Article

2005-04-20 International-UN-NGOs

Pope Benedict XVI: Enemy of Jihad By Robert Spencer

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Posted by Anonymous5089 2005-04-20 9:44:09 AM|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 For those who missed OldSpook's commentary yesterday concerning the new pope, check it out.

Thank you to OldSpook for a lot of valuable information.

Posted by mom 2005-04-20 12:32:35 PM|| 2005-04-20 12:32:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 An "ample extract" of the La CiviltÃ Cattolica article describing Vatican policy towards Islam can be found here.

An excerpt:

We must, finally, recall a fact that is often forgotten because Saudi Arabia is the largest provider of oil to the Western world, and the latter therefore has an interest in not disturbing relations with that country. In reality, in Saudi Arabia, where wahhabism is in force, not only is it impossible to build a church or even a tiny place of worship, but any act of Christian worship or any sign of Christian faith is severely prohibited with the harshest penalties. Thus about a million Christians working in Saudi Arabia are deprived by violence of any Christian practice or sign. They may participate in mass or in other Christian practices - and even then with the serious danger of losing their jobs - only on the property of the foreign oil companies. And yet, Saudi Arabia spends billions of petrodollars, not for the benefit of its poor citizens or of poor Muslims in other Muslim countries, but to construct mosques and madrasas in Europe and to finance the imams of the mosques in all the Western countries. We recall that the Roman mosque of Monte Antenne, constructed on land donated by the Italian government, was principally financed by Saudi Arabia and was built to be the largest mosque in Europe, in the very heart of Christianity.

I think it would be a very good move if journals like La CiviltÃ Cattolica were available in English translations.

Posted by mrp 2005-04-20 12:56:43 PM|| 2005-04-20 12:56:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Crossposting from LGF:

From my conversations with him in the late 70s, when he was archbishop of Munich, I learned a few things about him:

1) That he hated the Nazis even during his short time in the Hitler Youth. He was a nominal member, but was exempted weeks after his compulsory joining because of his fragile health and studies in the Catholic seminary (many boys actually joined Catholic institutions to avoid service in the HJ.) His teen years had a lasting effect on him as he was able to see the difference between reality and what the Nazis taught. His love for truth and being truthful all the time stems from this early experience.

2) He was a progressive Catholic in his early year (played an important role at the 2nd Vaticanum), but the intolerance of 1968 made him change his mind. He abhorred communism and the carefree nihilist thinkings in these times and became a conservative, but not a reactionary, as many claim.

3) He saw the dangers of Islamic fanatism in the 70s already. Khomeini was a menetekel for him. At this time he didn't see Islam so much as a threat for Europe (yet), but for Asia and Africa.

4) He is more a friend of the Jews than most other Catholic priests. I remember him saying that Christians and Jews are on the same direction to salvation, just on different paths. Islam instead was an aberration that would lead humanity into a religious "dead end street" (Sackgasse was his exact word). He strongly favoured a rapprochement between the Catholic and Jewish faith, but didn't see any common ground between Christianity and Islam.
Latest proof of this was that he strongly supported John Paul II travel to Israel but did have a big headache about that voyage to Damascus. I doubt you'll see Benedict XVI visiting a mosque... ever. And he sees Turkey as a big religious threat to the judeochristian identity of Europe.

He may come across as the Great Inquisitor, but he has never refused discussion and arguments. He is firm on the "essentials" of the Catholic faith. The German Catholic professors he suspended clearly violated the essential principles of Catholicism. He is an extremely intelligent, bright personality... a bit shy with people though. He won't pretend to have the charisma of JPII.

And yes, I think, we'll see a few surprises from him in the next years. I had to chuckle when I heard the Chicoms demands today. Oh boy, they are messing with the wrong guy here.

Benedict of Nursia one restored the Christian faith in a devastated Europe. Commentators have focussed much on Benedict XV as the closest role model of Ratzinger. But I think he's much closer to Benedict XIV.

Benedict XIV

And yes, he loved the "Apfelmaultaschen" (pasta made with potato flour, filled with apples and powder sugar and cinnamon on top) my wife prepared for him :-)

They look like this:

I guess you won't find this detail on CNN :-)

Posted by True German Ally 2005-04-20 2:02:53 PM|| 2005-04-20 2:02:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 Thanks for the insight.

If you're going to post pictures, you should post the recipe.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-04-20 2:23:23 PM|| 2005-04-20 2:23:23 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 And make enough to share. Now I'm hungry again.

Posted by Seafarious 2005-04-20 2:26:29 PM|| 2005-04-20 2:26:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 TGA, that is just incredible insight. Thank you so much for sharing it. Information like this is why I love Rantburg. I look forward to Benedict's papacy with much enthusiasm. Oh, speaking of sharing, do you think the wife could whip up a batch of the Apfelmaultaschen for some hungry Americanos? That looks very tasty.

Posted by Remoteman 2005-04-20 2:27:37 PM|| 2005-04-20 2:27:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 LOL, funny enough, that's actually a "poor people meal"... but it tastes very well.

Recipe here, but only in German.

Posted by True German Ally 2005-04-20 2:31:40 PM|| 2005-04-20 2:31:40 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 I note that as Cardinal, Ratzinger had good relations with Jews, and that Landau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Abe Foxman of ADL both say so.

OTOH i dont think Europe has EVER been "judeochristian" or that, to the extent it has been, Turkey (as opposed to wahabi loonies) is a threat to that character - Turkey MAY be a threat to the CHRISTIAN character of Europe, but thats something else.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-04-20 4:23:01 PM|| 2005-04-20 4:23:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 I'm not so sure that anatolian Turkey belongs in Europe. Istanbul is an outpost of tolerance and normality sitting next to Syria West.

Posted by thibaud (aka lex) 2005-04-20 4:26:29 PM|| 2005-04-20 4:26:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 How do Malta and Cyprus belong in Europe, geographically speaking?

Posted by Liberalhawk 2005-04-20 4:28:12 PM|| 2005-04-20 4:28:12 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 TGA - it looked tasty ... unfortunately.... eggs, milk products.... at that point I would be at 3 or more 1500 level or greater allergies so I will have to just imagine what it might taste like.... You wouldn't have a recipe for Apfelmaultaschen using soy would you? 8^>

Posted by 3dc 2005-04-20 9:21:07 PM|| 2005-04-20 9:21:07 PM|| Front Page Top

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