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Meaningless apology (Voice of Terrorism [Aljazeera] embraces UK Guardian editorial in slamming Pope)
Aljazeera ^ | September 19, 2006

Posted on 09/19/2006 4:27:55 PM PDT by Stoat

Meaningless apology
9/19/2006 3:28:00 PM GMT



 



(AFP Photo) Pope Benedict XVI greets pilgrims and faithful in the courtyard of his summer residence

 

Fury continues over radical remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI last Tuesday in a speech during a pilgrimage to his native Germany in which he linked the noble faith of Islam to violence and terrorism, quoting a 14th-century Christian emperor who said that Prophet Mohammed's command to spread Islam by the sword had produced "evil and inhumane" results.

Earlier this week and following mass protests that broke out across the Muslim and the Arab world, the pope said he was "deeply sorry" about the Muslims' angry reaction to his speech, and that his remarks "were in fact a quotation from a Medieval text which do not in any way express my personal thought."

During his summer palace outside Rome, Benedict told pilgrims that the Vatican secretary of state had issued a statement trying to explain his words he had delivered.

But the Pope’s “apology” over those Islamophobic remarks failed to calm the outrage his comments sparked earlier. What makes his comments about Islam so incredible is that he conveniently ignored Christianity's own barbarous past, stated an editorial on UK’s The Guardian.

The editorial argues that when the Pope delivered his highly offending lecture criticising Islam, the holy Prophet and effectively every Muslim, he must have expected the kind of outrage his speech has sparked across the Muslim world.

And this could explain the cold reaction with which Muslims received his “apology”.

Speaking about his pilgrimage last week, Benedict said; "at this time I wish also to add that I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims."

A true apology would have been to simply retract his remarks; The Guardian's article said, But the Pope preferred to just express his regret at how Muslims reacted to his “unintentionally offending” speech.
He stopped shortly of apologizing directly to the Muslim world for his unwise remarks. He regretted the way Muslims reacted but not the fact that he delivered a highly offending speech against Muslims.

His argument was that he was just quoting a medieval Byzantine emperor. It’s ridiculous to expect people to believe that this quotation came as a by the by, and wasn’t actually used as main element of his argument he was trying to make in his very well-prepared speech.

“To pick a quote that asserts one thing is essentially to exclude many, often hundreds or even thousands, others that assert the exact opposite,” the editorial added. For a highly esteemed figure like the Pope to cite a quote, then of course it must be “true” and his argument must be equally true and valid and taken at face value. This is what makes Benedict’s “apology”, as most of the media outlets referred to it, meaningless.

One must wonder why the Vatican has not played any significant role in the recent campaign aimed at building bridges between cultures and mend what politics destroyed in recent years.

Numerous Islamic leaders and organisations have been speaking out against violence and killing in the name of the noble religion, such efforts should have been supported by people of faith, especially figures like the Pope.

Not only did the Pope chose to quote old highly offensive remarks against the Muslims, he also ignored the fact that during the time the Catholic church was cementing the barbarism of Europe's dark ages for centuries, where  atrocities and heinous crimes were committed with its blessings, the Muslim world, from southern Europe to China, was setting milestones for literature, philosophy, art, architecture, medicine, chemistry, physics, biology, algebra and music.

“Manuscripts on law, botany, etiquette and fashion were being produced and students from Europe, Africa and China converged in their tens of thousands upon the vast and illustrious universities and libraries of Baghdad, Damascus, Cordoba, Seville and Cairo,” the editorial added.

Charging Islam of intolerance is factually wrong and ignoring the 100 years of glorious co-existence among Muslims, Christians and Jews, which saw an outstanding leap on technology, medicine and science is unfair.

Although rulers of the time were Muslims, they employed Christian and Jewish ministers, advisors and ambassadors; they never resisted their existence as part of the governing force as long as they were the best suited for the job.

Islam didn’t spread by the force of sword. The fact of the matter is that it spread many times more rapidly at times of peace than it ever did at times of war, both during the time of Prophet Mohammed and ever since, and that’s why it’s the fastest growing religion in the world until today.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aljazeera; benedictxvi; britain; catholic; catholicism; greatbritain; guardian; islam; islamevilempire; islamofascism; islamofascists; pope; popebenedict; regensburg; religionofpeace; rop; terror; terrorism; terrorists; uk; unitedkingdom
Please also see the "Reader Comments" beneath the article at the Aljazeera page to see examples of 'voices of reason' from the 'religion of peace'.

Hopefully the Pope will have massive security to protect him and his entourage from these hysterical, rabid dogs.  The one good thing about events such as what have transpired after the Pope's Regensburg speech is that any rational people who were still harboring conciliatory feelings toward Islam will be given pause, at the very least. These efforts to intentionally manufacture an overblown aura of insult when taking words completely out of context is yet another indication that we are dealing with an utterly unhinged and depraved adversary who will stop at nothing to attain their goals of total world domination.

