Thanks to the Pope, Now We're Talking

RealClear Politics ^ | October 24, 2006 | David Warren

[Puzzleman]

An extraordinary thing happened a week ago. Thirty-eight Muslim scholars and chief muftis, from across the Muslim world, jointly replied to the Pope's speech at Regensburg (and more have associated their names with this document, since). It was presented to the Vatican's envoy at Amman; the full text in English is available through the Islamica magazine website, the Catholic website, Chiesa, and elsewhere. I look through the list of signatories, and they are a "who's who" of the learned leaders of a faith that has always aspired to be led by its most learned.

--snip--

The signatories renounced and condemned violence against Christians in the name of Islam. They accepted without qualification the Pope's post-Regensburg clarifications, and both accepted and applauded his call for dialogue.

[Puzzleman]

Wonderful news!

[Walkingfeather]

Has there ever been any change in the Islamic action or law due to words? They consider us infidels, lying to us to advance their agenda would not be immoral but expected. It is the west that values truth and honesty.

As the article says,"Here, for Muslims as well as Christians to read, is an authoritative contemporary statement by men who DO speak for Islam."

The problem is is that the majority of the Muslim population DOESN'T READ. One statistic is of the 1 billion Muslims in the world something like 80% are illiterate. And of those that can read I would guess that less then 10% could read English or get the paper that this article was written.


I am afraid this is just another act of wishful thinking and self delusion on our part.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[sauropod]

review

[mathluv]

Actions speak louder than words. I will wait and see what actually happens.

[rhombus]

Surely this group of Muslim leaders cannot control or be held responsible for every muzzie nut strapping on a bomb vest and screaming jihad. Likewise the Pope can't control guys with white sheets who burn crosses or nuts who organize protests at Vet funerals over the sin of homosexuality.

[Puzzleman]

Here is a link to a commentary about the Islamic response. At the bottom is a link to the original letter.

[Stultis]

See Also (from a website closely associated with the Vatican):

The Regensburg Effect: The Open Letter from 38 Muslims to the Pope  ^

Posted by Stultis On News/Activism ^ 10/24/2006 6:21:54 AM CDT Chiesa ^ | 18 October 2006 | Sandro Magister The Regensburg Effect: The Open Letter from 38 Muslims to the Pope Instead of saying they are offended and demanding apologies, they express their respect for him and dialogue with him on faith and reason. They disagree on many points. But they also criticize those Muslims who want to impose, with violence, “utopian dreams in which the end justifies the means” by Sandro Magister ROMA, October 18, 2006 – One month after his lecture at the University of Regensburg, Benedict XVI received an “open letter” signed by 38 Muslim personalities from various countries and of different outlooks, which discusses...

[Puzzleman]

Thanks. This news is worthy of as much coverage as we can give it.

[Stultis]

Good. We've got your thread on the Editorial sidebar, mine on Front Page, and crosslinks in both. Should get this a little more attention this morning.

[Prysson]

A mountain out of a molehill. 1400 years of Islamic action is far more meaningful than an open letter to the Pope.

[netmilsmom]

>>Likewise the Pope can't control guys with white sheets who burn crosses or nuts who organize protests at Vet funerals over the sin of homosexuality.<<

Neither of which are Catholic. Maybe someone should talk to their leaders.
(KKK hates Catholics too. Ever see the Blues Brothers?)

[rhombus]

Ever see the Blues Brothers

Repeatedly.

[Alex Murphy]

Has there ever been any change in the Islamic action or law due to words? They consider us infidels, lying to us to advance their agenda would not be immoral but expected. It is the west that values truth and honesty.

More meaningful IMO, have any of them converted from Islam to Christianity?

[Earthdweller]

Amazing. I pray that this type of thinking will now flow like a river throughout the ME and dominate.

[Earthdweller]

More attention BUMP!

[Walkingfeather]

exactly my point. You think these guys are going to go back to their home mosques and say "guess what, all that killing of infidels is wrong? " Not likely, you see the fellow muzzies would not only kill him but also his entire family.

Now lets reverse it. How many mainstream Christian people have condemed the KKK, white nazi party and their ilk? Millions.

The nutjobs from the vet funerals are not even mainstream baptists, but do the mainstream baptists kill those idiots families for their idiot ways? no.

You need to compare apples for apples.

[Earthdweller]

The title of this needs to say something to the effect of 'Top Muslims come forward on violence toward Christians' to catch people's attention.

I wonder why this was not done?

[rhombus]

And your point is.... religious people shouldn't bother talking? Nah, that couldn't be it.

[Pirate21]

The problem is is that the majority of the Muslim population DOESN'T READ.

Can't vouch for the veracity of that, but anyhow: Just another way for the fascists to keep the masses down. Hmmm... makes one think of those opposed to "No Child Left Behind".