This time it's not about cartoons.
Muslims are expressing outrage AGAIN. They've taken to the streets AGAIN. They're burning effigies AGAIN.
This time, their target is Pope Benedict XVI.
Pakistani Muslims hold rally to condemn the Pope's remarks, Friday, Sept 15, 2006 in Multan, Pakistan. Pakistan's parliament unanimously adopted a resolution condemning Pope Benedict XVI for making what it called 'derogatory' comments about Islam during his visit to Germany, and seeking an apology from him for hurting the sentiments of Muslims. (AP Photo/Khalid Tanveer)
ANKARA, Turkey -- Muslims around the world expressed outrage Friday over Pope Benedict XVI's comments on Islam, with Turkey's ruling party accusing him of trying to revive the spirit of the Crusades and scores taking to the streets in protest.
Pakistan's parliament unanimously condemned the pope and the Foreign Ministry summoned the Vatican's ambassador to express regret over the remarks.
The Vatican said the pope did not intend the remarks — made in Germany on Tuesday during an address at a university — to be offensive.
Benedict 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 did not explicitly agree with the statement nor repudiate it.
The comments raised tensions ahead of his planned visit to Turkey in November — his first pilgrimage to a Muslim country.
Salih Kapusuz, a deputy leader of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party, said Benedict's remarks were either "the result of pitiful ignorance" about Islam and its prophet, or a deliberate distortion.
"He has a dark mentality that comes from the darkness of the Middle Ages. He is a poor thing that has not benefited from the spirit of reform in the Christian world," Kapusuz was quoted as saying by the state-owned Anatolia news agency. "It looks like an effort to revive the mentality of the Crusades."
"Benedict, the author of such unfortunate and insolent remarks, is going down in history for his words," he said. "He is going down in history in the same category as leaders such as (Adolf) Hitler and (Benito) Mussolini."
Turkish officials are coming off like fools.
The Pope read from a book, and did not comment on what he cited.
Are we to believe that is an effort by Pope Benedict to revive the Crusades?
It was just back in July when the Pope was condemning Israel for its attacks on Hezbollah.
Was he in the same category as Hitler or Mussolini then?
And let's not forget that a Turkish man, Mehmet Ali Ağca, attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II.
I don't think Turkey is in any position to be casting stones.
If they are truly offened by Pope Benedict's remarks, then why not follow in Pope John Paul's footsteps and forgive, as the Pope did and Catholics worldwide did?
The difference in the reactions is quite striking.
Turkey's staunchly secular opposition party also demanded that Benedict apologize to Muslims before his visit.
"The pope has thrown gasoline onto the fire ... in a world where the risk of a clash between religions is high," said Haluk Koc, deputy head of the Republican People's Party, as a small group of protesters left a black wreath in front of the Vatican's embassy in Ankara.
Lebanon's most senior Shiite Muslim cleric denounced the remarks and demanded the pope personally apologize.
"We do not accept the apology through Vatican channels ... and ask him (Benedict) to offer a personal apology — not through his officials — to Muslims for this false reading (of Islam)," Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah told worshippers.
Do you know what really throws gasoline "onto the fire ... in a world where the risk of a clash between religions is high"?
Islamic fascists shouting "Allahu Akbar" when hijacking planes, slitting throats of innocents with box cutters, flying planes into buildings, and beheading hostages -- all in the name of God.
Where are the personal apologies for that?
Where are the personal apologies for the actions of adherents to the "peaceful religion" of Islam?
The double standard is unacceptable.
Muslim activists burn an effigy of Pope Benedict XVI during a protest in Srinagar, India. (Daily Mail)
After Benedict returned to Italy on Thursday, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said, "It certainly wasn't the intention of the pope to carry out a deep examination of jihad (holy war) and on Muslim thought on it, much less to offend the sensibility of Muslim believers."
Lombardi insisted the pope respects Islam. Benedict wants to "cultivate an attitude of respect and dialogue toward the other religions and cultures, obviously also toward Islam," he said.
Turkey's top Islamic cleric, Ali Bardakoglu, said Lombardi's comments were not enough. "The pope himself should stand at the dais and say 'I take it all back, I was misunderstood' and apologize in order to contribute to world peace," he said.
