Why is the Pope apologizing for comments directed to Catholic audience?

Question

so the Pope has said something that offends the followers of Islam. Because of the violent reactions displayed in the past by the followers of Islam when they have been offended the Pope apologizes. Well, it seems to me that the Pope has nothing to apologize for,after all don't the violent protests staged by those of Islamic faith mirror the evil teaching of which the Pope spoke?

i don't believe anything sway's the public's opinion of Islam more than the action of the the follower's of Islam themselves.

Answer 1

Do the mullahs apologize for this????
http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=991.#
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/19/AR2006051901769_pf.html


The key issue at stake in the battle over what he said is this: Will the West stand up for its customs and mores, including freedom of speech, or will Muslims impose their way of life on the West? Ultimately, there is no compromise: Westerners will either retain their civilization, including the right to insult and blaspheme, or not.

More specifically, will Westerners accede to a double standard by which Muslims are free to insult Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, while Muhammad, Islam, and Muslims enjoy immunity from insults? Muslims routinely publish cartoons far more offensive than the Danish ones. Muslims routinely show agression to those they find offensive, Muslims routinely show open support for Islamo-facists terrorists, Muslims routinely re-arrange history all the way back to the crusades so they can play the victim card...Are they entitled to dish it out while being insulated from similar indignities?

The deeper issue here, however, is not Muslim hypocrisy but Islamic supremacism. What we need to ask ourselves non-Muslims, is should we submit to their taboos for fear of violent reprisal??

Answer 2

If the shoe fits, wear it. Apologize - why? That is the ultimate hypocrisy. I thought the pope was supposed to be honest. Jihad IS violent. Islamist fanatics will use any excuse to kill. Here, your big brave righteous leader of the Catholic flock, backs down against an Islamic uproar. He should have added that the Danish cartoons were funny as hell, but I guess that is too much to expect from the Holy See. I would give him a holy C- for being such a weenie. Jihadists want us all dead no matter how much the pope sucks up to them, so why bother to appease them at all?

Answer 3

Exactly. I was just thinking that the other day. He offends them, so they do what? Threaten suicide attacks. That, I think, beautifully illustrates HIS point.

He's only offering a half-a**ed apology for the sake of decorum. He doesn't really mean it, he's just apologizing to smooth things over. Let him be polictical now, what he said cannot be un-said, and the important thing to him was to say it.

Look at it this way. A lawyer asks a witness a question that he shouldn't, something that could sway the jury's opinion against this witness against his client. There are objections, and the lawyer says, "I'll withdraw the question". The judge instructs the jury to disregard that question. Well, the jury has heard the question, hasn't it?

Same thing applies here.

Answer 4

Because if he DOESN'T than the idiots are going to kill him or attack Catholics.

Oh wait... despite the apology for his words that were taken out of context....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060918/wl_nm/pope_islam_dc_22

Al queda has declared war on the Pope for quoting a 14th century figure.

The irony is just astounding. Watch this escalade even further than the cartoon debate did.

The thing is, the original speech was in German. Most Muslims do not understand German, nor have access to the speech in it's entirety. So... what you have is a bunch of people told by the cleric or someone in their town FOR THEM what the Pope said. This is how rumors and lynch mobs are created!

Answer 5

The pope made a bad call by quoting an ancient emperor. He did it to sway public opinion of Islam. He apologized because he was wrong. Plain and simple. As a man of great influence and a man of religion, he should know better than to incite hatred to any religion. Shame on him.

Answer 6

The Pope apologized for the violence happening as a result of his comments, not for making the statements.

If the terrorists kill the Pope or blow up the Vatican, I think that would mean the terrorists demise.

Of course this won't happen because Muslims are peaceful, haven't you heard?

Answer 7

He didn't apologize for the QUOTE he used (HE didn't say anything) but he apologized for offending anybody who may have taken it out of context. And his place is not to get involved in political situations...just to speak on behalf of the church. Like Pope John Paul did when he said that war was against the church. And not many christians seemed to be on his side about that...

Answer 8

I agree with you entirely about the violence ensuing from the commentes the Pope made. They did prove his comments were correct.
These "peaceful" people spent a lot of time, effort and money (which they seem to have plenty of) trying to hunt down Salman Rushdie when he dared to criticise them. Imagine anyone reacting that way if Christianity was criticised. It'd be laughable. What is wrong with them? Are they really so weak that they can't stand a bit of criticism? Violence is an expression of fear, not strength. There is really nothing for them to be afraid of. All of us get (and give!) criticism in a robust society!
Our politicians seem to be very afraid of these people. (probably because they have a history of violence and there are so many of them) Didn't Nostradamus say the end of the world would come from the Middle East??
I think we are taking too much notice of them and thereby feeding their egos.
I agree with you "scruffyca" they are like spoiled brats determined to get their own way, and like parents who give in for the sake of peace we have just made things harder for ourselves in the long run. Bullies are cowards really and should not be kowtowed to. In the long run THEY too will be happier if they learn to get along with others and respect other religions and customs, just as they demand that we should respect theirs.

Answer 9

Here's my 4400 theory on that.

Have you watched any of the 4400 episodes? If so, think about the character, Isabelle. She was a baby one moment and a fully grown adult the next. She had all the appearance of an adult, but all the mentality of a child... and all the "specail abilities" of a 4400. So when she wanted her way and didn't get it, a tantrum could be deadly. So people walked on eggshells to keep her temper in check.

Islamist protesters are just like that. They have the appearance of being rational adults (well, not to me). Yet, they have the mentality of babies. And all the special abilities of AK47's, RPG's, and "body-bomb" devices. So, when they have tantrums over what the rest of us can handle like rational adults, their tantrums turn deadly.
Naturally, to save the lives of many, we rational adults must walk on eggshells to assuage the volatile tempers of those incapable of thinking rationally.
In a broader metaphor, some in this world are adults and have to play "parent games" with those in this world who are the spoiled children.
That's my theory and 2 cents.

Answer 10

Yes, violence doesn't erase violence , but unfortuantely we're living in times that stupid people of all religions put their feet into their sacreligious mouths and start circles of violence with others like them from the other side. But you're right, the Pope doesn't speak for all of us, and why are they even caring what some babbling hate monger has to say? Let him judge, let him play God, let him promote hate. He's just like the Islamic fundamantalists, just in a more guilded robe. People shouldn't get offended too easily, even if someone is trying to stir hate. But if he didn't mean what he said, then he should apologize, but if he doesn't, people should chalk it up to ignorance and go on. Enough already.