Posted on 09/16/2006 5:55:28 PM PDT by COUNTrecount
Italian media report security around Benedict XVI tightened following harsh responses to his remarks on Islam; pope expected to deliver weekly sermon from his summer home on Sunday, but it remains unclear whether he will address international uproar
Nir Magal and agencies Published: 09.17.06, 00:00
Italian media reported that security around Pope Benedict XVI has been beefed up following the harsh responses to his remarks on Islam.
On Sunday the pope is expected to deliver his weekly sermon from his summer home, and it is still not clear whether he will address the international uproar his comments have stirred.
In a speech delivered last week in Germany the pope quoted 14th-century Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus who said: "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Muslim World Reacts
Arab op-ed: Pope’s remarks may lead to war / Roee Nahmias
Muslim world newspapers filled with articles slamming pope’s remarks; ‘it is clear that such remarks only contribute to the fueling of the fire raging between Islam and the West,’ op-ed published in al-Sharq al-Awsat says Full Story
Following harsh condemnations from the Muslim world, the Vatican issues a statement saying that the pope is "extremely upset" that Muslims have been offended by some of his words. The new Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said that the pope's position on Islam is unmistakably in line with Vatican teaching that the Church "esteems Muslims, who adore the only God."
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that the pope’s comments were "ugly" and said the pontiff should withdraw them. "The Pope spoke like a politician rather than as a man of religion," Erdogan said. “We cannot accept these statements. The Islamic world cannot accept them. I think these statements cannot be accepted by the Christian and Catholic world either." Hizbullah and Lebanon's top Sunni Muslim religious authority denounced the pope’s remarks, with the militant Shiite Muslim group warning of a global religious schism. Hizbullah called on the Vatican to review the pope's "declared attitude which can lead to world divisions and from which the enemies of humanity - the neo-conservatives led by (US President George W.) Bush and the neo-racists and Nazis, the Zionists who attack civilians and the land - can benefit.” 'We will blow up all of Gaza’s churches' The spiritual leader of Lebanon's Sunnis, the Grand Mufti Sheik Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, said the pope's remarks emanated either from "Ignorance and lack of knowledge or were deliberately intended to distort Islam." Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said “there should be no controversy; the pope has already explained his true intentions. The religious dialogue and the respect for every religion is a necessity, and religion doesn’t justify violence
Surely they aren't worried that the religion of peace may assisinate the pope.
"assassinate" =/
I think ass-is-inate works better. ;) Getting to the point where I hesitate to call the Islamofascists "people." They're more like talking animals.
Cockroaches comes to mind.
In Matthew 23, Jesus also spoke about a false religion of the time. He called the leaders of that religious system "whitewashed tombstones", "brood of vipers", and "sons of hell". I think it likely those religious leaders made the same mistake as Mr. Erdogan in interpreting his remarks as "political".
We ALL need to pray a hedge of protection around the Pope!
Truth hurts?
I haven't been as near condemnatory as some about the President labeling Islam a religion of "peace". Mainly because It's my hope to do to Islam, what the Liberals have tried to do to Christianity. Liberalize the doctrine so that it has little meaning. not that I'm certain that's the President's goal, but it is mine.
The "extremists" are actually right in the proper interpretation of the Koran. But if we could convince millions upon millions differently, we wouldn't have to be at war with a billion people.
Not everyone wants to blow themselves up. Most don't. That's why offering them the fig leaf to re-interpret their doctrine is a nice out for those that want it. Some have taken it, too early to tell how successful this has been.
But I'm under no illusions about what islam really is, and it would be depressing if the Pope didn't recognize and speak the truth on this matter for fear of political correction.
It's not like they've tried to do it before or anything.
How important do the victims of Islamic murder have to get before we take focused action to eradicate this killer sect?
I hope they make an attempt! I pray to God they make an attempt, because it will expose for all the world to see the difference between those who worship love, forgiveness and those who worship death and revenge. This animal religion called Islam has got to be exposed, not enough people are seeing what the big picture is here. You speak or draw or dress any certain way, you are immeidiately marked for death. Screw the bastards, let them bring their own downfall. In todays world their is no room for this BS.
Welcome to Free Republic.
What's Navy guy doing in Nebraska?
That's a good point. First we said a few dead in the first WTC bombing weren't enough, then more in the Cole, more in Kenya - and still not enough. 3000 in the second WTC bombing, and at least Pres Bush responded - but now many people have shrugged it off and decided that it really wasn't all that many after all. Not enough to get upset about.
And on an individual level, they've picked off regional leaders, aid workers, journalists, writers, etc., but we still haven't felt they've really done anything that merits a response. The two most important people in the world are, probably, the Pope and the US president. So they've clearly decided that we didn't do anything at a lower level on the "world importance scale," so they might as well go all the way to the top - and they'll still get away with it.
Seriously, no matter who they kill, I don't see the rest of the world doing what will be necessary to wipe them out. I don't know what it's going to take. But that's just me being jaded and pessimistic, I guess!
The ragheads sure know how to play our media like a violin, don't they?
The Pope quotes an historical figure - who we'd be well-advised to study! - and the muzzies go ape, almost as if to prove his point for him!
Apparently somewhat more important than a mere Pope: the muslims have ALREADY made an attempt on the life of a Pope, and not that long ago, if you recall.
Italy should take the lead in rounding up all the Muslim invaders in their COuntry and shipping them back to Islamdom.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Muzzi knickers in a knot
How important do the victims of Islamic murder have to get before we take focused action to eradicate this killer sect?It's not "how important" but "how numerous".
When the islamonazis --- aided and abetted by John McCain and the Democrats --- nuke a US city, then the fight will be on in earnest.
Too bad that it will have to come to that to wake America up. I sincerely wish we would wake up before that. But that will definitely do it.
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