Pope Benedict's long mission to confront radical Islam

Guardian | Observer ^ | 9/17/06 | John Hooper

[sageb1]

I'm wondering how many freepers pay attention to what Cardinals say around the world. From their ranks will come, perhaps, the last Pope.

[sageb1]

"As long as Islam takes and never receives the War Of Civilizations will continue to the end of time."

And the more they receive, the more they take.

[308MBR]

Plenty of "spokesmen" ARE running around apologizing right now.

[sageb1]

"he may have had some notion that the media who live for 'conflict' would lift ideas out of context from his speech."

Ya think? ;)

[goldstategop]

That's not surprising. They both share a mutual hatred of the West and its freedoms. As long the West exists, the Left and the Islamofascists will not let their differences divide them.

"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

[sageb1]

"Plenty of "spokesmen" ARE running around apologizing right now."

Are you referring to specific individuals? And if so, who?

[siunevada]

Ya think? ;)

He might be just a step or two ahead of Mr. Hooper of The Guardian.

[FreePoster]

"Pope Benedict's long mission to confront radical Islam"

The Vatican had better increase their military budget.

I like Pope Benedict, and I don't mind anything I read that he said. But talking about peace with Islam is just playing into the hands of the Islamofascists. Being nice is not going to impress or persuade them. In fact, they will just take it as progress in their efforts to make us cower. People have to stop being deluded by their wishful thinking about what they would like Islam to be. Islam, at least the kind that we read about in the news everyday, simply needs to be fought and defeated.

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

'Any remarks which offend Islam and Muslims are against Christ's teachings.' Egypt's Christian Coptic Pope Shenouda III"

ANY remarks???? That is absurd! I have been offended many times by remarks about the Catholic faith. I get over it! I accept it. I can handle being offended. I don't expect to be treated with kid gloves all the time, even when it comes to my religion. I don't think about how Jesus feels sorry for me when I get offended. I get over it without killing people and rioting in the streets. You don't even have to be religious to do that, you just have to be civilized and believe in free speech, freedom of religion and the right of free people to disagree.

[Kenservatized]

Peace...Smeace!

I have seen bumpers stickers I couldn't agree with more but I have reservations about sticking one on my car because I am a Christian. It is clever, though.

It reads, "GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. KILL TERRORISTS."

[FreePoster]

Any remarks which defend or uphold Christianity offend Islam.

[Hound of the Baskervilles]

My ideal bumper sticker is, "George W. Bush. Saving your a$$ whether you like it or not."

[RobbyS]

The proper role of man, according to the Koran, is to be the slave of God, who is perceived to be an oriental despot, like Mohammad and the Caliphs.

[RobbyS]

The liberals just don't think that the Islamists mean what they say. They think they are simply opposed to "imperialism," like Ho Chi Minh and his merry men. To them the religious rhetoric is not to be taken seriously.

[wolf78]

The most important passages of the article are the last ones:

Under Benedict, the key issue, in Vatican-speak, is not 'dialogue' but 'reciprocity'. Even before his election, there was a growing feeling among Catholic prelates that dialogue with Islam consisted largely of Catholic initiatives.

What is more, endless discussion did not seem to be solving the biggest outstanding problem between the two religions: that while Muslims were free to build mosques, worship and proselytise in the West, Christians were often denied religious freedom in Islamic countries.

Some of the smaller states on the Arabian peninsula have begun to allow Christians to practise their faith openly, but Saudi Arabia, for example, still bans all public expression of non-Muslim religions. In several other countries, Islamic law effectively deprived Christians of basic rights.

Benedict has made it clear that he sees freedom of worship as merely a start and that, for there to be full reciprocity, Catholic priests will need to be free to fish for souls in Muslim lands. Last May, he told a Vatican conference on immigration to and from Islamic countries, that while Christians had to respect Muslims, they also had the right to offer them what he called 'the Christian proposal'.

The German pope unquestionably respects Islam. But he equally unambiguously intends to stand his ground. The signs have been there ever since his inaugural mass. During the service, prayers were read out asking for God's intercession on behalf of oppressed Christians. Few noticed, but one was read in Arabic.

And with that the Pope is right.