"We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint," Centanni told FOX News. "Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam, and I learned a lot of good things about it, but it was something we felt we had to do because they had the guns..."
Coward.
When told to convert or be shot, the only correct response for a Christian is "Go ahead and shoot".
What the hell happened to Western manhood? What the hell happened to "death before dishonor"? During the Roman prsecutions, Christians were willing to be lit up as human torches and torn apart bit by bit by lions rather than burn one tiny pinch of incense at the altar of Caesar. Today, we can't even stand up to some smelly barbarian with a gun!
Look, a bullet to the brain is an easy way to go. A lifetime of guilt and recrimination would be a far worse fate. Peter had to suffer the pain of his denials for the rest of his life.
Of course, that's assuming a man has a sense of honor. In today's end-justifies-the-means world, any behavior is acceptable as long as one gains a few more days of "life". Personally, I'd rather die than live with the knowledge that someone caused me to betray with words the one Person I love the most.
Death isn't he worst thing that can happen to a man. I pity these two spineless beings.
Matthew 10:33
"But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven."
That said, in the arms of safety, I'm more repulsed that Centanni said he has "the highest respect for Islam". I can accept that none of us are really quite sure how we would react in the same circumstance. We could say, "oh yes, I would gladly have my head sawed off slowly for Christ," but really, at least I don't know if I could do it. Like you said, even Peter failed in the clutch, but his response was not to praise the Pharisees and Scribes. He repented and re-doubled his dedication to Christ. Time will tell, but I hope these guys come to their senses and realize the gravity of what they did...