Posted on 09/17/2006 5:49:41 PM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast
'Remarks Not My Views'
Updated: 18:52, Sunday September 17, 2006
The Pope has appeared in public to say the remarks he made about Islam which sparked fury across the Muslim world did not in any way reflect his personal views.
Benedict XVI had been under pressure to make a personal apology following a controversial speech he made in Germany on Tuesday.
In the Somalian capital Mogadishu an Italian nun was attacked and killed by gunmen. Sources said there was a very high possibility the incident was linked to the speech.
The Pope told a crowd at his summer retreat at Castle Gandolfo, ltaly, he was "very upset and sorry" his remarks had caused such a reaction.
"This was a citation from a medieval text which doesn't express in any way whatsoever my personal opinion," he said.
He said the speech had been an "invitation to... frank and sincere dialogue".
In it, he referred to criticism of the Prophet Mohammed by a 14th-century Byzantine emperor.
The passage said everything Mohammed brought was evil "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".
Using the terms "jihad" and "holy war", the Pope said violence was "incompatible with the nature of God".
Protests in Pakistan Initially Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said the apology was sufficient.
"We consider that the new statements represent a retreat from what went before. We can consider them a sufficient apology, even if we had wanted the Pope to outline his ideas and vision of Islam," said deputy leader Mohammed Habib.
However, later the brotherhood appeared to change its mind and said the Pope had not made a "clear" apology.
The Muslim Council of Britain welcomed the Pope's explanation.
A spokesman said: "We very much welcome the Pope's statement in which he made it clear that his own views do not in any way accord with those of the 14th century emperor.
"This is a very important clarification that we had been seeking. Had this caveat been included in the Pope's original speech it may have prevented this controversy in the first place."
Demonstrations by Muslims around the world saw effigies of the Pope burned and threw doubt over the his planned visit to Turkey in November, with the country's Prime Minister insisting the comments must be withdrawn.
It was also revealed the national security level in Italy had been stepped up in the wake of threats to the pontiff from Islamic groups.
I agree.
What is it going to take? I'm getting tired of our leaders letting us down when it comes to these bullies.
Sounds like Kerry......damn.
"Show me just what Mohammed 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." -Manuel II Paleologus
We better have your patron saints run for office : )
I would say the reaction show his remarks are valid... churches burning... shooting nuns. come on leaders lets fight these people.
Media and Muslims mischaracterize his speech and attack him.
Pope takes nothing back, but says he's sorry peoples' feelings were hurt, and that wasn't the point.
"Conservatives" mischaracterize his speech and attack him.
real disappointing
Pope Benedict XVI caved. I am too am very disappointed.
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I'm not Catholic, and I don't get it. If they weren't his personal views, then why did he say anything?
Good point.
Maybe it was a trial balloon.
Good summary. I hope you realize that you are one of the few that have accurately understood both the comments and the controversy. I am impressed with your ability to summarize all of it in just 3 sentences.
Uh, yeah...
C'mon... cut me a break...
I agree with you. The Pope, as far as I can tell, never said what his personal opinion is.
Well, they weren't his views. Maybe his views are even worse - he didn't say what they were.
One of the Muzzie groups has withdrawn their "acceptance" of this supposed apology, btw, because once they read it, they realized he wasn't apologizing for anything, except that he was sorry they had gotten upset. LOL! A truly Clintonesque "apology."
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