should the pope say sorry?

Question

i say not, what happened to free speech, i think some one is just looking for a fight.

Answer 1

Good question!!! Nope ---- Pope Benedict should not apologize again. He certainly has the right to speak as the head of the state, the head of the Catholic church and as an individual. He can certainly quote from the Bible and he can quote anyone he wants. Furthermore, what he said is correct. His "apology" that he regrets Muslims became upset is appropriate because Muslims are always offended and humiliated whenever anything is said about Islam that is unflattering.

On Tuesday, September 12th, Pope Benedict XVI made a speech on "Faith and Reason" at the University of Regensburg in Germany and quoted from a book recounting a conversation on the "truths of Christianity and Islam" between Manuel II Paleologos, who was an erudite 14th century Byzantine Christian Emperor, and a learned Persian scholar (c. 1391) . Quoting the Manuel II the pontiff said that spreading the faith through violence is unreasonable and that acting without reason was against God's nature.

The pontiff said, "Speaking about the issue of jihad, holy war, the emperor [Manuel II] said, '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.'"

"Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul," added the pontiff in his own words.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html

Muslim reaction to that speech spanned from outrage to violence against nuns and churches. An Iraqi insurgent group threatened the Vatican with a suicide attack over the pope's remarks on Islam, according to a statement posted Saturday on the Web.

"We swear to God to send you people who adore death as much as you adore life," said the message posted in the name of the Mujahedeen Army on a Web site frequently used by militant groups. The message's authenticity could not be independently verified. The statement was addressed to "you dog of Rome" and threatens to "shake your thrones and break your crosses in your home."

Full statement by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone on Pope Benedict XVI's response to Muslim anger over a speech he gave in Germany Tuesday... the pontiff was "very sorry" if he offended the sensibilities of Muslims worldwide.
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-09/16/05a.shtml

On Sunday, September 17th the pontiff said, " I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5353774.stm

Pope Benedict's remarks were probably carefully researched, written and edited. In my opinion, the quote was appropriate for the times of the Crusades. The quote also seems applicable to Islamic jihhadists today.

Of course Muslims are outraged. It is a tenet of Islam that any time the religion is attacked that all Muslims have a duty to defend it. Violence gets attention. The timing of the speech is just before Ramadan. (Dates for Ramadan 2006 (or the Islamic year of 1427) are September 24th thru October 23rd.)

I wonder what level of protection the Swiss guards at the Vatican provide? What kind of weapons do they have?

Some contemporary evangelical Christian leaders such as Jerry Falwell and Jerry Vines have called Muhammad "a terrorist" and a "demon possessed pedophile who had twelve wives". Daniel Pipes sees Muhammad as a politician, stating that "because Muhammad created a new community, the religion that was its raison d'etre had to meet the political needs of its adherents." By contrast, Pope Benedict quoting Manual II is quite mild.

Here is what Robbie Burns wrote and I think it can also be applied to jihaddists of today although it was written for Christians:
"On Thanksgiving For A National Victory"
Ye hypocrites are these your pranks
to murder men and give God thanks?
Desist, for shame proceed no further
God does ne want your thanks for murder.

Yah, I know, there is no compulsion in religion (2:256) and Islam is a peaceful religion. Taqiyah.

The one page essay by Dr. Walid Phares, "Islamic concept of Al-Taqiyah to infiltrate and destroy kafir countries" explains how a convert will become a terrorist:
http://www.fisiusa.org/fisi_News_items/news109.htm

Phares states, "It [taqiyah] is done to prevent the new converts from seeing the real face of Islam; at least until their faith or mental conditioning is strong enough to make them turn against their own country and people."

Not all Muslims blow up things, yet "jihad in the cause of Allah" "jihad fee sybil Allah" is "fard ayn" "compulsory duty" for all Muslims. Why? There are rules from the Quran for combattive jihad. Read this:
http://www.notislam.com/id8.html
What does the tape from Gadahn mean? Does anyone realize that Muslims are supposed to "dawa" "invite others to Islam" before jihad?

