Pope turns to Mecca at Istanbul

The Australian ^ | December 1, 2006 | From correspondents in Istanbul

[diamond6]

This thread is going to be interesting.

[dcrider182]

great......... lets keep appeasing them.. that will make them like us better...

~D

[dcrider182]

great......... lets keep appeasing them.. that will make them like us better...

~D

[Texas_Jarhead]

you said it

[Paladin2]

I always turn (the LONG way) to Mecca when I bend over to remove my shoes at airport security.

[Neidermeyer]

heads will roll....

[Ole Okie]

For later reading.

BTTT.

[Sir Gawain]

Eh, non news really.

[VeritatisSplendor]

I guess it's wise to keep an eye on places where demons impersonate angels.

Mrs VS

[M. Thatcher]

Also from article:

The two men, clad in long white robes, stood side by side and immobile for about two minutes, their hands crossed on their stomachs in a classical Muslim prayer attitude known as "the posture of tranquillity". The Pope remained with his eyes closed for about a minute, but did not repeat Cagrici's gesture when the mufti wiped his face with the palms of both hands, signalling the end of the prayer. The Pope then ... exchanged presents with the mufti. "This picture is meant as a message of fraternity - a souvenir of this visit that I will certainly never forget," the pope said, presenting Cagrici with a mosaic representing doves. Benedict XVI received an Ottoman calligraphy that read: "In the name of Allah the merciful" - also in the form of a dove. "A pleasant twist of fate," said the mufti.

[gaijin]

Their imaginations will run wild. Quite logically, they'll reason, "If we can get the friggin POPE to do this, we can get ALL CHRISTIANS to do this...!"

This will fan the flames of their confidence.

Ugh.

[Cicero]

"Let us turn toward the Kiblah" - the direction of Mecca, which all Muslims must face when they perform their five-time-a-day prayers.

I don't see anything wrong with this. If a Catholic visits a Protestant church, or vice versa, it's only polite to stand and sit with the congregation. Meantime, you can be saying your own prayers.

Following the host's invitation in this instance is a gesture of politeness, not a gesture of belief.

[karnage]

I pray for Benedict's continued health, strength, and Christian witness.

[Argus]

Here's hoping he was performing a silent exorcism.

[RedQuill]

He was determining azimuth and range.

[Free ThinkerNY]

Neville Chamberlain holds the paper containing the resolution to commit to peaceful methods signed by both Hitler and himself on his return from Germany in September 1938. He said:

"My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time."

Regarding his impression of the Western Allies, Hitler would later say: "Our enemies are little worms. I saw them at Munich."

[airborne]

We all know who he was praying to.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

The Pope can order a large "M" to be painted on all interior church walls that face Mecca and order all congregations to face that direction when they pray.

[Enosh]

Eh, non news really.

It is very much so. Bad news at that.