Muslim anger grows at Pope speech

[PHILIP RACUEL]

I hope this is the right section to post this in- if not it can be moved I guess...

from the BBC:

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5347876.stm

A statement from the Vatican has failed to quell criticism of Pope Benedict XVI from Muslim leaders, after he made a speech about the concept of holy war.

Speaking in Germany, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said Muhammad had brought the world only "evil and inhuman" things.

The head of the Muslim Brotherhood said the Pope's remarks "aroused the anger of the whole Islamic world".

The Vatican said the Pope had not intended to offend Muslims.

"It is clear that the Holy Father's intention is to cultivate a position of respect and dialogue towards other religions and cultures, and that clearly includes Islam," said chief Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi in a statement.

But in spite of the statement, the pontiff returned to Rome to face a barrage of criticism from the Muslim world over the remarks, reports the BBC's David Willey in Rome.

Violence and faith

In his speech at Regensburg University, the German-born Pope explored the historical and philosophical differences between Islam and Christianity, and the relationship between violence and faith.


Muslim Brotherhood head Mohammed Mahdi Akef
The remarks do not express correct understanding of Islam
Mohammed Mahdi Akef
Muslim Brotherhood

Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted Emperor Manual II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire, the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul.

The emperor's words were, he said: "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

Benedict said "I quote" twice to stress the words were not his and added that violence was "incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul".

'Angry and hurt'

The Pope's "hostile" remarks drew a demand for an apology from a top religious official in Turkey - where he is due in November on his first papal visit to a Muslim country.

Ali Bardakoglu recalled atrocities committed by Roman Catholic Crusaders against Orthodox Christians and Jews, as well as Muslims, in the Middle Ages.

In Egypt, Muslim Brotherhood head Mohammed Mahdi Akef said the Pope's words "do not express correct understanding of Islam and are merely wrong and distorted beliefs being repeated in the West".

In a statement, he was "astonished that such remarks come from someone who sits on top of the Catholic church which has its influence on the public opinion in the West".

Sheikh Youssef al-Qardawi, a prominent Muslim cleric in Qatar, rejected the Pope's comments, in remarks reported by Reuters.

"Muslims have the right to be angry and hurt by these comments from the highest cleric in Christianity," Mr Qardawi reportedly said.

"We ask the Pope to apologise to the Muslim nation for insulting its religion, its Prophet and its beliefs."

The 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference also said it regretted the Pope's remarks, and news agencies reported a furious reaction on Islamic websites.

[Nathan Morrison]

looks like the right forum to me LOL

Holy crap

[reynaud]

I want to thank Phil for his post. This is the right place to post issues about Religion and Politics,

Benedict XVI is a bit of a reactionary pope. I think he would like to do to Vatican II what Bush wants to do to the Geneva Conventions.

Religion is a mater of faith. Unfortunately God doesn't erect mountains with a sign and an inpenetrable force field so that no one can destroy, or modify it or discredit it.

Although I still believe in Christ, I do not hold to any specific Christian tradition. i have been called a universalist Catholic. If that is so I may be the only member.

[PHILIP RACUEL]

your welcome

[powers]

The leader of the Catholic faith is calling other religious "Gods" nasty names and refuses to apologize because he was simply quoting an ancient text.

I have never been a big fan of mobs, chaotic protests, and destruction over small statements or offences but the Muslims, with the recent reactions to Muhammed insults, apparently are. This is the only way they get reported on and get their voices heard. I'm not saying that it is acceptable or appropriate. It is the standard reaction of today.

But the Pope? Seriously, of all the people that would insult anyone else or denounce their beliefs I thought that it would be a good Catholic. Isn't that what the religion is all about? Peace, compassion, turning cheeks, treating all as you would Jesus? Anything bigger than that would be solved by God, according to the bible. God brought the plaugues down on the enemies of his people. He turned people to sand, gave Moses the power to part a sea, and told Noah how many "cubits" to build his ark. "God's people" aren't the ones who are to insult others, start (or even participate) in wars, or punish others. It's been a while since I've looked at a bible, but it mentioned peace and love in more places than slight references against homosexuality or steering away from crustations.

Shouldn't the Pope preach what he practices? Is he? I thought that the idea of a Catholic God was a kind one that could make a community better. Unfortunately, the religious leaders who have gone political (and vice versa) have divided the religion in its own ranks and is succeeding in completely dividing the religion from the rest of society.

Love thy neighbor? "Only if they love me most," said Jesus.

[reynaud]

A lot of people seeking to put down religion have jumped on the pope, Benedict XVI, for some comments that may have been taken out of Context.
I did a little research and found the following in the National Catholic Reporter, an independant catholic news publication that has been around since I was in the seminary in the 60's.

John L. Allen Jr.. the Reporter's senior consultant and Roman bureau reporter, in an article dated September 18, 2006 said:

The uproar began last Tuesday during Benedict XVI's visit to Bavaria, when he delivered a 40-minute academic lecture at the University of Regensburg on the relationship between reason and faith. In it, he argued that calls for the "dehellenization" of Christianity, stripping it of its Greco-Roman encrustations and returning it to a state of "pure faith," miss the point. The decision made in favor of the rationality of God under the impact of Greek philosophy was not an accident of history, the pope said, but part of the genetic code of Christianity.

The pope went on to insist that religion and reason need one another, and included a plea against religious violence. Prior to the speech, senior Vatican officials were touting it as a "defining" address of Benedict's pontificate in terms of laying out his core concerns.

Benedict opened the speech with a reference to a 14th century dialogue between the Byzantine emperor Michael II Paleologus and a "learned Persian," in which the emperor criticizes Islam.

The quote that caused the furor followed: "He turns to his interlocutor somewhat brusquely with the central question on the relationship between religion and violence in general, in these words: 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,' the pope said, emphasizing that he was quoting the emperor."

Benedict's main interest appeared to be a series of subsequent lines from Paleologous about the importance of reason.

That context was largely lost, however, as reports made their way around the world, sparking wide protest and a handful of acts of violence. Seven churches were attacked in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while massive rallies took place in majority Muslim states such as Indonesia and Iran, where seminaries were closed in protest.

If you want to get involved with in an international discussion, two tables have opened on the NCRcafe discussing Benedict's apology and his approach to Islam. This is your invitation to join these conversations: Benedict's apology and Benedict's jihad remark go to ncrcafe.org/blog/7 to "blog in".

You can also read John Allen's assessment of Pope Benedict's approach to Isalm: The Vatican and Islam by going to nationalcatholicreporter.org/word/word072905.htm.

What has been made an statement of historical reference may have been blown out of proportion. I don't know, I guess we will see in the future how this pope, the former Inquisitor General of the Roman Catholic Church.


Peace!