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Posted by: Andy0921

Pope's explanation accepted by some Muslim leaders, but others say it's not enough
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(Vatican City-AP, Sept. 17, 2006 8:50 PM _ Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday that he is "deeply sorry" his remarks on Islam and violence offended Muslims, but the unusual expression of papal regret drew a mixed reaction from Islamic leaders as the Vatican worried about a backlash of violence.
Some Muslim leaders accepted the statement. Others said it wasn't enough, but urged Muslims to avoid violence after attacks on churches in Palestinian areas and the slaying of a nun in Somalia.
Benedict said he regretted causing offense with his speech last week in Germany, particularly his quoting of a medieval text that characterized some of the teachings of Islam's founder as "evil and inhuman" and referred to spreading Islam "by the sword."
He said those words did not reflect his own opinions.
"I hope that this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect," the pope said during his weekly Sunday appearance before pilgrims.
It was an unusual step for a leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, issued a number of apologies during his papacy, but they dealt with abuses and other missteps by the church in the past rather than errors on his own part.
Vatican officials had earlier sought to placate spreading Muslim anger by saying Benedict held Islam in high esteem and stressed that the central thrust of his speech was to condemn the use of any religious motivation for violence, whatever the religion.
While Benedict expressed regret his speech caused hurt, he did not retract what he said or say he was sorry he uttered what proved to be explosive words.
Anger was still intense in Muslim lands.
Two churches were set on fire in the West Bank, raising to at least seven the number of church attacks in Palestinian areas over the weekend blamed on outrage sparked by the speech.
There was also concern that the furor was behind the shooting death of an Italian missionary nun at the hospital where she worked for years in the Horn of Africa nation of Somalia. The killing came just hours after a Somali cleric condemned the pope's speech.
"Let's hope that it will be an isolated fact," the Rev. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, was quoted as saying by the Italian news agency ANSA.
He said the Vatican was "following with concern the consequences of this wave of hate, hoping that it does not lead to grave consequences for the church in the world."
Police across Italy were ordered to step up security out of concern that the anger could cause Roman Catholic sites to become terrorist targets. Police outside the pope's summer palace confiscated metal-tipped umbrellas and bottles of liquids from faithful.
Benedict's expression of sorrow for the offense he caused satisfied some Islamic leaders.
The head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, a banned group but still the largest Islamic movement in that country, said the outrage was justified but predicted it would subside quickly.
"Our relations with Christians should remain good, civilized and cooperative," Mohammed Mahdi Akef told The Associated Press in Cairo.
Germany's Central Council of Muslims welcomed the pope's comments Sunday as "the most important step to calm the protest" and urged the Vatican to seek discussion with Muslim representatives to avoid lasting damage.
But others were still demanding an apology for the words, including in Turkey, where questions have been raised about whether Benedict should go ahead with a visit scheduled for November as the first trip of his papacy to a Muslim nation.
"It is very saddening. The Islamic world is expecting an explanation from the pope himself," Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin told reporters in Istanbul. "You either have to say this 'I'm sorry' in a proper way or not say it at all. Are you sorry for saying such a thing or because of its consequences?"
Turkish Education Minister Huseyin Celik voiced similar concern. "It is different to be sorry and to apologize," he said.
Mohammad al-Nujemi, a professor at the Institute of Judicial and Islamic Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, expressed dismay at what he called Benedict "evading apology."
"His statements might give terrorists and al-Qaida followers legitimacy that there is really an attempt to hurt Muslims," al-Nujemi told Al-Arabiya television.
In Damascus, Syria, lawmaker Mohammad Habash said the pope offered a "clarification and not (an) apology." But Habash also called for "calm and dialogue."
Hundreds of Iranians demonstrated against the pope in cities across Iran. In Qom, the religious capital of Iran's 70 million Shiite Muslims, hard-line cleric Ahmad Khatami said the pope and President Bush were "united in order to repeat the Crusades."
The uproar is one of the biggest crises involving the Vatican in decades, and the Holy See has moved quickly in trying to defuse anger.
On Sunday, in an unusual step, the Vatican's press office rushed out translations in English and French of the pope's remarks. Typically, the Vatican doesn't translate the pope's Sunday remarks, which are delivered in Italian.
Both sides have much to gain by good relations. The Vatican and Muslims have shared stands in opposition of abortion. The Holy See, under Benedict's predecessor, John Paul II, vigorously lobbied against the Iraq war, and Benedict made numerous appeals to Israel to use restraint in its recent military campaign against Hezbollah
guerrillas in Lebanon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier urged world religious leaders to show "responsibility and restraint" to avoid what he called "extremes" in relations between faiths.