According to al-Mawardi an 11th Century Shafi'i jurist:

The mushrikun [infidels] of Dar al-Harb (the arena of battle) are of two types: First, those whom the call of Islam has reached, but they have refused it and have taken up arms.… Second, those whom the invitation to Islam has not reached, although such persons are few nowadays since Allah has made manifest the call of his Messenger…it is forbidden to…begin an attack before explaining the invitation to Islam to them, informing them of the miracles of the Prophet and making plain the proofs so as to encourage acceptance on their part; if they still refuse to accept after this, war is waged against them and they are treated as those whom the call has reached…

In the Hidayah, vol. II. p. 140 (Hanafi school):
It is not lawful to make war upon any people who have never before been called to the faith, without previously requiring them to embrace it, because the Prophet so instructed his commanders, directing them to call the infidels to the faith, and also because the people will hence perceive that they are attacked for the sake of religion, and not for the sake of taking their property, or making slaves of their children, and on this consideration it is possible that they may be induced to agree to the call, in order to save themselves from the troubles of war… If the infidels, upon receiving the call, neither consent to it nor agree to pay capitation tax, it is then incumbent on the Muslims to call upon God for assistance, and to make war upon them, because God is the assistant of those who serve Him, and the destroyer of His enemies, the infidels, and it is necessary to implore His aid upon every occasion; the Prophet, moreover, commands us so to do."

Islam is insidious, it encroaches on a culture slowly and deliberately. Herer is a document which discusses the progression of Islam in great detail (50+ pages) -- "From dawa to jihad - the various threats from radical Islam to the democratic legal order":
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/netherlands/dawa.pdf

Among Muslims there are those who:
a) jihad in the path of Allah with their wealth and their lives (including those who sit at home but give asylum to mujahidin 4:74) = true Muslim
b) those who sit at home (and do not give asylum to mujahidin or jihad in the path of Allah)
c) the handicapped (does not count as a category)

According to the Qur'an who is a true believer?

3:140 If you have sustained a wound, _ (a blow in the battlefield) _ others too have suffered a similar kind of wound, earlier. These are the vicissitudes of life that We circulate among mankind by turns. Thus, Allah tests the true believers among you, so He may pick the martyrs among you. Allah does not like the wrongdoers.

4:95 The two are not equal: those who sit at home (and do not join the fighting) _ unless they have a reason; they are handicapped _ and those who [jihad] strive hard in the path of Allah with their wealth and lives. Over those who sit at home, Allah has excelled and elevated to a higher honor those who strive hard with their wealth and lives.
Compared to those who sit at home, Allah will award a far greater reward to those who wage a struggle.

8:74 Those who believed, left their homes and waged a struggle for the cause of Allah as well as those who helped and protected them are really the true believers. There is forgiveness for them and a generous rewards.

49:15 The (true) believers are actually those who believe in Allah and His messenger and then do not waver (and do not entertain doubts). With their wealth and their lives, they strive for the sake of Allah. Such are truly the sincere ones

9:86 As soon as a chapter (of the Qur’an) is revealed (instructing them), “Believe in Allah and wage a struggle along with His messenger” the able bodied (and well to do) among them ask to be exempted. They say, “Leave us (behind). Let us be among those who sit at home

Killing (qitl) and jihad in the cause of Allah is the hallmark of true Muslim believers. It is not a matter of moderate or fanatic. It is the distinction of a true believer or a rebel.

4:76 Those who believe, do fight for the sake of Allah, while those who reject faith (Islam) fight for the cause of ‘taghut’ _ (all rebellious forces aligned against Allah). So, fight against the minions of Shaitan. Feeble indeed is the wily guile of Shaitan!

Does this include atomic weapons?
8:60 Acquire and prepare all the (military) strength you can muster, including the finest trained horses (and other military wares). With that, you would daunt and deter the enemies of Allah _ your enemies, and others besides them. You do not know them, but Allah (surely) knows them. Anything you spend in the path of Allah will be returned to you in full. You will not be wronged (at all).

2:216 Warfare (for the sake of Allah) has been ordained for you, though it is not something you like. It is possible that the thing you detest might just (turn out to) be good for you. It is possible that the thing you like (the most) might in reality be bad for you. Allah knows (all) while you know nothing (at all)!

4:74 Those who have traded away the life of this world for (the benefits of) the life-to-come, ought to fight for the sake of Allah. To anyone who fights for the sake of Allah, We will award the most generous reward whether he is killed (in the process) or comes out victorious.

