Posted on 09/23/2006 3:00:19 AM PDT by Clive
It was said after the Holocaust by those who believed in freedom, decency and tolerance that, "We are all Jews now."
After the events of the past week it is now time for those who still believe in these virtues, irrespective of religion or race, to stand up and proudly announce, "We are all Catholics now."
Yes, we are all Catholics now. Catholic like the Holy Father who spoke scholarly and moderate words about Islam, dialogue and the error of spreading religion by force.
Words for which there was never any need to apologize. Nor did he.
Pope Benedict merely said that he was sorry for any offence and pain that his comments may have caused.
We must now wait for someone to apologize for the churches that were firebombed in Palestine shortly after the Pope's speech and for Somali religious leader Abubukar Hassan Malin who urged Muslims to "hunt down" Benedict and kill him "on the spot."
Apologize for the abusive and threatening demonstrations, including calls for the Pope to be executed, that British Muslims organized outside Westminster Cathedral in London last Sunday, as families with children made their way to Mass.
Apologize for the Shura Council in Iraq, an umbrella of several Sunni groups, which stated after the Pope's comments that, "We will break up the cross, spill the liquor and impose the head tax, then the only thing acceptable is a conversion or the sword."
Apologize for the Muslims attacks on Catholic priests in Turkey in the past year, including the murder of Fr. Andrea Santoro.
Apologize for those Muslim leaders who compared the Pope to Hitler and promised to kill him.
Apologize for the massive persecution of Christians in Egypt, including kidnappings, rape, murder and beatings.
Apologize for the churches in Pakistan and Iraq that have burnt to the ground, for the beheading of Christian schoolgirls in Indonesia and for the arrests of Muslims who wish to convert to Christianity.
Apologize for the sermons in some mosques that compare Jews to monkeys and pigs and call for the Jewish people to be slaughtered.
Apologize for those Muslim countries that make television dramas claiming Jews kill gentile babies so as to drink their blood.
Apologize for those Muslim leaders who declare that Spain and Portugal have to be "retaken" by Islam.
Apologize for the invasion on the Christian heartlands of North Africa and the Middle East hundreds of years ago, just as Pope John Paul apologized for crimes committed against Muslims and Islam during the Crusades, the European response to this expansion.
Apologize for the murder of three of the translators of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, for the murder of Dutch film director Theo Van Gogh and for the murder of Daniel Pearl.
Let me make it extremely clear that I do not blame all Muslims for what is done by some of their co-religionists in the name of Islam.
But when country after country and mob after mob behave thus, a certain pattern does seem to emerge.
I hope and pray that this violence and extremism does not represent Islam.
I hope there is room for genuine dialogue.
But, frankly, I am not optimistic about the possibility of having such an honest discussion now.
As India's Cardinal Toppo commented after Pope Benedict's statement and the violent reaction, we must all respond with "courage and prayer because truth needs no other defence."
Quite so. Once again, we are all Catholics now.
-
Can't the Catholics join us in saying we are all Christians now.
"Apologize for the abusive and threatening demonstrations, including calls for the Pope to be executed, that British Muslims organized outside Westminster Cathedral in London last Sunday, as families with children made their way to Mass."
If we can get the Catholic nations to join the Protestant Nations in this fight against Islam we will win.
The idea that America and Britain lead the fight is wrong, I think that Poland is Catholic for instance.
It's Pope Benedict who is being attacked and threatened. It's the Pope who had the courage to draw islam's violent history to the attention of the world by his speech at Regensburg.
It's up to christians worldwide to support the Catholic Church that showed the way.
I'm a catholic now.
Just like we are all Jews.
"Nice Non sequitur Nit."
I only speak English, what does that mean?
would be amusing if it wasn't so terribly sad...
"It's Pope Benedict who is being attacked and threatened."
In a strategic sense I really want the pope on our side.
Lets' face it, with thousands dead, Americans are going to feel threatened as well, between our civilians and our soldiers, we feel like we have lost many thousands to this war.
If the Protestant nations can win the support of the Catholic nations, it enhances us both numerically and diplomatically.
If the Protestant nations can win the support of the Catholic nations, it enhances us both numerically and diplomatically.
------
Sorry, I'm an Australian. We have both Protestants and Catholics, we have a smattering of just about every religion known to man.
But a PROTESTANT NATION/CATHOLIC NATION is totally beyond my comprehension.
What on EARTH are you talking about?
"Sorry, I'm an Australian. We have both Protestants and Catholics, we have a smattering of just about every religion known to man"
In America we are the same, but we are a nation of protestant culture and identity.
We fight and nurture from our national identity, when the Pope himself joins us in a cause, as the previous Pope did with the Soviet Union, it increases our effectiveness and reach.
I think you missed the entire point of the article.
Well put! I think it's good that the Pope is trying to talk sense into these people, or rather, get them to talk sense into each other, but I don't think there's much hope for it. His point in using a quotation that was several hundred years old was to show that this is not a new phenomenon, and that Islam has been violent since forever, so I think he's aware that there's little chance of a change. But it is right for him to call them to account and at least see if some of them will make the effort.
"it is now time for those who still believe in these virtues, irrespective of religion or race, to stand up and proudly announce, "We are all Catholics now."
Done.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1702913/posts?page=5#5
Joseph Giordano, chief of GWU Medical Center's trauma unit: "Mr. President, we're all Republicans today."
Likewise, Holy Father, we're all Catholics today.
"Non sequitur Nit."
OK.............it sounds very deep, except you have to communicate with us , for us to respond.
It's Latin for "off topic."
In nomine Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
The Godfather! Baptism scene, right?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.