[NYer]

Thank you all for the wealth of information on Turkey. I was not aware of how seriously the situation there had deteriorated. Given all that you have posted, I am going out on a limb here to suggest that perhaps the Pope's Regensburg address was intentional and in support of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Ratzinger is a clear headed theologian. He accepted the Patriarch's invitation to Turkey last year but was denied entry by the government. Once that had been settled, he continued with his plans to visit Turkey and celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew with the Patriarch, in Istanbul. Despite death threats, those plans have not been canceled and I would suggest that we ALL pray for his safe pilgrimage and journey to this holy land.

My heart goes out to the Patriarch whose hands are tied by the Turkish gov't. Interestingly enough, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is seen as a long-standing supporter of European Union entry for Turkey. "Our country is a bridge between the East and the West," stated the patriarch. "We do not think the European Union should be only a club limited to Christians." Whereas, before becoming pope, Benedict had made known his opposition to Turkey joining the EU.

Your thoughts?

[Kolokotronis]

"Interestingly enough, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is seen as a long-standing supporter of European Union entry for Turkey. "Our country is a bridge between the East and the West," stated the patriarch. "We do not think the European Union should be only a club limited to Christians." Whereas, before becoming pope, Benedict had made known his opposition to Turkey joining the EU."

In many ways, its the EP's only hope for survival in Constantinople, NYer.