Given the reaction, is any form of dialogue possible?
Something from Robert Spencer.
The Pope’s speech: lending Islam a helping hand to avoid a downward spiral
by Samir Khalil Samir, sj
Benedict XVI’s words spark calls for apologies and requests for clarification in theIslamic world
Pope is sorry, reaffirms esteem for Islam and rejection of violence
A bit misleading, the Holy Father regrets that his words were misinterpreted.
As for the opinion of the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus which he quoted during his Regensburg talk, the Holy Father did not mean, nor does he mean, to make that opinion his own in any way. He simply used it as a means to undertake - in an academic context, and as is evident from a complete and attentive reading of the text - certain reflections on the theme of the relationship between religion and violence in general, and to conclude with a clear and radical rejection of the religious motivation for violence, from whatever side it may come.
One of Cardinal Bertone's first acts as the new Secretary of State. It is somewhat baffling what the Holy Father intended with his citation, surely he is not unaware of what would happen if he were to include a text that was so critical of Islam. (And Islam as a false religion and revelation does need to be criticized, though doing so to those who are not open to grace is useless.)
Robert Spencer comments on the statement.
Because the question of authority within Islam is problematic to begin with, I believe moderate Muslims will never prevail over those who adhere to a more militant interpretation of the Koran--they have neither the will nor the means to oppose those who will use violence to defend and enforce their interpretation.
1 comment:
I am so angry at this new manufactured controversy and at the mindless violence and contagious stupidity that I can barely speak. It is evil. The Friday sermons that send underemployed, uneducated men out into the streets to scream for revenge for imaginary slights are evil. The manipulation of the stupid by their cynical masters is evil. The constant privileging of the passions over intellect is evil. The attempt to make more news stories by misreportage is evil. How many Christians will die because of the libel on Benedict XVI and the ill will of evil-minded men? But each one will die a martyr, a real martyr, in the Christian sense, an innocent victim of evil witnessing to the Good News of Christ. Both St. Francis and St. Teresa of Avila dreamed of being martyred by evil men such as the ones screaming int the streets of Pakistan, so it must be a worthwhile death. That is a consolation.
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