“Popery at its very best.Wonder, I do, where this fits: Scripture or Tradition?”
So, I suppose some can ignore Scripture when it comes to “loving your brother” and “treating/loving others as you want to be loved”.
Having hope for peace is part of being a Christian. This doesn’t negate our ability to defend ourselves against those who wish to behead us.
Having sludge for theology helps no one.
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Those who are not in Christ are not our brothers or sisters -- thus the remark about the usual popery equating those in Christ -- Christians -- with those who are NOT in Christ -- the lost.
2 John 1: 6-11 also states:
6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we[a] have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
I'd say Mohammedans do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ as the Son of God -- and I'd say they don't abide in the teaching of Christ, thereby they do not have God. And since Islam teaches other than the Gospel, are we to consider them "brothers" according the the Roman Catholic pope? According to John, we're to not even admit them to our homes or greet them lest we partake of the same wickedness.
So, you're right: Scripture cannot be ignored. Why does the pope ignore it?
Hoss
Understand and agree fully. Here's the 'but'. But what exactly did this visit to the Mufti of Jerusalem and kind words do to comfort the Syrian Christians being murdered and persecuted?