Lando 
Posted on 09/15/2006 2:33:34 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican
Pope Benedict XVI's comments on religious radicalism are another sign of his intention to bring his voice into one of the world's most critical showdowns: Islam's internal struggles between moderates and extremists.
The remarks — tucked into an address at a German university where he formerly taught theology — were interpreted by many experts in interfaith relations as a signal that the Vatican is staking a new and more demanding stance for its dealings with the Muslim world.
Benedict, they say, appears to increasingly view the West's confrontation with radical Islam as a fateful moment in history that demands the Vatican's moral authority — just as his predecessor, John Paul II, reshaped the dimensions of the papacy by openly taking sides in the Cold War.
The risk for the Vatican is whether it will be perceived in the Muslim world as part of a broader Western cultural and political campaign against Islam.
"We have seen a hard line from this pope," said Ali El-Samman, president of the interfaith committee for Egypt's High Islamic Council. "It's a disappointment for many Muslims. But just because we are disappointed in a pope doesn't mean we are against all Christians."
The Vatican said Benedict did not intend the remarks to be offensive and sought to draw attention to the incompatibility of faith and violence.
The pope quoted from a book recounting a conversation between 14th-century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and a Persian scholar on the truths of Christianity and Islam.
"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said. "He said, I quote, '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, who is supposed to visit Turkey this fall in his first trip to a Muslim nation, did not explicitly agree with the words nor did he repudiate them.
In the backlash, some of the more subtle — yet potentially far-reaching — references have been overshadowed.
The speech suggested deep dismay over the current conditions of Christians in the Middle East and the rest of the Muslim world, said John Voll, director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in Washington.
"This reflects the intention of Pope Benedict to distinguish himself from his predecessor on his approach to interfaith dialogue," said Voll. "And by this, it means more reciprocity."
Voll said the pope may increasingly instruct Vatican envoys to stress issues of forced conversions of Christians and limits on Christian rights and worship.
"It's the next step after John Paul began opening doors" with historic pilgrimages to Muslim nations, including a visit to a Syrian mosque in 2001, Voll said.
As John Paul's chief watchdog on Roman Catholic doctrine, Benedict — then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — had little role in shaping the Vatican's contact with Islam and other faiths.
Some experts say Benedict's theological scholarship gives him an affinity for Orthodox churches and Judaism because of many shared traditions and holy texts, but leaves him less equipped to deal with Islam at a time when suspicions dominate relations between the West and Muslim world.
The speech, some say, shows the pontiff intends to carry on with his strong defense of the values of the Christian West rather than compromise for the sake of building bonds with Islam.
"They went to the speech expecting to meet Pope Benedict, but instead they met Professor Ratzinger," said the Rev. Khalil Samir, a Vatican envoy for interfaith links in Lebanon.
In July 2005, about two months after assuming the papacy, Benedict was asked if he considered Islam a religion of peace. He said: "Certainly there are elements that favor peace. It also has other elements."
The Rev. Robert Taft, a specialist in Islamic affairs at Rome's Pontifical Oriental Institute, said it was unlikely the pope miscalculated how some Muslims would receive his speech.
"The message he is sending is very, very clear," Taft said. "Violence in the name of faith is never acceptable in any religion and that (the pope) considers it his duty to challenge Islam and anyone else on this."
"openly taking sides in the Cold War' !!!!!
What 's "cold" about the continued deliberate murder of innocent non-combattants?
Let's guess. You think both side have their points of view don't you?
Please don't take it too personally if we wish you a nice life and bye bye. 'Kay?
There is no reason for the Vatican to "build bonds" with Islam. I'm guessing the pontiff knows a little bit more about the consequences of Islamic ambition than some secular news analysts.
Amazing that in 2006 saying that violence in the name of Islam is a BAD thing is somehow "controversial".
Benedict, who is supposed to visit Turkey this fall in his first trip to a Muslim nation, did not explicitly agree with the words nor did he repudiate them. "
Whatever he said, he said intentionally...about that we can be sure.
I'm sure hoping the Pope really ratchets it up from here. Here is pretty fearless, so twill be interesting to see where he goes.
While I am not a Catholic and I have some doctrinal problems with the Catholic church, I must say, I really like this Pope. I hope he stands his ground.
I really love this Pope.
A real man's Pope.
The remarks — tucked into an address at a German university where he formerly taught theology — were interpreted by many experts in interfaith relations as a signal that the Vatican is staking a new and more demanding stance for its dealings with the Muslim world.
AMEN!!!!
Thankfully the Pope spoke the truth about Mohammed.
A sign that those protesting Benedict's remarks are unhinged.
I've bookmarked this --- it is so well written and accurate.
Thanks for the posting.
Did you run out of meds today, pal?
"Islam's internal struggles between moderates and extremists."