These verses from the Qur'an can give us insight into the mind of a Muslim believer and the peaceful religion of Islam. Do read the entire sura from which they were extracted to get the entire context of the verses. It may make a difference.

Answer 2

Wow, I am 16, and i have a better comprehension of the situation. First of all to Nixy F, who said "the reaction was over the top" those extremist muslims are a very small sect, most muslims were simply hurt and have accepted his "apology", but obviously the U.S. is going to concentrate on this because the majority of us are brainwashed into thinking that they are a mindlessly violent people. Don't believe everything you here. Second the Pope, though he may be to you, is not an immaculate person. Even if you believe this you cannot make everyone else believe this, so you cannot use this as a reason not to apologize.
As my final note, the pope should not apologize unless he is sorry. He has a choice though: apologize and try to fix things as much as he can, or suffer the reprecussions.As a side note, for those who are wondering, there is not a small group of analytical teenagers her in chicago or anything, i am on my own. Some of you will say "thank god, cuz i hate people who make sense" and some of you will say "dammit, for a second i had hope for this godsaken world"
Though if you did think this, email me. I love meeting other sane people, of which i know very few.
[e-mail]
Love,
Joe Medina

Answer 3

Come on people! Free Speech????

Did anybody notice tucked away in the text,. The Pope suggests that the Islamic idea of God is so transcendent that he cannot be seen in terms of human reason?

The same freedom of expression should be granted to Muslim around the world in expressing FREELY, their anger towards perhaps the content of the text and it's views regardless of where it comes from. The sensitivity of Muslims about their religion was made clear last year by the publication in a Danish newspaper of cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad.

The world is hot enough!!

We just don't need anymore fuel thrown at the already burning religious fire between Catholics and Muslims.

Did nobody at the Vatican anticipate the way the Pope's words might be taken out of context, and the likely reaction?

I think the Pope should appologize. He's still human, and humans make mistakes.

Answer 4

No. He is catholic and he did not say bad things about catholics. Furthermore, Teh whole world has an epidemic of being too politically correct. We are all walking on eggshells trying to keep from hurting others feelings. WE all have opinions and should not be little robots who only say the right thing all the time. I still don't think the Mayor of New Orleans should have apologized either. What he said was true. 9/11 and The Hurricane were both tragic. Why should a whole city be expected to be back in order in one year and they are still fixing ground zero. I say let people have their opinion as long as noone gets hurt.

Answer 5

usually i do no longer accept as true with the Pope, and that i do sympathize with the Muslims as much as now as what's happening contained in the middle East, yet judging via the Muslim's reaction to what the Pope mentioned, does not it prepare him appropriate - that Islam is a violent faith and so on.?

Answer 6

I think he could accidentally say he's sorry and change the subject about the suffering children and orphans there. Maybe he was just thinking out loud. I wonder how many pray for an end of the war at any cost to the Muslims?

Answer 7

I agree. He was only quoting the Koran and some of its teachings. If the truth hurts to Muslims, funk em! They dont like free speech in the Arab world. Christians, Hindus and Buddihsts are persecuted more in Muslim countries than the press will show. Remember those years-old statues in Afghanistan the Taliban blew up?!?!??

Answer 8

Here is a link to the English translation of the Pope's controversial speech: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20060912_university-regensburg_en.html

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

The Muslim response to the pope reading historical literature in a speech is proof of what he was talking about.

He shouldn't have to apologize if the media and the Muslim leaders had better listening comprehension.

If anyone should be apologizing it's the media for distorting what was said.

Answer 10

Free speech doesn't exist around the world. The Pope clarified what he said and he asked those who are upset to read the whole speech. He said it wasn't his intention to cause trouble although, I think, he should have expected it. Look how they reacted to a cartoon. Nonetheless, I think the Pope has done enough. It's up to those who are rioting and killing others in protest to control themselves and prove the Pope's comments wrong. They aren't doing too good a job at that at the moment.

Answer 11

free speech give us the right to express our own opinion but it doesnt give us the rights to insult other people or offend them..u can share ur opinion by being tactful..before we speak we should all have this sense of empathy>>always put urself in other peoples shoes..then ask urself what would u feel if it is said to u or to ur people...And why he cant say sorry anyway?coz he is THE POPE? no way!he should set an example..he is only human he too can commit mistakes,and he should learn to accept it too!