Rings True
The latest event the MSM is piling on appears to be remarks made by Pope Benedict XVI during a speech last week at the University of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany, in which the Holy Father quoted from a medieval text linking Islam with violence. "Show me just what Mohammed 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," the pope quoted Byzantine Emporer Manuel II Palaeologus as saying.
Immediately, Muslims everywhere got their turbans in a knot, offended that anyone would ascribe violent connotations to the “religion of peace.” How did they respond? In incidents ostensibly resulting from Muslim anger, an Italian nun was shot dead in Somalia and armed Palestinians attacked Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Anglican churches in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In sharp contrast, Pope Benedict XVI’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, was shot May 13, 1981 at Saint Peter's square by a Muslim extremist, Mehmet Ali Agca. In 1983, the Pope asked for, and was granted a meeting his would-be assassin in Rome's Rebibbia prison. The purpose? Not for revenge, not to harangue his attacker. Instead, John Paul the Great forgave Agca, and asked Catholics around the world to "pray for my brother (Agca), whom I have sincerely forgiven."
Which truly is the religion of peace? The principal prayer of Christians everywhere is the Lord’s Prayer, which asserts forgiveness of “those who trespass against us,” in order that we in turn might be granted forgiveness for our own shortcomings. Rather than calling for vengeful response to affronts, Jesus himself urged:
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-40).
What I haven’t heard on the nightly news, or read in the local paper, is that maybe the quotation the Holy Father cited to was spot-on. Which is pretty amazing, since everytime there is an accusation of misbehavior on the part of a Catholic priest, or a Christian minister, reporters are tripping over each other to get the story on the broadcast, or in the headlines.
Immediately, Muslims everywhere got their turbans in a knot, offended that anyone would ascribe violent connotations to the “religion of peace.” How did they respond? In incidents ostensibly resulting from Muslim anger, an Italian nun was shot dead in Somalia and armed Palestinians attacked Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Anglican churches in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In sharp contrast, Pope Benedict XVI’s predecessor, Pope John Paul II, was shot May 13, 1981 at Saint Peter's square by a Muslim extremist, Mehmet Ali Agca. In 1983, the Pope asked for, and was granted a meeting his would-be assassin in Rome's Rebibbia prison. The purpose? Not for revenge, not to harangue his attacker. Instead, John Paul the Great forgave Agca, and asked Catholics around the world to "pray for my brother (Agca), whom I have sincerely forgiven."
Which truly is the religion of peace? The principal prayer of Christians everywhere is the Lord’s Prayer, which asserts forgiveness of “those who trespass against us,” in order that we in turn might be granted forgiveness for our own shortcomings. Rather than calling for vengeful response to affronts, Jesus himself urged:
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-40).
What I haven’t heard on the nightly news, or read in the local paper, is that maybe the quotation the Holy Father cited to was spot-on. Which is pretty amazing, since everytime there is an accusation of misbehavior on the part of a Catholic priest, or a Christian minister, reporters are tripping over each other to get the story on the broadcast, or in the headlines.
posted by Beast7 | 1:11 PM
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4 Comments:
How much rioting and calls to death will it take before the world is sick of this hor.....it?
I'm afraid I'm not a 'turn the other cheek' kind of gal. When someone wants my children and myself dead, I think that needs to be taken seriously.
This is turning out to be quite the story.
Agreed Stacy, but not exactly the point here. These Muslims are not offended that someone wants their children and themselves dead, they are offended that the Holy Father read a centuries-old quote, that happened to very accurately describe the violent tendencies all too frequently portrayed by practitioners of Islamic beliefs.
There is a big difference between an affront and an attack.
Keep it loaded, but in the holster for now.
Jeff at Think Sink summarized it nicely (and I hope I remember it correctly), "call somebody a bully and then they prove you're right with their response". I'm tired of this crap... Hey, my next door neighbors are Islamic--and it's Ramadan...I think I'll grill out today so the aroma will drift their way.
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