our girls and boys who are in American jails and, after being transferred from prison to prison, have recently been placed in solitary confinement. Why do we never hear the Pope questioning them (the America)in support of the oppressed of Iran or the people being oppressed in the United States? Give my regards to the Pope and tell him to abandon this policy.[Tell him that] he must take the side of the oppressed and the meek; the ones who have been robbed. Tell him to support our youths, our boys and girls who are under the oppression of American butchers, and to ask them who claim to follow Christianity, to set them free. We will never again go under the American yoke. The Americans will not be able to come here and see to their own interests; to suppress our people by force and by applying torture. Even if all our people stand to get killed, we will persist. America must realize that it cannot return to Iran by such devilish acts. The Pope must advise the United States that it should not be so disrespectful to human rights, and should not be so cruel and oppressive to people. People are all God's servants: it should not deal in such a manner with His servants; it should not be so oppressive. I hope that the Pope would comply with his religious and Christian obligations and stop these acts (of cruelty) that the American tyrants and the American police are perpetrating. We have stood up against America and will persist to the end and will not allow it or its followers to return to our country. Our nation is prepared to defend Truth till its last breath, and will never again submit to oppression.
May God's peace be upon those who follow the path of guidance.