Well...it's like this...
I lied to my diary.
OK? Understand?
Jeez...
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over the his planned visit to Turkey in November, with the country's Prime Minister insisting the comments must be withdrawn.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.
So, if the Pope does not "in any way" agree with what he quoted, what DOES he believe?
Well, they have won yet again. How they must laugh at all of us.
Well...it's like this...
I lied to my diary.
OK? Understand?
Jeez...
Does he say what his personal opinion is? No.
If you read the entire argument the Pope presented, the 14th century sentence he quoted was a premise to be argued with, not accepted at face value. It was posited to elicit counterarguments. The Pope even quoted the pre-jihad Mohammed, who was much more prone to tolerance of other religions (because he was in a position of weakness) to give Muslims a hint at how they might challenge it.
He did not cave in or give ground. He basically said that Islam has internal inconsistencies on the subject of using violence to spread its religion. He did not say how he personally has sifted these inconsistencies.
I encourage everyone to read his original speech. It is linked on this site someplace.
No he didn't.
When is the (butt)-kissing going to stop?
"Don't hurt me."
Probably be kissing the Koran tomorrow
Perhaps this will give you a clue. Cardinal Ratzinger in 1984.
"Extremely harsh also were the words used by Ratzinger in passing judgment on other religions: "After the Council," he says, "their value has been over emphasized; paganism painted as being serene and innocent is one of the illusions of our time. In fact, there exists the active presence of the devil, and from this only Christ can free us. For this reason we must continue to preach Christianity to these non-Christian religions which are in many instances reigns of terror."
He didn't back down, and he's not worried about himself, believe me. He's worried about the Christians in Muslim lands (such as the 70 yr old nun who was gunned down by a Muslim in a Somali children's hospital today), which is probably the only reason he's even giving these idiots the courtesy of a reply.
But he knows that this situation has got to be dealt with, and it's going to cost Christian lives no matter what he does. Think about it, how would you feel?
The Pope said what he said. I hope the European (Western Empire) leaders are bright enough to understand what the Pope was trying to tell them through this Byzantine Emperor.
I doubt it. What has your pastor done or said, btw? I have heard only resounding silence from Christians in the US. To my knowledge, not one bishop or important clergyman, Protestant, Orthodox or Catholic, has come forward to support the Pope.
See #25.
How would I feel? I'd feel that you stand up to killers.
True. And freepers should remember that there is also a liberal faction at the Vatican, as well as within the ranks of Cardinals and Bishops, who are not always happy with Pope Benedict - nor he with them.
Dear Pope,
No matter what you say or do, Muslims want you dead.
I take it as a warning to Europe.
Then this is the issue that will prove his mettle?
I suggest the Pope isn't sorry for telling the truth.
Let's hang tough...the Pope will!
BTW, I'm not Catholic but I believe in this Pope. He won't let us down. Hang tough.
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