Pope urges Muslim leaders to condemn violence done in name of Islam

cns ^ | November 30, 2014 | Francis X. Rocca

[NYer]

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ISTANBUL (CNS) -- Pope Francis called on political and religious leaders across the Muslim world to condemn violence done in the name of Islam.

The pope said he told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Nov. 28 that "it would be beautiful if all Islamic leaders -- whether they be political leaders, religious leaders, academic leaders -- would say clearly that they condemn (terrorism), because that will help the majority of Islamic people to say, 'that's true,'" and show non-Muslims that Islam is a religion of peace.

Pope Francis answers questions from journalists on his flight to Rome Nov. 30 after a three-day trip to Turkey. (CNS/Paul Haring)

"I sincerely believe that you cannot say that all Muslims are terrorists just as you cannot say that all Christians are fundamentalists; every religion has these little groups," the pope said.

The pope made his remarks Nov. 30 during a 45-minute news conference on his flight to Rome after a three-day visit to Turkey.

In response to other questions, Pope Francis said:

-- During a televised moment of silent prayer in Istanbul's Blue Mosque Nov. 29, alongside the city's grand mufti, "I prayed for Turkey, I prayed for the mufti, I prayed for myself because I need it, and I prayed above all for the peace and an end to war."

-- The "substance" of controversial language on "welcoming homosexuals" in the midterm report at the October 2014 extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family survived in the corresponding section of the final document, even though the latter was widely considered more conservative. He said the synod was not a parliament but an "ecclesial space where the Holy Spirit can work" and was just part of a process to be continued through the coming year of preparation for an October 2015 worldwide synod on the same subject.

-- Although difficulties remain in relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches, the pope is ready to meet with the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow as soon as the patriarch wishes to invite him.

-- Both the Catholic and Orthodox churches include conservative members resistant to ecumenism, who must nonetheless be treated with respect: "A conservative has a right to speak, you don't expel him."

-- The pope would like to visit one of the camps housing refugees from the civil wars in Syria and Iraq but cannot do so now because of security concerns.

-- He speculated, without naming names, that at least one of the governments that denounced the use of chemical weapons in Syria's civil war may have been the source of those very weapons.

-- He praised Erdogan's 2013 statement on the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces -- a statement criticized as inadequate by many Armenians, who consider the massacres a "genocide" -- as an "outstretched hand." The pope voiced hope that other gestures over the coming anniversary year would bring the two nations nearer, and he specifically voiced hope that Turkey would open its border with Armenia.

[NYer]

Ping!

[Sasparilla]

He might as well ask Democrats to repeal Obamacare.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Like asking a pig not to go “oink”.

[Politicalkiddo]

Is he serious? Does he honestly believe that any Muslim will listen to him? Aren’t these people of the same religious faith that want to kill him and destroy the Vatican?

[Parmy]

That’s never happened in 1400 years. Don’t expect it to happen now.

[353FMG]

Message goes into one muzzie ear and out the other.

They know that the West has surrendered.

Proof: practice of the murderous muzzie ‘religion’ is totally accepted in the West while even being titled a ROP.

They must really have a hearty belly laugh as they smoke the hookah pipe.

[dforest]

It is okay to lie to infidels. The muzzie could say, okay Pope guy, we denounce it *wink wink*.

[Travis McGee]

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

The typical Muslim response to such calls is to “condemn all violence”. They will never, ever, specifically condemn a Muslim for a violent act, no matter against whom.

And, the more they parse it, the worse they get.

For example, they say that women and children are legitimate targets of “defensive” terrorist acts, thus excusing Muslims who carry out those acts. But at the same time, they use acts that are not aggressive at Muslims to justify terrorism.

For example, they consider resistance to Muslim conquest to be terrorism. It is a parallel gambit to claiming Islamophobia at every opportunity.

So the best the Pope can hope for, is to create conditions in which Muslims can safely flee from Islam. When these conditions exist, many Muslims “vote with their feet” and become Christians.

[cornelis]

Pope lumps terrorists with fundamentalists. "Fundamentalism is sometimes used as a pejorative term, particularly when combined with other epithets (as in the phrase "right-wing fundamentalists" --wiki

The pope is not our friend.

[arthurus]

Islam without violence in the name of Islam is something other than Islam.

[Salvation]

With God all things are possible.

[Arthur McGowan]

It would also be nice if unicorns pooped gumdrops.

[Dqban22]

Pope Francis’ religious indifferentism is the doctrinal nemesis of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and is in stark opposition to the Magisterium of the Church.

Remember H.H. Pope Benedict XVI lecture at Regensburg and his strong criticism of Islam.

Speaking about Islam, Benedict XVI referred to remarks from Emperor Manual II Paleologos of Byzantine (the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the city of Istanbul ) regarding the role of this religion.

"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.”[3] The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. "God", he says, "is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably (σὺν λόγω) is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...".

The so called “religion of peace” is:

The Greatest Murder Machine in History

By Mike Konrad

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/05/the_greatest_murder_machine_in_history.html#ixzz3Kbkg5gfO

[ebb tide]

Remember H.H. Pope Benedict XVI lecture at Regensburg and his strong criticism of Islam.

Remember Archbishop Bergoglio criticizing Pope Benedict for the same address?

The Daily Telegraph reported that Benedict, in an appearance at the University of Regensburg in Germany, quoting a medieval document, called the Prophet "evil and inhuman," a declaration that triggered outrage across the Muslim world, prior to an apology issued by the then-pope.

In response to the brouhaha, Bergoglio, speaking through an aide, told Newsweek Argentina of his "unhappiness" with Benedict’s statements and urged church members to criticize the pope.

"Pope Benedict's statement don't reflect my own opinions,” Bergoglio stated at the time.

"These statements will serve to destroy in 20 seconds the careful construction of a relationship with Islam that Pope John Paul II built over the last 20 years.”

Benedict did not take kindly to these statements.

Almost immediately, the Vatican removed Joaquín Piña, the archbishop of Puerto Iguazú in northern Argentina, who also criticized Benedict. As a subordinate to Bergoglio, Pina’s removal was a signal that the Cardinal of Buenos Aires himself could be the next to go.

As it turned out, Bergoglio kept his position, but in a protest canceled a flight to Rome to boycott a synod Benedict had called.

Pope Francis: A Friend To Muslims?

[The_Media_never_lie]

"I sincerely believe that you cannot say that all Muslims are terrorists just as you cannot say that all Christians are fundamentalists; every religion has these little groups," the pope said.

Except, in Islam, it is the majority, not just a little group. Equating Islam extremists with Christian fundamentalists just does not work. There is no honest comparison.

[DarkSavant]

Is he serious? Does he honestly believe that any Muslim will listen to him? Aren’t these people of the same religious faith that want to kill him and destroy the Vatican?

Not a big fan of the guy, but this is a good move. It puts the onus on Islamic leaders to prove they are peaceful, or risk looking bad in the court of public opinion. We all know they're not, but that's not the point.