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Posted by: HousingCop

I guess some Muslims in Africa didn't get this message. They have killed a poor Italian nun for just being who she is. I guess the "religion of peace and understanding" isn't that at all.
British Muslims have even gone as far as saying the Pope should be put to death for his remarks. I hope that new anti-terror law the Brits put in place kicks in over these statements.
Maybe the 14th Century Pope who was quoted is exactly right. Not much changes when you still think like you're still in the middle ages.
Pope Benedict better watch his back too. The last guy who busted some caps at Pope John Paul II was a member of the "religion of peace and understanding" as well.

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Posted by: JoninNH

Quote:

Pope's explanation accepted by some Muslim leaders, but others say it's not enough

Tought shit.

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Posted by: SOT

At this point I say "Fuck the Muslims and their fragile egos".

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Posted by: Deuce

I thought the muslims first demanded an apology. Now they get one but it's not good enough? And now they call for the death of the head of another religion. Yes definitely a religion that teaches peace and tolerance.. Funny how it's only a minority "radical few" who want to exterminate us, but I always see a whole friggin city participating in the usual effigy burning. Must be my imagination....

TypeX what's your "brother's" opinion on this?

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Posted by: zebra3

It's funny how Muslims throughout the world respond to criticism against them as racism. They complained of retaliation against innocent muslims after 9-11. They claim that every non-muslim is a heathen and/or Devil, Americans who convert end up as either terrorists or violent criminals. Innocent men, women and children are dying every day so some Islamic Jihadist can go to heaven and have 72 virgins. I read an article today that Al-Qaida, a muslim group, stated in response to the pope that they were going to kill every christian and take over the world. Yet we, Western civilization, are accused of racism and intollerance.

I just don't get it.

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Posted by: irish937

Ditto! They got their apology, but it's not good enough? What are they looking for? One of the most pious and holiest men on the planet dead?? So much for being tolerent and peaceful. Try another excuse to move your hateful agenda forward.

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Posted by: irish937

P.S. I think the line has been drawn in the sand. What more is needed as a wake up call?

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Posted by: Mongo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deuce I thought the muslims first demanded an apology. Now they get one but it's not good enough? And now they call for the death of the head of another religion. Yes definitely a religion that teaches peace and tolerance.. Funny how it's only a minority "radical few" who want to exterminate us, but I always see a whole friggin city participating in the usual effigy burning. Must be my imagination.... TypeX what's your "brother's" opinion on this?

LOL

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Posted by: MSP75

Sheik Al-Qaradawi, friend of Menino's Mosque here in Boston and noted Islamo-feminist (he called for suicide bombings by WOMEN terrorists) has called on Muslims world to respond to the Pope's comments with a "day of rage."

Part of their ongoing PR campaign: "Muslims: Stop Calling Us 'Violent,' Or We'll Kill You."

My question is, what day for Arab Muslims is NOT a day of rage? Is there ever a "day of reasoned discourse?" or "day of open debate" or even "day of just hangin' with our Hebrew homies?"

I say that we respond to the Muslim's "Day Of Rage" by declaring Friday a "Day Of Reason." Let's get lots of people of different faiths, different races, sexes, etc. together and debate different ideas. Let's agree, let's disagree, let's stridently disagree--and then NOT set anthing on fire, overturn any cars or shoot anyone!

Nothing angers this Islamist nitwits more than reason, so it will be a win-win. The more reasonable we are, the more rage they'll have. It's perfect!

If you want to participate in the Day of Reason, email me at mailto:mail@michaelgraham.com


posted by Michael Graham
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Thanks to Menino and Capauano we will have our own terrorists recruitment center in Boston on land they sold on the cheap to the fanataics.

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