Hahaha... propaganda. There is not "internal" struggle!
B-I-N-G-O
Lando
They can write all the left wing articles they want, if you read what the Pope said it was not offensive to any religion and was so logical and moral that it should be non-controversial. Do the authors of these articles think religious violence is a good thing?
I hope he beefs up security.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Maybe you should read the whole article too.
I guess it is totally accepted by the Western media, that all the Islamist leader speak in the most vile fasion about other religions, but dare anyone say anything critical of Islam...
Islam = vile, murderous pack of scum since Mohammed!
""openly taking sides in the Cold War' !!!!!
"What 's "cold" about the continued deliberate murder of innocent non-combattants?"
======
That was John Paul II taking sides in the Cold War (see below). You must be too young to remember.
"just as his predecessor, John Paul II, reshaped the dimensions of the papacy by openly taking sides in the Cold War."
It's about time someone has the balls to call this herd of scum what it is!
"...unhinged..."?
They're light years beyond merely 'unhinged', R. They're murderous subhumans... no, I won't say what should be done with the lot of them. That's coming all too soon enough, IMO.
Well you ought to be against all Christians. They are Infidels. And Christians don't intend to give up their belief in Jesus Christ and start believing that Allah is the one and only God; and Mohammed is his prophet.
Are you having trouble understanding the fundamentals of Islam.
This makes me extremely nervous.
CRUSADE versus jihad. Film at 11.
The heathen gnash their teeth....
I didn't read it that way at all. I read it to mean that the Pope knew what he was doing in breaching the subject. And, considering what's gone on the last year, who (least of all, the Pope) is suprised at the way the Muslims have reacted? They kind of proved his point. I expect the Pope to stand his ground.
I am so sick of all this. So what if the Pope said what he said. It is true. Muslims are causing terror. Not Christians and not Jews. All this PC bullcrap is making me sick. Christians are not bombing and beheading people, Muslims are. There, it is said. It is the truth.
It is amazing how anyone can make fun and ridicule Christians and no one is OFFENDED. Heavens forbid anyone says anything about Muslims. It is sickening and I AM SICK OF IT.
I see shades of the past with John Paul, Reagan and thatcher, taking on communism and winning the Cold War after many years and many speeches.
This is bigger problem however, but the Pope's choice of the "Forced Conversion" doctrine in Islamic faith is a good one. It is central to most everything that is despicable within the religion and is a great point to pound on..
I expect him to speak on this theme frequently enough to keep them in turmoil and perhaps get some of them to begin the thinking and introspective process. just as john Paul did to the Communists. It is the only hope we have to get them to moderate and join the 21st century.
The alternative is unthinkable, but it could be the only thing left if we fail to change the dynamics.
The Pope spoke the truth about islam and its so-called prophet muhammad.
A good reason for Pope Benedict XVI not to travel to Turkey and not to allow Turkey to join the UE.
No, see, you're completely missing the point. They aren't against all Christians. They're just against the ones they can't force to live in cowering, poverty-ridden dhimmitude.
Let's get ready to rumble!
bump for later
" Analysis: Pope's `jihad' remarks a sign"
A sign of what happens whenever someone deviates from the Orwellian 'Religion of Peace' mantra.
Christianity has blood on it's hands as well. But the Crusades and Islamofascist terrorism are quite different in motive.
The Pope knows exactly what he is doing. This article is not critical of him, it is supportive. I think people are misinterpreting what the Pope and the Vatican intended to do with those comments.
He is the right Pope for the times.
This is not by coincidence. I believe it is Divine Will.
I feel the same way. I liked Pope John as well.
God bless Pope Benedict here. This Southern Baptist admires his forthright words.
In the battle for the souls of man, Islam is a competitor, not a potential partner. Though we should try to live at peace with everyone, any "understanding" of Islam that includes an acknowledgement of it as true and equal is wrong. In the end, they are irreconciliable.
He has now engaged his pulpit with the WOT.
This is good news. This can can only mean that a substantial force has been brought into the fight.
The title of his address is "Faith and Reason". He invites reasonable Muslims to dialogue. Instead, all the hotheads riot in the streets. I guess the reasonable are like the moderates. They are figments of our imaginations.
Absolutely.
Oh, I know this article is not being critical of the Pope. I am just ranting and raving because I am tired of all these Muslims being offended by cartoons and anything else civil minded people might say that they find offensive. If they don't like what is said, THEN STOP KILLING AND BEHEADING IN THE NAME OF ISLAM.
My tagline says it all....
The Popes words were meant to be heard by them, and the reaction is typical and expected.
Do this a few hundred times per year, for a couple decades or more, and something is going to give.
Give it time....
It is all we can do, except kill them.
We once thought the commies were unbeatable.....and could never give up power and control.
How long before Catholic churches start blowing up?
FR mail.
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