Turkey requests Santa Claus’ bones from Pope

Hurriyet Daily News (Turkey) ^ | December/25/2013

[DeaconBenjamin]

The Turkey-based Santa Claus Peace Council has said it has written a letter to Pope Francis, requesting the return of the bones of Saint Nicholas.

Council Chairman Muammer Karabulut said they were expecting Pope Francis to give a positive response to their request to have a meeting on the bones, which are currently in Bari, Italy.

“We have been struggling for the return of the bones since 1995. State institutions have also been involved in this struggle,” Karabulut said. “So far, we have not reached a conclusion.”

Saint Nicholas, a historic Christian saint, died in 343 at the age of 73 in Demre, currently a district of the Mediterranean Turkish province of Antalya. His habit of performing miracles and his reputation of giving secret gifts to the faithful made him a model for Santa Claus.

[OrangeHoof]

Why not? A lot of good those bones have done for Italy.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

I can’t believe he’s dead. He was at my house just last night.

[Salamander]

Oh...Turkey the country.

That makes a big difference.

[American Constitutionalist]

We have ham for Christmas.
Almost was a disaster because the head of the household didn't bother to wash his hands before handling the ham after he was picking at his feet.
So ? I acted quick and put the ham in the oven my self so no one would get sick.

[trebb]

Heck - I’d rather have the factory/elves/sleigh/reindeer than the bones.

[Kozak]

Sure. Right after they give back Constantinople.

[SauronOfMordor]

The Islamists want the bones so they can destroy them, as they do with other symbols of non-Islamic religions.

[Cyber Liberty]

“We have been struggling for the return of the bones since 1995. State institutions have also been involved in this struggle,” Karabulut said. “So far, we have not reached a conclusion.”

"Struggle?" Working to transfer some extremely old human remains from one State to another is a "struggle?" That's is a pretty deep insult, to trivialize the genuine struggles that occur all over the world every day. Is this just a translation thing, or is everything a "struggle" to Turks?

[Tax-chick]

When what-is-now-Turkiye is Christian again, they can have the relics of St. Nicholas.

[Cyber Liberty]

Indeed. Missing from the article is any mention of why Turkey wants the remains, so my default reasoning leads me to the same conclusion as yours. I guess they just need a “struggle” to get through the day.

[VanShuyten]

“Sure. Right after they give back Constantinople.”

I’d settle for just the Hagia Sophia and other churches that were converted to mosques.

[Cyber Liberty]

Even then, I wonder if there will be an ever-present threat of defiling?

[fatima]

:)

[Tax-chick]

It depends on how thoroughly it’s reChristianized, I guess.

Holy articles, including churches, aren’t safe in Italy. The atheist/Marxist/homosexualist party in Europe is more and more aggressive these days.

[Bogey78O]

Gee... why does a Muslim country want the bones of a Christian saint...

[Pearls Before Swine]

We have ham for Christmas. Almost was a disaster because the head of the household didn't bother to wash his hands before handling the ham after he was picking at his feet.

Quick, call A&E. There's going to be an empty family reality show slot open soon. Merry Xmas!

[ROCKLOBSTER]

is everything a "struggle" to Turks?

Struggle...as in..."jihad"?

[Cyber Liberty]

Italy has been a risky place since the fall of the Romans. But I agree with you about the general trends amongst out European friends. Gotta watch ‘em every second.

[spokeshave]

Almost was a disaster because the head of the household didn't bother to wash his hands before handling the ham after he was picking at his feet.

So next time sterilize the ham as follows....also good for turkeys....