Why should the Pope say sorry for telling the truth, the words quoted were quoted by another,that is true.?

Question

Are the muslims going to put out a death warrant for the Pope as they did for that fellow that wrote a book that the muslims didnt like.
Behead a princess in public, OK if thats what you beleive in, Its your religion, Its your life and your belief, but allow me mine and free speach within reason is the right I have by old english law, and I dont think is unreasonable to say the image the muslim faith shows the world is one of violance.

Answer 1

What follows below is my response to a friend’s email concerning the same issue as what is being discussed in this forum:

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Its one thing for the common street hoodlum, or radical foot soldier, in Muslim countries, to be enraged by the comments made by the Pope. I don’t expect many of them to take time to deliberate the issue, or subsume the Pope’s comments in the proper context. They are reactionary beings. However, you would think that Imams’ and other Muslim clerics would me more academic in their reception of comments made by other religious leaders, affording their colleagues on the other side of the religious spectrum a fair hearing. Instead these so called learned men of Muslim upbringing are just as reactionary as the ruffians on the streets of Palestine, or the insurgents attacking their own people in Iraq.

It’s bizarre that both Jews and Christians are called to make concessions and penance to placate Muslim sensitivities, and yet any offense to Christian ideals or people by Muslim authorities is met with deafening silence. When Christian churches are burned to the ground, when our iconography is desecrated because of Islamic militancy, and when death threats are levied on our most revered religious figures, no one in our ranks cries out for apologies or even reparations. No calls for the destruction of Mosques; no command for the assassination of Muslim leaders; and no vitriolic statements from our religious leaders are made concerning Muslim clerics. Even when the more radical fringe of Christendom – men like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson – make inflammatory remarks concerning Muslims and Islam, there is a large outcry from both mainline Christianity and the western secular media denouncing their statements as inane and immoral.

It is the Muslim world that has failed dismally in their efforts to do the same. We always point the incriminating finger at those within our fold that act in a manner that is in discord with what we believe to be the noble thing to do. Muslim “moderates” standby quietly giving tacit approval to the aggression of their more “radical” brethren.

Muslims constantly lament the disproportionate military response to 9/11 that Bush has made. Many in the Christian wing and in the rest of the western world have called him on it, and criticize him constantly for it. Yet when Muslim people attack Christian churches for something as trivial as a cartoon or an insensitive statement made by another Christian, no one talks about the Muslim disproportionate reaction. At least our attack of Afghanistan and Iraq, though focusing on the wrong people, returned violence for violence. Muslims, in reaction to mere rhetoric, returns temporarily hurtful words with violence. Words are eventually forgotten; a loss of life has repercussions that never really go away. You tell me who is responding in a more disproportionate fashion? Who in this scenario is responding more unjustly?

I wonder if Muslims realize how utterly feeble minded they look every time they respond like this? I am curious if “moderate” Muslims are cognizant of the fact that the more they remain mute concerning the wrong doings of their radical counterparts, the more the rest of the world will see them as one in the same? For my part, I a little doubtful as to how divergent “moderate” Muslims are ideologically from their “radical” colleagues. Both of them believe that Muhammad is the supreme prophet, one who supersedes even Jesus in divine significance. Muslims of both “radical” and “moderate” stripe believe that Muhammad is also the ultimate paradigm of human behavior; a model that should be emulated as close as possible. Both, if truly candid, must acknowledge that Muhammad, UNLIKE Jesus, who is the Christian’s primary example for living, was a military commander that took part in violence, order assassinations, and engaged in all the brutality associated with a military enterprise. He ordered the execution of those whose only sin was to ridicule him. These are historical facts attested to in their Qu’ran, Hadith, and secular Arabian history. Maybe the so called “moderate” Muslims don’t vocalize dissent against the “radicals” in their midst because they know, in their heart of hearts, that those the world likes to marginalize as “radicals” really represent the manner of behavior Muhammad would have condoned. The “moderates” remain silent, so as not to underscore their secret agreement with “radical” tactics and their own cowardice at not acting on principles they agree with.

I am disappointed at my Pope for apologizing for statements that are truthful. The truth is always offensive. Jesus made statements to the Pharisees that were infused with controversy. He never apologized for them, despite how inflammatory they might have been. There is no need for Pope Benedict XVI to qualify his statement with an appeal to proper context. Even as an isolated statement, the statements by the Byzantine emperor, that the Pope was quoting, are a truthful assessment of Islam’s prophet. The Catholic Church needs stop being politically correct. The Catholic Church needs to cease abiding by a culture of appeasement. Why should the Pope apologize for the narrow minds of those who cannot read a statement in its context, or who cannot admit to the dark side of their faith? Contrition and forgiveness are foundations to the Christian faith, but to be contrite, when one is not at fault, makes a mockery of reconciliation. If the church continues to be spineless like this, even I will want to leave it.

Answer 2

I think the whole world is in danger of becoming vigorously anti Islamic. the current climate dictates that those in positions of power especially religious figures must carefully consider any statements they make. Perhaps the Muslims have overreacted but Islam is a moderate religion which has some extremists much the same as Christianity or any other. To say that Muslims are violent judged on the actions of others and what you read in the press is simply uninformed. The pope is who he is for a reason he has been groomed for the post his entire life. Yes he can quote the true words of someone else but he shouldn't do it publicly. simple as.

Answer 3

Yes I agree to an extent.
He should not apologise as such, perhaps acknowledge that he may have offended some people.
He is a big public figure, but freedom of speech is allowed.
Why should the pope have to conform to Muslim's expectations. He is human.
Humans are allowed a freedom of speech
Therefore, the pope should be allowed to say what he thinks.

Answer 4

cuz one should have enough sense not to aggrevate a group or individual who is weak to do something you know they will do that is wrong. Do you leave candy that a child should not have out where they can see it all the time when no one else is there. Use your head this is not a question of what is right or not it is a question of acting responsibly. He should have known that violence would happen. It is called thowing fuel on the fire. Wake up dude.

Answer 5

I agree that he only quoted something from something some one else said.
But I do not agree it was in-just to say it.
A leader of the christian religion should of thought harder about the impact it would of had on the Muslims.
I am a Christan and do not like this pope.
He has invoked a religious war with this comment.
I'm shocked he even said it.........

Answer 6

The Pope has learned something about the power of a misspoken word and the power of hatred -- useful lessons for a man who hasn't had an original thought in about sixty years.

Answer 7

Just because you CAN say something doesn't mean you should.

Freedom comes with responsibility, and being a huge public figure who people respect, and admire comes with a bigger responsibility of not putting your foot in your mouth when you are representative of the biggest religious organization on the planet and it's people.

Answer 8

Have you actually read what the Pope said?

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

I wonder what would happen if every leader of every country in the world was to speak out against the violence perpetrated by these mindless extremists. It would surely be impossible for them (Islamists) to wreak vengence on everybody.

Answer 10

They might, but he shouldn't apologize.

He might go so far as say it is regrettable that the intent of his words were misunderstood, but even if he did that, the fundamentalist leaders would NEVER let the Muslim populace hear that for fear of losing power over the people they love controlling.

Answer 11

Why do some people get so angry and threaten and kill in order to prove they are not men of violence? It's laughable except for the fact that murder is not funny.