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| Down Under |
| PM stands by Pell after Islam comments |
| 2006-05-05 |
| Prime Minister John Howard is standing by Australia's top Catholic, as Islamic and other groups question Cardinal George Pell's remarks about the intolerance of the Muslim faith and the Koran's "invocations to violence". Dr Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, defended comments he made in an address to US Catholic business leaders in Florida in February, which were published this week. In his speech, Cardinal Pell questioned the tolerance of Islam. "Considered strictly on its own terms, Islam is not a tolerant religion and its capacity for far-reaching renovation is severely limited," Dr Pell said in the address. He also said there were "so many" invocations to violence in the religion's holy text that he gave up counting after about 70 pages. He stood by these remarks, saying the criticisms were "cliches, smokescreens" to distract and divert attention from the real issues. "Islamic terrorists are not a figment of anyone's imagination and the history of relations with Islam is full of conflict," he said in a statement. "We need a lot of continuing dialogue, based on truth, history and the current situation. "I continue to be completely committed to dialogue with Muslims, to supporting moderate forces on all sides ... and recommend that people read the Koran ... and judge for themselves." Islamic Council of NSW spokesman Ali Roude welcomed Dr Pell's recognition of the need for greater understanding of Islam, but urged him to exercise his leadership more carefully. "We welcome (Dr) Pell's personal efforts to understand Islam but we caution him to avoid making statements that he cannot support with evidence, and that which is likely to reinforce tensions and disharmony within Australian communities," Mr Roude said. Mr Howard said he knew for a fact that Cardinal Pell has been "a strong proponent of good relations between Christianity and Islam". "I think any kind of analysis that somebody makes from his position, and he brings a great intellect to the analysis he makes ... I'm quite sure he is not trying to be unhelpful," Mr Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting. Mr Roude called on Dr Pell to spread a message of love and understanding, and not of fear and hatred "in a climate full of mistrust (and) instability brought about by organised fear-mongering". Peace, respect and understanding were the foundations laid by Pope John Paul II for interfaith dialogue, Mr Roude said. "We reiterate the need to continue our life's journey of dialogue and engagement so that extreme views of any sort do not gain prominence in driving a wedge between all of God's creations," he said. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #5 The difference is reading the Koran and not having it "read" to you. Read it and it is to weep. What the muslims get, is the version read to them. It's what the Mullahs say. Rmember that the madrassas do not teach the kids to read the Koran. They teach them to recite something in a language they do not understand and then tell them what they have "read" and add their interpretations to that. Pell is on subject. Roude is dissembling. And playing the islamist taqiyya game. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-05-05 21:58 |
| #4 #3 How about: reading the Koran while not being in a reverent frame of mind = capital crime. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-05-05 12:12 |
| #3 "We welcome (Dr) Pell's personal efforts to understand Islam but we caution him to avoid making statements that he cannot support with evidence, and that which is likely to reinforce tensions and disharmony within Australian communities," Mr Roude said. What did he say that he cannot support? He tried to count the calls to violence in the Koran -- that's evidence. He found so many he gave it up as akin to counting grains of sand on a beach -- that's evidence. What really pissed this guy off is that someone read the Koran and didn't start bowing to Mecca. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2006-05-05 09:29 |
| #2 Good reading for ALL.The name of the book "The Politicly Incorrect Guide To Islam" by Robert Spencer.What every American should know!! |
| Posted by: ARMYGUY 2006-05-05 09:12 |
| #1 Kudos to Howard. Archbishop Pell should form a church group to publicly dissect the koran and islamic teachings. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-05-05 08:21 |