Hey, Bardakoglu!
Why don't you stand at the dais and say, "I take it all back. The actions of my fellow Muslims have been misunderstood"?
There is absolutely no moral equivalence between the Pope quoting from a book, engaging in a discussion to achieve greater harmony among religions, and the horrors perpetrated by the Islamic militants.
None.
...[A]nger still swept across the Muslim world, with Pakistan's parliament unanimously adopting a resolution condemning the pope for making what it called "derogatory" comments about Islam and the Foreign Ministry summoning the Vatican ambassador.
The pope's words were "deeply disturbing for Muslims all over the world, and had caused great hurt and anguish," the Foreign Ministry said.
What a load!
Muslim extremists all over the world just want an excuse to act out AGAIN.
"Great hurt and anguish"?
Yeah, sure.
The Vatican's envoy "regretted the hurt caused to Muslims and said that the media had totally misconstrued certain historical quotes that the Pope used in his lecture," the statement said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of the Islamic Hamas group, said the pontiff had offended Muslims everywhere and called on him to reconsider his statement. He said there would be organized protests later in the day "to express Palestinian anger."
In Iraq's Shiite Muslim-stronghold of Kufa, Sheik Salah al-Ubaidi criticized the pope during Friday prayers, saying his remarks were a second assault on Islam.
"Last year and in the same month the Danish cartoon assaulted Islam," he said, referring to a Danish newspaper's publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, which triggered outrage in the Muslim world.
Indonesia, which has more Muslims than any other in the world, had no immediate response to the pope's comments, but religious groups were quick to protest, condemning the words as insensitive and damaging.
"A respected religious leader like the pope should not say such things, especially as nations across the globe are struggling to find ways to bridge differences between faiths and build understanding," said Ma'ruf Amin, a member of Indonesia Council of Clerics, the country's highest Islamic body.
...Elsewhere, Syria's top Sunni Muslim religious authority, Sheik Ahmad Badereddine Hassoun, sent a letter to the pope that he feared the comments would worsen interfaith relations.
Later, he delivered a scathing sermon in which he denounced the remarks. "We have heard about your extremism and hate for Arabs and Muslims. Now that you have dropped the mask from your face we see its ugliness and extremist nature," he said.
In Cairo, Egypt, about 100 demonstrators gathered in an anti-Vatican protest outside the al-Azhar mosque, chanting "Oh Crusaders, oh cowards! Down with the pope!"
These people are haters, pure and simple.
They are extremists looking for a reason to wage war, A HOLY WAR, not Pope Benedict.
Have Christians taken to the streets to express outrage over the Islamofascists' demands that we convert to Islam?
Do we burn figures in effigy because we aren't respected?
I'm Catholic. I'm troubled by this slew of deeply offensive remarks about the Holy Father from leaders in the Middle East. I take offense at how these Muslims are berating the Pope and my faith.
But there's a difference. I won't be protesting in the streets and using violence to express my opinion.
This most recent outburst by Muslims reveals their extremism and utter disinterest in building bridges and fostering understanding between the faiths.
(To Russ Feingold: Should I distinguish between Muslims and Islamic fascists in this case? I think it would be appropriate. The Islamic fascists do make up a group that's distinct from other Muslims, right? )
Look at this photo.
Pakistani Muslims hold placards and chant slogans to condemn remarks by Pope Benedict XVI during a protest after evening prayers at a mosque in Islamabad September 15, 2006. Muslims deplored on Friday remarks on Islam by Pope Benedict and many of them said the Catholic leader should apologise in person to dispel the impression that he had joined a campaign against their religion. REUTERS/Mian Khursheed (PAKISTAN)
Do you see Rosie O'Donnell in the crowd?
Of course not. She's in New York, spewing her inanity on The View, and single-handedly destroying the show.
But I bet she wanted to be there to protest, given her feelings on "radical Christianity."
______________________________
The Vatican's response:
"It certainly wasn't the intention of the Pope to carry out a deep examination of jihad (holy war) and of Muslim thought on it, much less to offend the sensibility of Muslim believers," said chief Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi in a statement.
"It is clear that the Holy Father's intention is to cultivate a position of respect and dialogue towards other religions and cultures, and that clearly includes Islam."
Read more here.
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