Posted on 09/21/2006 3:14:52 PM PDT by Dark Skies
THE Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, entered the row over the Pope’s comments on Islam yesterday when he questioned whether Turkey should be admitted to the European Union.
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, spiritual leader of the four million Catholics in England and Wales, echoed concerns shared by the Pope when he argued that the predominantly Muslim state was not culturally part of Europe.
The Cardinal played down the controversy over the Pope’s address in Regensburg, Germany, last week, in which he quoted the words of a Byzantine emperor who described Islam as “evil and inhuman”.
But the Cardinal did say that there were passages in the Koran that could be read as an “incentive to violence”.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 programme Today, he questioned the position of Tony Blair, who has argued for Turkish membership of the EU on the ground that exclusion would be damaging.
The Cardinal said: “There may be another view that the mixture of cultures is not a good idea.”
He added: “I think the question is for Europe. Will the admission of Turkey to the European Union be something that benefits a proper dialogue or integration of a very large, predominantly Islamic, country in a continent that, fundamentally, is Christian?
“I speak also, in a sense, for the people of this country — of whom 70 per cent say they are Christian, whether they practise or not — because they realise that although we are a secularist country, at the same time, I believe, there is a deep yearning for God.”
The Pope is due to visit Turkey at the end of November, in his first trip to a Muslim country since his election.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime Ministery, has described the Pope’s comments on Islam as ugly, but his Government still expects the visit to go ahead on schedule.
The Cardinal urged moderate Muslims to help to quell Islamic anger that has seen death threats against the Pope who, he said, had expressed regret for the offence his words appeared to have given and which he had not intended.
Turkey should not be admitted into their little socialist cult. The reason being that the Muslims would influence the rest of the lot, rather than the other way around.
I wonder what other muslim opportunities were aborted by their typically rabid performance.
Looks like the Pope-mobile just keeps on rolling down that angry arab street.
The "mixture of cultures" shan't last for very long. The "European" culture is going awayas the baby-food industry falls on hard times.
The baby food industry in Europe could take a great leap forward if they developed products like "puree'd goat milk yogurt and hummis" and "camel urine and bananas surprise" for the izzie babies.
the Turks are the leavings and the progeny of the Ottoman Empire (or is it Caliphate?). Giving each and every one of them free reign to wander about wherever they please within the "EU" is a death wish!
In a few years, when France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden become predominantly Muslim, will they kick them out of the EU?
This is why I sit back here quietly with my popcorn, watching the koranimals openly expose their intolerance and evil to a global audience, in the full knowledge they conditioning themselves to take any bait dangled before their faces and then swiftly proceed to shoot themselves in the foot.
I believe the Pope has always been against Turkey's joining the EU. I am, too. Of course, I've always been against France, Germany, etc., etc. joining the EU -- not that it doesn't make sense for European countries to join forces in defense and favorable trade terms, but (predictably, IMO) it's yet another magnet drawing the power-mad left.
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