May God Bless the Pope and all who seek Truth and Light during this time of encroaching Darkness.

Biography of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

BIOGRAPHY
OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE

BENEDICT XVI

 

 

 

 

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, was born at Marktl am Inn, Diocese of Passau (Germany) on 16 April 1927 (Holy Saturday) and was baptised on the same day. His father, a policeman, belonged to an old family of farmers from Lower Bavaria of modest economic resources. His mother was the daughter of artisans from Rimsting on the shore of Lake Chiem, and before marrying she worked as a cook in a number of hotels.

He spent his childhood and adolescence in Traunstein, a small village near the Austrian border, thirty kilometres from Salzburg. In this environment, which he himself has defined as "Mozartian", he received his Christian, cultural and human formation.

His youthful years were not easy. His faith and the education received at home prepared him for the harsh experience of those years during which the Nazi regime pursued a hostile attitude towards the Catholic Church. The young Joseph saw how some Nazis beat the Parish Priest before the celebration of Mass.

It was precisely during that complex situation that he discovered the beauty and truth of faith in Christ; fundamental for this was his family’s attitude, who always gave a clear witness of goodness and hope, rooted in a convinced attachment to the Church.

During the last months of the war he was enrolled in an auxiliary anti-aircraft corps.

From 1946 to 1951 he studied philosophy and theology in the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology of Freising and at the University of Munich.

He received his priestly ordination on 29 June 1951.

A year later he began teaching at the Higher School of Freising.

In 1953 he obtained his doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled "People and House of God in St Augustine’s Doctrine of the Church".

Four years later, under the direction of the renowned professor of fundamental theology Gottlieb Söhngen, he qualified for University teaching with a dissertation on: "The Theology of History in St Bonaventure".

After lecturing on dogmatic and fundamental theology at the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology in Freising, he went on to teach at Bonn, from 1959 to1963; at Münster from 1963 to 1966 and at Tübingen from 1966 to 1969. During this last year he held the Chair of dogmatics and history of dogma at the University of Regensburg, where he was also Vice-President of the University.

From 1962 to 1965 he made a notable contribution to Vatican II as an "expert"; being present at the Council as theological advisor of Cardinal Joseph Frings, Archbishop of Cologne.

His intense scientific activity led him to important positions at the service of the German Bishops’ Conference and the International Theological Commission.

In 1972 together with Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac and other important theologians, he initiated the theological journal "Communio".

On 25 March 1977 Pope Paul VI named him Archbishop of Munich and Freising. On 28 May of the same year he received episcopal ordination. He was the first Diocesan priest for 80 years to take on the pastoral governance of the great Bavarian Archdiocese. He chose as his episcopal motto: "Cooperators of the truth". He himself explained why: "On the one hand I saw it as the relation between my previous task as professor and my new mission. In spite of different approaches, what was involved, and continued to be so, was following the truth and being at its service. On the other hand I chose that motto because in today’s world the theme of truth is omitted almost entirely, as something too great for man, and yet everything collapses if truth is missing".

Paul VI made him a Cardinal with the priestly title of "Santa Maria Consolatrice al Tiburtino", during the Consistory of 27 June of the same year.

In 1978 he took part in the Conclave of 25 and 26 August which elected John Paul I, who named him his Special Envoy to the III International Mariological Congress, celebrated in Guayaquil (Ecuador) from 16 to 24 September. In the month of October of the same year he took part in the Conclave that elected Pope John Paul II.

He was Relator of the V Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which took place in 1980 on the theme: "Mission of the Christian Family in the world of today", and was Delegate President of the VI Ordinary General Assembly of 1983 on "Reconciliation and Penance in the mission of the Church".

John Paul II named him Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and of the International Theological Commission on 25 November 1981. On 15 February 1982 he resigned the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising. The Holy Father elevated him to the Order of Bishops assigning to him the Suburbicarian See of Velletri-Segni on 5 April 1993.

He was President of the Preparatory Commission for the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which after six years of work (1986-1992) presented the new Catechism to the Holy Father.

On 6 November 1998 the Holy Father approved the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals, submitted by the Cardinals of the Order of Bishops. On 30 November 2002 he approved his election as Dean; together with this office he was entrusted with the Suburbicarian See of Ostia.

In 1999 he was Special Papal Envoy for the Celebration of the XII Centenary of the foundation of the Diocese of Paderborn, Germany which took place on 3 January.

