Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell, seen here, has supported Pope Benedict XVI's comments about Islam, provoking protests from local Muslims.(AFP/File/Thomas Coex)
Posted on 09/19/2006 7:15:35 AM PDT by NYer
THE Archbishop of Sydney has drawn a link between Islamists and violence in a strident attempt to defend the Pope - just as the pontiff tries to hose down the flames of Muslim anger around the world.
Cardinal George Pell says "the violent reactions in many parts of the Islamic world" to a speech by Pope Benedict justified one of the very fears expressed in that address. "They showed the link for many Islamists between religion and violence, their refusal to respond to criticism with rational arguments, but only with demonstrations, threats and actual violence," Cardinal Pell said in a statement yesterday.
He described as "unfortunately typical and unhelpful" attacks on the Pope's comments by two local Muslims, Taj el-Din al Hilaly, the Mufti of Australia, and Ameer Ali, from the Government's Muslim advisory committee.
Security was increased around the Pope yesterday, despite his declaration that he was "deeply sorry" for the reaction of Muslims offended by his speech last week. It quoted a 14th-century Byzantine emperor who linked Muhammad to "things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".
Cardinal Pell begins by saying it is a sign of hope that "no organised violence has flared here in Australia … No one compared the Pope to Hitler or Mussolini (as in Turkey) or called for his murder as Sheik Malin did in Somalia. No group like the League of Jihadists in Iraq promised 'that the soldiers of Muhammad will come sooner or later to shake your throne and the foundations of your state'."
He adds: "Our major priority must be to maintain peace and harmony within the Australian community, but no lasting achievements can be grounded in fantasies and evasions."
He then details his criticisms of Sheik Hilaly and Dr Ali.
"It is always someone else's fault and issues touching on the nature of Islam are ignored.
"Sheik al-Hilaly often responds to criticism by questioning the intelligence and competence of the questioner or critic. So too with the Pope, whose speech he claimed was not what was expected of a holy person and indeed 'the Church needs to re-examine its thoughts about someone who doesn't have the qualities or good grasp of Christian character or knowledge'."
Cardinal Pell said Dr Ali misunderstood the Pope's speech and "called on Pope Benedict to be more like Pope John Paul II than Pope Urban II, who called the First Crusade. In fact the Pope's long speech was more about the weaknesses of the Western world, its irreligion and disdain for religion and he explicitly rejected linking religion and violence. He won't be calling any crusade."
But Cardinal Pell added: "Today Westerners often link genuine religious expression with peace and tolerance. Today most Muslims identify genuine religion with submission (Islam) to the commands of the Koran. They are proud of the spectacular military expansion across continents especially in the decades after the prophet's death. This is seen as a sign of God's blessing. Friends of Islam in Australia have genuine questions, which need to be addressed, not regularly avoided. We are grateful for those moderate Muslims who have spoken publicly."
Sheik Hilaly said Muslims had a right to be angered by the Pope's "veiled and not-so-veiled insults". But he agreed Muslims must answer hard questions and that terrorists misquoted religious texts to justify murders.
"We thank God that Cardinal Pell … confirms that Australian Muslims are part of Australian society and are not threatening its peace and security."
Dr Ali said Cardinal Pell's language was not helpful. "The point is Pope Benedict quoted a most inappropriate quote at a most inappropriate time."
ping
I just love Cardinal Pell! I became acquainted with him when there was all of the Vatican coverage preceding the Papal Enclave. Such an impressive man!
Inappropriate for the jihadists, yes.
Bravo Cardinal.
May your tribe increase. say it like it needs to be said. Force the debate onto a reluctant lib-dominated establishment that is twisting like a pretzel and spinning away to avoid the issue.
And in other news today, a link has been discovered between bears and large dumps in the woods.
Kudos the the Cardinal for having the courage to call it as he sees it.
Next Pope?
Good for the Cardinal, this truth telling is so offensive to the monsters that they diminish themselves to a rabid animal status and that is fine with me. When people finally stop being bullied by these low life morons then we can deal with them effectively. The Nazi mentality is asking for a solution and the world will answer, whatever it takes. It will come down to our very existence.
Let's not rush the process ;-) We note however, that Cardinal Pell has
So it seems.
Bravo!!!
The worlds' largest Islamic state, Indonesia, sits just a few miles across the Torres Straits from Australia.
"Imam links Islamists to violence".
How many jihads can they call for before someone figures out that there may be a link?
Very sparsely populated area of Australia faces the Indonesian threat to the northwest. Darwin better be prepared...
If push comes to it, though, we remain aware - and they are aware - that we've come to the military aid of our major allies in two wars in the last five years - so picking a fight with us, isn't just picking a fight with us.
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