PONTIFF'S 'APOLOGY' FOR THE REACTIONS OF THE MOSLEM HORDES IS BEING 'ACCEPTED'

Is the Papal Apology Acceptable?
Dr. Khaled Batarfi

Half an apology is better than none. Finally the Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of one billion Catholics saw that what he uttered during the speech at Regensburg University in Germany was insulting and offensive enough to endanger the vulnerable relations between Christians and Muslims. Personally, I accept the apology even though I still have many unanswered questions regarding this episode and past stands of the man, the school of thought he represents and the extremist conservative group he leads.

[1]
“I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address,” the pope told pilgrims at the summer papal palace, Castel Gandolfo, last Sunday, “which were considered offensive.” So far, he is expressing sorrow for the reactions and is not admitting that his statements were “offensive”. Being considered so could be a mistake of the other, but not necessarily yours!

Then comes the half-satisfying explanation that “These were in fact quotations from a medieval text, which do not in any way express my personal thought. The true meaning of my address in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect.”
If you don’t agree with a quote, why would you introduce it without registering your disagreement? Would it be acceptable for a Muslim religious leader to quote German theologian and religious reformer Martin Luther’s views of the Vatican, and the insulting remark that the pope was “a donkey,” without comments?

[2]
Anyway the pontiff apologized; now the question is: Was that enough? We were told that this was an extraordinary apology. The pope is supposedly someone who cannot make mistakes. Apologizing is not an option because it hurts his holiness and credibility.

...

[1] & [2]

The Pontiff is sorry for the reaction of the illiterate moslem hordes, which in all likelihood were whipped up by their imam's, clerics, mullahs, ayatollah's, etc. that didn't grasp the import of the Pontiff's statement...

The illiterati are not only found amongst the moslem hordes, there are plenty of illiterati in the West as we have seen by calls heard from a wide spectrum of the West's elite, from highly placed British government officials to such newspapers as the New York Times...

Moslems have to accept the 'apology' tendered because that is the only 'apology' they are likely to get, especially since the Pontiff has already spoken out again after his initial lecture at Regensburg and has not taken the words back but continued onwards in the same vein:

"Dear brothers and sisters, [...] a particularly beautiful experience for me [on Tuesday, September 12] was to give a speech before a large audience of professors and students of the University of Regensburg, where I taught as a professor for many years. [...] As a topic, I chose the relationship between faith and reason.

To introduce the audience to the drama and actuality of the topic, I cited some words of a Christian-Islamic dialogue from the XIV century, with which the Christian interlocutor, the Byzantine Emperor, Manuel II Paleologos – in a way that is incomprehensible and brusque for us – presented to the Islamic interlocutor the problem of the relationship between religion and violence.

This quotation, unfortunately, lent itself to possible misunderstanding. For the careful reader, however, it emerges clearly that I did not want to make my own in any way the negative words pronounced by the medieval emperor in this dialogue and their controversial content did not express my personal conviction.

My intention was rather different: starting out from that Manuel II said later in a positive way, using a very beautiful word, about how reason should guide in the transmission of faith, I wished to explain that not religion and violence, but religion and reason, go together.

The theme of my conference – in response to the University mission – was the relationship between faith and reason: I wanted to invite the Christian faith to dialogue with the modern world and all religions. I hope that on several occasions of my visit – for example, in Munich, when I underlined how important it is to respect what is sacred to others – my profound respect for world religions and for Muslims, who ‘worship the one God’ and with whom we ‘promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values for the benefit of all humanity’ (“Nostra Aetate,” 3), is clear.

I trust that after the initial reaction, my words at the University of Regensburg can constitute an impulse and encouragement toward positive, even self-critical dialogue both among religions and between modern reason and Christian faith."


You may also find reading Daniel Henningers' take on the episode both interesting and enlightening, but let me copy and paste some excerpts to wet your appetite for more:


the pope said: "I trust that after the initial reaction, my words at the University of Regensburg can constitute an impulse and encouragement toward positive, even self-critical dialogue both among religions and between modern reason and Christian faith."

...

it is close to thrilling in a world of persistent confusion about the intentions of contemporary Islam to see the pope step forward, not back, and speak without apology on behalf of "modern reason."

...

Benedict is right about where he hoped to be after Regensburg: The whole world saying that a serious conversation between the pope and Islam is necessary. My guess is Benedict would clear his calendar if the Muslim Arab leadership said it is ready to talk. And the talk won't be about who meant what in the 14th century. It will be about the here and now.

...

GOP Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey described the problem in historic terms that are acutely immediate to Benedict XVI: "There are dozens of Christian groups with rich histories, ranging from the ancient Syriac and Syro-Chaldean churches, which still speak the (Aramaic) language of Jesus Christ, and Coptic churches in Egypt who preserve the language of the pharaohs.

...

There are followers of John the Baptist in Iraq and Iran. The Zoroastrians of Iran go back perhaps 3,000 years. It was under their power and influence that the great king of Persia, Cyrus, ended the Babylonian captivity of the children of Israel."

...

The governments of Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia should open the dialogue Benedict XVI is seeking. In March, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Benedict at the Vatican. He would be the obvious choice to take the lead. More than these Arab governments realize, their future could use the support of the pope's famous divisions.

Pertinent Links:

1) Is the Papal Apology Acceptable?

2) Why Benedict XVI Did not Want to Fall Silent or Backpedal (If you happen to get this article in its Italian version, in the upper right hand corner you can choose to have it shown in its English version. It is a lengthy read, especially since it contains several other articles concerning the same topic. Read them all, it is a slow but enlightening process.)

3) Hosni Mubarak Should Call Benedict XVI by Daniel Hanninger of the W.S.J.