Do you agree with the Pope's apology?

Question

The Pope quoted a medieval, Christian emperor who stated that Islamic Jihad is rooted in evil. I think both the emperor and the Pope are correct. Although the comments are factually accurate, they clearly offend Muslims - who don't like having their religion and their prophet deemed evil.

After the strong reaction from Muslims, the Pope stated he did not personally agree with the medieval emperor's thoughts - he just quoted them.

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'm happy, yet I nonetheless don't comprehend why people say Islam is a faith of peace. i'd desire to appreciate somebody asserting Buddhism is or Taoism is, yet no longer Islam. on an identical time as Christianity has had that is bloody era in the process the Crusades and the Inquisition, Islam maintains to shed blood, quite often harmless. formerly all of us says that that is purely extremists, then why do no longer the governments of Syria, Iran, Indonesia, etc... all pop out with a assertion condemning the Jihads that have been issued. Why do no longer each and all the imams come inclusive of one voice to decry the terrorists? they are few and lots between. In paraphrase of the Bible, they could do away with the plank out of their own eyes formerly complaining with reference to the speck in others. The Pope quoted a 14th century emperor to make a factor and the Muslim international is up in palms and killing people, such by way of fact the Italian nun in Somalia. yet, the Christians of the international do no longer something as quickly as we are called devils and worse by making use of the president of Iran and others. who's faith would you think approximately extra non violent now?

Answer 3

Whether worded properly or not... at least the Pope stood up and took responsibility for what he had spoken.

If tables were turned, a Muslim Cleric makes one of those " Infidels of Evil" comments, do you think they would so really issue an apology if Globally people protested?

I was told by quite a number of people that Muslims don't offend others and that they arent allowed to offend others, but just today Al-Qaeda had just issued a threat of attack against worshippers of the cross and burning effigies of the Papal....

That is SOOOO NOT offensive and definitely SOOOO peaceful. Its like saying " I am all Love and Peace only until you piss me off" So much anger, so much aggression, so much intolerance... It was never about the Holy Quran, its about the PEOPLE who ABUSE and not misinterpret but RE-Interpret the Holy Quran to further their inner demons of Vengence, and Selfish Power Hungry mentalities.

Answer 4

Sometimes the truth hurts...

It doesn't sound like an apology, but if muslims are so offended by something that was said by someone who has been dead for a century or more, why is it now that they are offended by it. Is it because it sounds of the truth and someone who is respected in the world has voiced it again and brought it to the attention of the world again? Islamic Jihad is not the way to have someone to believe in God (Allah, Budda, Jesus, etc. etc.). To force someone to change their beliefs or kill them is just wrong. Show the truth about your religion to a person and let them decide for themselves.

Qur’an:9:5 “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”

Mat 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'
Mat 5:39 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Mat 5:40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
Mat 5:41 "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Mat 5:42 "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Mat 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'
Mat 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Mat 5:45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

If Muslims agree that the Torah, Bible and the Quran are the Word of God, why does the Quran completely go against the Word of God in the Bible as the two quotes above show?

Did God, Allah lie in the Torah and the Bible?

Answer 5

If he did not agree, why did he quote it? Isn't that a stupid thing to do?

And, the Pope did not apologize for saying it. He apologized that it caused such an uproar. Evidently, this again is saying he believes what he said. Maybe it is his Nazi upbringing. The Cardinals never should have elected him to this post. They will pay for it. Let's just hope he is not there too long.

Answer 6

I saw that the minute I read the news article. There's a difference between making a point and agreeing with the point itself. Good debaters know this - and can even argue against a point that they themselves support.

If I quote: "The Nazi party killed millions of Jews." - Some Guy

Clearly I don't agree with killing millions of Jews, but this is what happened.

Answer 7

He really did nothing to apologize for .
All he did was "Quote "a past Emperors remark.
I think all religions Suck .They all teach their followers to be judgemental and condecending to non-believers.
I don`t understand the fighting over a non-proven and fictitious God .
This goes for "All "religions.

Answer 8

He turned chicken. John Paul wouldn't have.

However, I am getting a little sick of the German-baiting that's going on. World War II is over.

Answer 9

I don't agree with apology, he was just speaking the truth, no one needs to apologize when telling truth. muslim don't like the truth, they like to hear lies, because that is what their religion is based on blatant lies and holy wars. They are not offended, they just want to hear that their religion is peaceful, and marvelous, even when they are killing others.

Answer 10

How many apologies for murdering Christians did you hear in recent times?

Answer 11

I think the muslims should apologize for being evil and repent....and get right with God. and stop murdering nuns because they are pissed off.