Posted on 09/15/2006 6:15:33 AM PDT by NYer
Angry protests against Pope Benedict XVI erupted in the Islamic world today as the Vatican struggled to explain a reference by the Pontiff to the Prophet Mohammad’s “evil and inhuman” contribution to religion.
The Vatican has tried to defend the Pope after comments he made about Islam and jihad prompted anger in the Muslim world.
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Muslim clerics from Cairo to Kashmir declared the Pope had revived the spirit of the medieval crusades and the official sermon for Friday prayers in Teheran condemned the Pope as “rude and weak-minded”.
Muslims in Rochdale joined in the chorus of criticism, claiming the Pope had cloaked his own feelings in the words of a 14th century Byzantine emperor.
In a speech on Tuesday at Regensburg University in his native Germany Pope Benedict analysed a conversation between Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus and a Persian scholar after the siege of Constantinople in 1391.
He quoted the emperor as saying: “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.”
Pope Benedict went on to question as “unreasonable” Muslim adherence to Jihad, a holy war to propagate the faith.
Today’s protests raised fears of a repetition of the outpouring of anger that followed the publication a year ago of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed in a Danish newspaper.
The controversial Gulf-based cleric, Sheikh Youssef al-Qardawi today called on Muslims to protest, saying: “Muslims have the right to be angry and hurt by these comments from the highest cleric in Christianity.”
Turkey’s ruling AKP party joined the criticism. Its deputy leader likened Pope Benedict to Hitler.
An angry reaction to the remarks there could jeopardise a trip Pope Benedict is planning to make to the country in November.
The head of the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood appealed to Islamic countries to threaten to break off relations with the Vatican unless the Pontiff withdrew his remarks.
The Vatican has so far refused to apologise. A statement by chief Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said: “What is in the Holy Father’s heart is a clear and radical rejection of religious motives for violence.”
The Rochdale-based Ramadan Foundation immediately rejected the Vatican’s explanation. “If the Pope wanted to attack Islam and the Prophet Mohammed’s teachings, he could have been brave enough to say it personally without quoting a 14th-century Byzantine Christian emperor,” it said.
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Ouch! Right between the goalposts. Good work, your holiness!
Truth hurts. Truth hits everybody. And as usual, the louder the Islamkazis screech, the more you know something good is going on.
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There is no need to apologize or play a political "damage control" game.
Much like LIBERALS, the muzzies are ALWAYS pissed off or offended by something. They're a great contrarian indicator. Like the LIBS, if you're pissing them off then you're on the RIGHT TRACK!
I always have liked this Pope! (And I'm Protestant!)
They HATE the Prince of Peace. The Ultimate answer.
The Pope hit the truth.
I think the reaction today is proving the point....
Never forget what Ramzi Yousef's associate Abdul Hakim Murad said after he was arrested by Filipino authorities in 1995 "two Satans that must be destroyed: the Pope and America." He meant the Pope generically, not the specific Pope at the time, John Paul II.
At least he has not caved to the pressure thus far.
I hope this sparks a reality check throught Christendom.
I really like this Pope. He had some giant shoes to fill, but so far I think he's done an excellent job.
LOL... it's protest season again in the Muzzie world.. i get to see funny mad faces of goats everywhere in the net... good find!
America and the Pope. Hmmmm.....
"Angry protests against .......erupted in the Islamic world today "
Now THERES something you don't hear everyday.
/sarc
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