Since 13 November 2000 he has been an Honorary Academic of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

In the Roman Curia he has been a member of the Council of the Secretariat of State for Relations with States; of the Congregations for the Oriental Churches, for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, for Bishops, for the Evangelization of Peoples, for Catholic Education, for Clergy and for the Causes of the Saints; of the Pontifical Councils for Promoting Christian Unity, and for Culture; of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and of the Pontifical Commissions for Latin America, "Ecclesia Dei", for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, and for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law of the Oriental Churches.

Among his many publications special mention should be made of his "Introduction to Christianity", a compilation of University lectures on the Apostolic Creed published in 1968; "Dogma and Preaching" (1973) an anthology of essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to pastoral arguments.

His address to the Catholic Academy of Bavaria on "Why I am still in the Church" had a wide resonance; in it he stated with his usual clarity: "one can only be a Christian in the Church, not beside the Church".

His many publications are spread out over a number of years and constitute a point of reference for many people specially for those interested in entering deeper into the study of theology. In 1985 he published his interview-book on the situation of the faith (The Ratzinger Report) and in 1996 "Salt of the Earth". On the occasion of his 70th birthday the volume "At the School of Truth" was published, containing articles by several authors on different aspects of his personality and production.

He has received numerous "Honoris Causa" Doctorates, in 1984 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; in 1986 from the Catholic University of Lima; in 1987 from the Catholic University of Eichstätt; in 1988 from the Catholic University of Lublin; in 1998 from the University of Navarre; in 1999 from the LUMSA (Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta) of Rome and in 2000 from the Faculty of Theology of the University of Wrocław in Poland.



Benedictus XVI
Joseph Ratzinger

1 posted on 09/19/2006 4:27:56 PM PDT by Stoat
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To: Stoat

The "history" part is what islam is most indignant about....the history of its actions for many centuries is precisely what puts to lie the neverending proclamations of "religion of peace" by islamists and the liberal malcontents who think an islamist victory over the civilized world would be to their liking.

Islams complete historical record (as opposed to the lull in its expansionism between WWI and recently) is what puts the writings in the koran and the recent upsurge of muslim violence worldwide into clear perspective.....islam correctly perceives its own full history as its achilles heel.

Bravo to the Pope! Job well done.....or perhaps only just begun.


2 posted on 09/19/2006 4:41:10 PM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Stoat

"For a highly esteemed figure like the Pope to cite a quote, then of course it must be “true” and his argument must be equally true and valid and taken at face value"

NOTE TO ISLAM:

The Pope didn't include any response by the "Persian muslim scholar" to the challenge posed by Emporer Miguel......Perhaps al-jazeera or some other present-day muslim is willing to publicly respond directly to Miguels challenge?

I DIDN'T THINK SO.....


3 posted on 09/19/2006 4:48:22 PM PDT by Vn_survivor_67-68
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To: Stoat
viva il papa"

What I detest most about the islamic drivel in this article is their rubbish about "Christianity's own barbarous past". They speak of the Crusades, of course, which were an absolutely essential defensive move by Western Europe to prevent islam from invading and conquering them, as they had been doing to Eastern Christians for centuries, (and Spain as well).

What really riles me though, is the fact that for so many decades WESTERN "historians" were allowed to distort the Crusades and paint them as evil simply because the Crusaders were Catholic and the Pope inaugurated the first Crusade. I have often debated ignorant anti-Catholics on the Crusades, knowing that while there were 'atrocities' committed by both sides, that Christianity had been plundered by islam for centuries before the Crusades were finally launched in an effort to stop the mohammedan onslaught. (Nearly) every nation and region on earth that is now islamic was formerly Christian, and was conquered by the scimitar of islam. It is time to set the record straight about islam's and Chrisitianity's history. The Crusades were forced upon Christians, it was either take the fight to islam or be conquered and subjugated like Spain was for 400 years. Christianity was founded by the eternal Son of God, islam was founded by a son of the Devil.

4 posted on 09/19/2006 5:05:34 PM PDT by TheCrusader
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68

Agreed on all counts, and I also find articles such as this to be helpful in that they further verify the links of the political Left to the Islamofascist terrorists. As the Left finds itself becoming relegated to the 'Dustbin of Failed, Bad Ideas of History', adherents are casting about for causes that they can attach themselves to in order to continue with their overall goals, regardless, as usual, of the damage that they cause as a result. Just as Communists embraced the Religion of Environmentalism after the fall of the Soviet Union because it provides an excellent vehicle for continuing in their campaign to destroy the US and it's economy, so the Left has also latched onto Islamofascism as a kindred spirit because they see it as a viable mechanism by which they can also continue their campaign against the West and it's culture.

Just as the Soviets viewed so many Leftists as 'useful idiots' who knowingly or not assisted in the Communist agenda, so too the Islamofascists appreciate the anti-American, anti-Western and now anti-Catholic sympathies of the Left and will exploit them at every opportunity, as evidenced by this article.


