Pope Benedict XVI Watch: The Papal Islamic Comment FLAP

A masked Palestinian man from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade attends a rally in Gaza to protest against remarks regarding Islam made by Pope Benedict XVI September 15, 2006.

AP: Muslim anger over papal comments grows

Pakistan’s legislature unanimously condemned Pope Benedict XVI. Lebanon’s top Shiite cleric demanded an apology. And in Turkey, the ruling party likened the pontiff to Hitler and Mussolini and accused him of reviving the mentality of the Crusades.

Across the Islamic world Friday, Benedict’s remarks on Islam and jihad in a speech in Germany unleashed a torrent of rage that many fear could burst into violent protests like those that followed publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

The FLAP: Pope’s `jihad’ remarks a sign

The Vatican said Benedict did not intend the remarks to be offensive and sought to draw attention to the incompatibility of faith and violence.

The pope quoted from a book recounting a conversation between 14th-century Byzantine Christian Emperor Manuel Paleologos II and a Persian scholar on the truths of Christianity and Islam.

“The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war,” the pope said. “He said, I quote, ‘Show me just what Muhammad 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.'”

Benedict, who is supposed to visit Turkey this fall in his first trip to a Muslim nation, did not explicitly agree with the words nor did he repudiate them.

Pakistani Muslims chant slogans to condemn Pope Benedict XVI for making what they regard as ‘derogatory’ comments about Islam, during a rally in Multan September 15, 2006.
And what does this mean?

The Rev. Robert Taft, a specialist in Islamic affairs at Rome’s Pontifical Oriental Institute, said it was unlikely the pope miscalculated how some Muslims would receive his speech.

“The message he is sending is very, very clear,” Taft said. “Violence in the name of faith is never acceptable in any religion and that (the pope) considers it his duty to challenge Islam and anyone else on this.”

And as Pope (the leader of over a billion Catholic Christians) Benedict certainly has the right and duty to speak about Islamic violence and forced conversions. But, the Islamic fundamentalists and Jihadis who protested the Muhammad Cartoons now are in an uproar again?

Kashmiri activists belonging to the Muslim League (ML) shout slogans during a protest against Pope Benedict in Srinagar September 15, 2006.

Why?

Remember the Crusades?

Maybe these Jihadis anticipate another ass kicking?

Perhaps it is time Christians and Jews deliver them ANOTHER one…..

Michelle Malkin has I support the Pope

But just as the Cartoon Rage wasn’t merely about the cartoons, the jihadists’ new Pope Rage isn’t merely about his comments. It’s a continuation of “unfinished business.” The jihadists have had it in for the papacy for years. From a 2002 London Times article on the plot to assassinate the late Pope John Paul II.

Which side will the West–and moderate Muslims–stand on?

Who will stand up and say without equivocation:

“I support the Pope.”

Flap supports the Pope!

Stay tuned for more demonstrations……

Captain Ed has The Pope’s Real Threat

Unfortunately, the Muslims are not the only people who missed the point. The New York Times editorial board joins Muslims in demanding an apology and an end to criticism of Islam:

There is more than enough religious anger in the world. So it is particularly disturbing that Pope Benedict XVI has insulted Muslims, quoting a 14th-century description of Islam as “evil and inhuman.” …Muslim leaders the world over have demanded apologies and threatened to recall their ambassadors from the Vatican, warning that the pope’s words dangerously reinforce a false and biased view of Islam. For many Muslims, holy war — jihad — is a spiritual struggle, and not a call to violence. And they denounce its perversion by extremists, who use jihad to justify murder and terrorism.

The Vatican issued a statement saying that Benedict meant no offense and in fact desired dialogue.

The Times missed the point, too. They aren’t satisfied with the explanation offered by the Vatican. They want a “deep and persuasive apology” for Benedict’s temerity in criticizing the use of violence and rejection of reason in religion, and specifically using a six-hundred-year-old quote that insulted people who regularly insult everyone else, including other Muslims. The Times counsels surrender to the threats and the violence.

Benedict opposes both. That’s the real threat behind the Pope’s speech, and don’t think the radical Muslims don’t understand it.

Of course, the radical Jihadis understand it and will turn out massive amounts of people to protest – like with the Mohammed Cartoons.

And the New York Times?

Keller et al are too busy revealing American secret national security programs than to have the COJONES to stand up to radical Muslims and print the Muhammed Cartoons.

Good Grief…..

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