Muslim Leaders Assail Pope’s Speech on Islam

NY Times ^ | September 14, 2006 | IAN FISHER

[neverdem]

ROME, Sept. 14 — As Pope Benedict XVI arrived back home from Germany, Muslim leaders strongly criticized a speech he gave on his trip that used unflattering language about Islam and violence.

Some of the strongest words came from Turkey, possibly putting in jeopardy Benedict’s scheduled visit there in November.

“I do not think any good will come from the visit to the Muslim world of a person who has such ideas about Islam’s prophet,” Ali Bardakoglu, a cleric who is head of the Turkish government’s directorate of religious affairs, said in a television interview there. “He should first of all replace the grudge in his heart with moral values and respect for the other.”

Muslim leaders in Pakistan, Morocco and Kuwait, in addition to those in Germany and France, also criticized the pope’s remarks, with many demanding an apology or clarification. The extent of any anger about the speech may become clearer on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer in which grievances are often vented publicly.

The Vatican did not respond today, as the pope returned from his six-day trip to his homeland, Germany, to the criticism of his speech. On Tuesday, Benedict delivered a major address — which some church experts say was a defining speech of his pontificate — saying that the West, and specifically Europe, had become so beholden to reason that it had closed God out of public life, science and academia.

But the pope began this speech at Regensburg University with what he conceded were “brusque” words about Islam: He quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor as saying, “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 also used the...

[technochick99]

Islam shares teachings with Christianity

If Islam denies the divinity of Christ, do we have that much in common with them? Do they have the same Old Testament/Hebrew scritptures?

[hoosierham]

I read that some German military were not too happuy with their ally then,but a generation later they copied the tactic.

[AmishDude]

She is dead. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. So I will now comment on Ann Richards:

[AmishDude]

Unlike Judaism -> Christianity, Islam explicitly rejects all previous teachings. Whatever your religion was -- Judaism, Christianity, Arabic moon-worship -- it was corrupted. Only Mohammed carried the truth.

Everything is "new" in Mohammed's teaching. It was not a reform movement.

Of course, if you're a cynic, you realize Mohammed was a fraud and a con man out to get money, power and girls.

[mware]

I will never understand how JPII did not merit the Nobel Peace Prize in the eyes of that committee.

I guess he will just have to be satisfied with sainthood and being one of the people most responsible for freeing the Polish people from Communism.

[Charlespg]

my dogs are highly insulted

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Understood. Liberal Democrats have caused me a LOT of severe problems in life. Yes, THEY caused the problems because they did not agree with a conservative point of view. They're evil. The end.

[the invisib1e hand]

Catholics are always wearing bullseyes. I prefer using cover and concealment with fire and movement.

I tend to be that way myself, if I understand the tactical jargon.

[WV Mountain Mama]

LOL!! Although, I am sure I will be cursing when I go to bed tonight and that song is in my head!!!!!! :)

[livius]

It's at the Vatican new agency website, Zenit.

http://www.zenit.org/english/

Click on September 12 and look for the Papal Address at Regensburg. I was going to post the whole thing, but it's long - if you can't find it, let me know and I'll send it to you.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Wow, thanks for that info, just bookmarked it.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

And The Con Goes On,,,,,,,Those People,,,,

Non Gratum Anus Rodentum !!!

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Not Worth A Rats Ass ;0)

[Dajjal]

The Vatican did not respond today, as the pope returned from his six-day trip to his homeland, Germany, to the criticism of his speech. On Tuesday, Benedict delivered a major address — which some church experts say was a defining speech of his pontificate — saying that the West, and specifically Europe, had become so beholden to reason that it had closed God out of public life, science and academia.

But the pope began this speech at Regensburg University with what he conceded were “brusque” words about Islam: He quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor as saying, “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.”

Is everyone aware that the text at the top of this thread is not how the NYT article reads anymore???

For several hours now the Source has said this (subject to further editing after I post):

As the criticisms gathered force, the Vatican worked quickly to quell a potentially damaging confrontation with Muslims. It issued a statement saying that the church seeks to “cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue toward other religions and cultures and obviously also toward Islam.”

The statement, from the pope’s chief spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said: “It should be said that what is important to the pope is a clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation of violence.”

“It was certainly not the intention of the Holy Father to do an in-depth study of jihad and Muslim thinking in this field and still less so to hurt the feelings of Muslim believers,” he added.

Kumbaya!

Compare to statements by Pope Benedict found here.

[Mrs. Don-o]

The Koran is a jumble of borrowed ideas from Judaism, Christianity, tribal paganism and other sources, compiled in a rather garbled and fragmentary fashion, without any thematic, moral, or narrative unity. (If anybody thinks my description is inaccurate, try reading it yourself.)

It does have elements in common with Judaism and Christianity. Here are a few of them:

• One God, who is the creator of all things visible and invisible
• This God is also lawgiver and judge; who will repay all according to their deeds
• religious obligations include open proclamation of faith in the one God, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and (this is unique to Islam) pilgrimage at least once in one's lifetime, to Mecca
• the Koran mentions Abraham, Jesus and his mother Mary, and other figures from Judeo-Christian Scriptures, but gives them all a twist. For instance, Mary is honored as the virgin mother of Jesus, but Jesus is not acknowledged as the Son of God; rather, he is believed to have been created in Mary's womb, just as God created Adam. Thus, Jesus is just a man, like Adam.

• The believe that the soul of man is immortal, and will live in an eternity of bliss or of punishment. They also believe that the world will end some day, and that at the Last Judgment, Jesus (yes, Jesus) will judge all who have ever lived.

  To my mind, this is one of the most dangerous things about Islam: it has elements of the truth which inevitably make it attractive; but these truths are mixed in with elements of apparently irreformable violence, error and oppression. Very dangerous indeed.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the update.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Blue Ribbon.

[khnyny]

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has had the reputation of being one of the greatest theologians on the planet for a long time. I also urge everyone to read his entire address to the University. The following are just a few biographical highlights:


[From 1946 to 1951 he studied philosophy and theology in the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology of Freising and at the University of Munich.

In 1953 he obtained his doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled "People and House of God in St Augustine’s Doctrine of the Church".

Four years later, under the direction of the renowned professor of fundamental theology Gottlieb Söhngen, he qualified for University teaching with a dissertation on: "The Theology of History in St Bonaventure".

After lecturing on dogmatic and fundamental theology at the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology in Freising, he went on to teach at Bonn, from 1959 to1963; at Münster from 1963 to 1966 and at Tübingen from 1966 to 1969. During this last year he held the Chair of dogmatics and history of dogma at the University of Regensburg, where he was also Vice-President of the University.

From 1962 to 1965 he made a notable contribution to Vatican II as an "expert"; being present at the Council as theological advisor of Cardinal Joseph Frings, Archbishop of Cologne.

His intense scientific activity led him to important positions at the service of the German Bishops’ Conference and the International Theological Commission.

In 1972 together with Hans Urs von Balthasar, Henri de Lubac and other important theologians, he initiated the theological journal "Communio".]

Read more:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/biography/documents/hf_ben-xvi_bio_20050419_short-biography_en.html

[khnyny]

[I guess he will just have to be satisfied with sainthood and being one of the people most responsible for freeing the Polish people from Communism.]

And from freeing the world from Communism. Why do you think they tried to assassinate him?

Pope John Paul II
Ronald Reagan
Margaret Thatcher

[bitt]

the Pope should conclude all future remarks with "So sue me".