5 posted on 09/19/2006 5:14:26 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Vn_survivor_67-68

When the Muslims apologize for fire-bombing Christian churches, kidnapping a priest, and shooting a nun in the back, maybe the Pope will consider another apology.


6 posted on 09/19/2006 5:18:02 PM PDT by popdonnelly
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To: Stoat
in which he linked the noble faith of Islam to violence and terrorism

Oh, puh-leeze, Al-Jism-rah... like there's NO EVIDENCE of this TRUTH...

Noble faith??!?? ROFL!
7 posted on 09/19/2006 6:19:41 PM PDT by Nervous Tick
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To: TheCrusader
viva il papa"

What I detest most about the islamic drivel in this article is their rubbish about "Christianity's own barbarous past". They speak of the Crusades, of course, which were an absolutely essential defensive move by Western Europe to prevent islam from invading and conquering them, as they had been doing to Eastern Christians for centuries, (and Spain as well).

What really riles me though, is the fact that for so many decades WESTERN "historians" were allowed to distort the Crusades and paint them as evil simply because the Crusaders were Catholic and the Pope inaugurated the first Crusade. I have often debated ignorant anti-Catholics on the Crusades, knowing that while there were 'atrocities' committed by both sides, that Christianity had been plundered by islam for centuries before the Crusades were finally launched in an effort to stop the mohammedan onslaught. (Nearly) every nation and region on earth that is now islamic was formerly Christian, and was conquered by the scimitar of islam. It is time to set the record straight about islam's and Chrisitianity's history. The Crusades were forced upon Christians, it was either take the fight to islam or be conquered and subjugated like Spain was for 400 years. Christianity was founded by the eternal Son of God, islam was founded by a son of the Devil.

Magnificently stated; thanks so very much for posting.

Another poster on a different thread here told me that he found it particularly difficult to be Catholic here at Free Republic and to express one's Catholicism, such was the anti-Catholic bigotry that he had encountered.  I hope that the ignorant anti-Catholics that you mention were not here at Free Republic, because that would further sadden me and further color my view of this forum in a negative way.  I was shocked to hear of this from the other poster, as I had never encountered it despite having posted a number of threads that related in some way to the Pope or to Catholicism.   There are other coteries of posters here at Free Republic who do not, in my view, reflect the best parts of Conservative thought and philosophy (the militant potheads and belligerent pro-drug people come to mind, among others) and I'm sorry to understand that anti-Catholic bigotry is apparently evident here as well.  I'm guessing that a lot of these people are nothing more than Leftist trolls who try to portray themselves as Conservatives in order to avoid getting kicked off the site yet try to stir up trouble and divisiveness at every opportunity.

Thanks again for your excellent post and keep fighting the Good Fight. 

8 posted on 09/19/2006 7:42:04 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Nervous Tick
in which he linked the noble faith of Islam to violence and terrorism

Oh, puh-leeze, Al-Jism-rah... like there's NO EVIDENCE of this TRUTH...

Noble faith??!?? ROFL!

When one hears the sort of drivel that you point out expressed again and again by Islamofascist apologists of all stripes as well as Aljazeera, the Official Voice Of Terror, it serves to remind us all that our adversary in this war is not grounded in any form of reality that a coherent person will recognize, and that makes this enemy more deadly than most.

With Imperial Japan they did have their suicide pilots who undertook their missions under the umbrella of a religious and nationalistic duty, but at least their fanaticism was not so completely transcendent that Japan as a whole couldn't ultimately be pounded into submission and capitulation.  With this enemy, however, we are faced with an entire culture of people who absolutely love death and not only care nothing for obvious truths but will say and do absolutely anything, whatever the cost, to achieve their goals.  If we were to nuke Mecca and Medina, it wouldn't have the same effect as our nuking Hiroshima and Nagasaki because the Islamofascists would not view it as a loss but as something that gives them added strength.  How do you fight an enemy who wants to die?  I guess the answer is to give them their wish, as rapidly and as completely as possible.

9 posted on 09/19/2006 8:05:38 PM PDT by Stoat (Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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To: Stoat

Why are we still publicising that whackjob website? You know that that is nothing to do with Al Jazeera, the news channel, right?


10 posted on 09/20/2006 9:22:12 AM PDT by Canard
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To: Stoat
"I hope that the ignorant anti-Catholics that you mention were not here at Free Republic,"

There are many of them here, but there are also many well informed, decent and intelligent people here as well, and I've learned a lot from them. So I don't let the misinformed Catholic bashers trouble me too much. This being a political forum, I guess it's to be expected that Christianity is a secondary issue for many people here, and some get annoyed when they read religious comments.

11 posted on 09/20/2006 4:03:51 PM PDT by TheCrusader
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