Pope's Muslim remarks raise security fears

The Australian ^ | September 16, 2006 | Philip Pullella in Vatican City

[Nachum]

THE Muslim world's scathing reaction to Pope Benedict's comments on Islam is the biggest challenge to face the pontiff yet and raises concerns over his security, diplomatic and Church sources said today.

"My personal reaction was: 'This is a striking statement. Was it a rare slip-up?'" one of the sources said about the Pope's speech in Germany last Tuesday.

[Nachum]

The more threats the Muslims make, the more they prove the Pope's point.

[vpintheak]

Exactly. I hope the unwashed masses get that point through their heads.

[Red Badger]

This may spark a worldwide "insurgency"..........

[the invisib1e hand]

STOP the Presses.

Wait!

"Scathing reaction?" Puh-leeze. They were burning down Amsterdam when those idiotic cartoons were published. These are the people who carried out 9/11. This is nothing.

This isn't a "scathing reaction." Look at the news sources, people! The media is trying to get it going. Geez, sometimes I think they are the real enemy.

[woofer2425]

If the Pope is harmed in any way...it could be the Crusades all over again.

[Twinkie]

Who was it that shot the last Pope? Was he a Muslim or other?

[tiki]

I am going to be praying for him.

[yldstrk]

Religion of peace...

[donmeaker]

He was Bulgarian.

Communist.

[FFIGHTER]

He was a Turk, hired by the Bulgarians on behalf of the Russians.

[donmeaker]

"Ethnic Bulgarian"

[Joe 6-pack]

"This may spark a worldwide "insurgency"..."

The mooozlims would do well to consider there are probably some IRA 'technicians' that have been sitting idle for a few years who might like to get involved in that sort of thing.

[backtothestreets]

I'm developing a different sense of our media lately. I honestly believe there is an effort underway to show the gaping differences between Islam and all other civilizations, religious, cultural and political. The result has been to intensify resolve against Islam, not lessen the resolve.

The recent ABC docudrama on 9-11 is a perfect example. The number of times Pakistan was included in not to glowing references was remarkable to me. I earnestly believe there is an effort by many in media to awaken our masses to the key role forces within Pakistan is undertaking to support and increase terrorism and the ever widening divide between Islam and the rest of the world. If Iran, Iraq and North Korea represented the "Axis of Evil", Pakistan is the hub.

If I am correct, our media must continue addressing these differences to prepare our nation for the inevitable next campaign against terrorism.

[Jason_b]

Somewhere in here there is an ORBIT gum commercial. "Dirty Mouth?"

[the invisib1e hand]

I don't think it's quite that simple. First of all, if you haven't noticed a bias by certain "news" organizations about anything connected with the Vatican and the Church you're not paying attention to it.

Second of all, there is clearly an evil, deceptive and destructive force at work, making effective use of a very complicit media to accomplish it's aims, which one cannot avoid concluding are malicious.

Does that mean the media ought not to serve a better function? Of course not. Does it mean the influence of the media isn't important? Of course not. Does it mean the media (at least some facets of it) doesn't get it right sometimes, of course not.

But this story is a perfect case in point. There was far more outrage over the cartoons - so far, but again, if that changes, I will still point to the media as the agent of suggestion in the evil that is done.

[Ebenezer]

"I see this as a wake up call for Christians.["]

No kidding.

[griswold3]

You have a point. It did however take a bit for the Amsterdam reaction.