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Olde Tyme Religion
Pope sorry that remarks were misinterpreted
2006-09-17
Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday apologised for causing any offence to Muslims amid growing fury across the Islamic world over a speech he made implicitly linking Islam and violence. "The Holy Father is extremely sorry that certain passages of his speech appeared offensive to Muslim believers and were interpreted in a way that does not correspond in any way to his intentions," said the Vatican's new secretary of state, Tarcisio Bertone. "The pope is unequivocally in favour of dialogue between religions and cultures," Bertone said, in his first official statement since taking office on Friday.

Anger with Pope Benedict XVI intensified across the Muslim world on Saturday, uniting Sunni Islam's leading authority, Malaysia's moderate premier and Afghanistan's extremist Taliban militia. The Vatican said the pope's comments on Tuesday linking Islam and violence had been misinterpreted, but Muslim leaders described them as offensive with many demanding an immediate apology. The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar university Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi said on Saturday the pontiff's comments "betray a clear ignorance of Islam and attribute to the faith things which have nothing to do with it".

Sheikh Mohammed, Sunni Islam’s top authority, said the pope’s remarks “do nothing to further dialogue between world religions and civilisations”.
Posted by:Fred

#10  The Pope is a scholar and a hard-liner. What are the odds he got exactly the reaction he was looking for? I suspect he thinks the Muslims are irrational by western standards and can't be trusted and he wanted to prove his point by demostrating that fact. Unfortuately, some poor nun in Somalia is the price.
Posted by: Mercutio   2006-09-17 16:13  

#9  Not so fast, gorb.

When Benedict was elected, one other strong contender was a Nigerian cardinal, Francis Arinze. He's got plenty of experience dealing with Muslims, especially the way they treat Christians when given half a chance.
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2006-09-17 12:19  

#8  I'd guess a Pope from Venezuela is out of the question. :-)

With today's environment, you'd think they'd retreat a bit and stay with a player closer to home. I don't think a Pope from the southern hemisphere would be likely to play the Catholic hand properly from a European perspective. They should try that experiment when times are less interesting.
Posted by: gorb   2006-09-17 05:49  

#7  Some Catholics can speak up, but I had the impression that he is a real intellect with real positions on today's theological issues, and the CoC intended him to get the train back on the tracks in Europe before it's all over there. Like Bush, items not on his agenda seem to have taken it over. I doubt he's a placeholder by any means, because the next one may well be from the southern hemisphere and then the fireworks really begin.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-09-17 05:43  

#6  long on talk, short on action.

Well, long on action, short on thought anyway! ;-)

Yes, that looks like a good way to explain it. If he doesn't "apologize" in the end, it may well be proof.

The guy is fairly old. He was only supposed to be a placeholder, I thought. I wonder if the Cardinals picked him just for this kind of mission, leadership, and sacrifice knowing what was coming. Probably not, but just a thought.
Posted by: gorb   2006-09-17 05:34  

#5  I'd agree Zen. And he did at least a half dozen other things in that speech. Spoke to the secular west, spoke to science, spoke to academics, expecially humanists, spoke to "moderate" Islam, spoke to the College of Cardinals, and spoke to his flock.

There's messages for each and all in that speech. And he's backing them up by going to Turkey. Into the lions den. Let's hope they prove to be the usual Lions of Islam℠; long on talk, short on action.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-09-17 05:23  

#4  I think the Pope should have known better than to even try what he did.

I think the Pope does know better, knew exactly what he was doing and did it anyway. In a feat of astounding compassion towards all who dwell in terrorism's shadow, he has made himself a stalking horse for Islam's predators. As a soldier of God, he has placed himself first in harm's way. He has done this despite having at his beck and call complete and total luxury with near-absolute security as well.

Benedict is living his philosophy, something that is both exceptional in a leader and especially laudable in a spiritual adviser. He is out to prove Islam for what it is, even at the cost of his own life. Given the threat that looms over so much of this world, his gesture is one that simultaneously utilizes his high position to best effect while humbly submitting himself to the danger every man,woman and child must face.

It is nothing short of exemplary leadership that this shepherd interposes himself twixt his flock and the wolves that circle it. His actions reach far beyond his own parisoners and, as Christ would have insisted, embraces one and all of us, Catholic or not.

Never have I admired a man of the cloth so much as Pope Benedict. He is giving Islam every chance to fulfill its claim as the Religion of Peace. That it is doing nothing of the sort should come as no surprise to anyone, least of all to Benedict himself.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-09-17 05:08  

#3  If they're upset it's because they can't read or can only read a little. I think the Pope should have known better than to even try what he did. Who was his target audience anyway? Maybe scholars could have kept up with him, but you know they're just going to twist what he says into something they can use to stoke the flames. Unless I hear some muslim groups saying something positive about this, then it would seem nothing will ever come of the present situation except for some serious examples being made out of Iran and Syria. At least. Then maybe we can all start a meaningful dialogue.
Posted by: gorb   2006-09-17 03:58  

#2  '... certain passages of his speech appeared offensive to Muslim believers and were interpreted in a way that does not correspond in any way to his intentions ...'

I believe this implies that the 'Muslim believers' can actually read. I have been unable to find any statement made by these 'Muslim believers' that would support this hypothesis.
Posted by: Michael Sheehan   2006-09-17 02:54  

#1  I think it's hipocritical not to call for an appology from the dead guy as well.
Posted by: Super Hose   2006-09-17 02:05  

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