In his speech at the University of Regensburg on Tuesday, Benedict quoted criticism of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who wrote that everything Mohammad brought was evil and inhuman, “such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”

Benedict, who used the terms “jihad” and “holy war,” repeatedly quoted Manuel’s argument that spreading the faith through violence is unreasonable, adding: “Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul.” — Reuters News, 9/14/06


Jihad?* Holy war? Where have we heard that before?*

Sometimes humor serves as the only way to deal with something tragic or absurd. Muslim leaders condemn Pope’s speech, want apology. Scott Ott delivers it this report:

(2006-09-15) — Pope Benedict XVI today apologized for using a quotation in a recent speech that has offended Muslim leaders by implying that the religion of Muhammad has brought little good to the world, and much evil.

Speaking at a German university this week, the Pontiff quoted a Byzantine emperor, who said, “Show me just what Muhammad 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.”

However, upon his return to the Vatican a contrite Mr. XVI today said, “I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression about what Muhammad has done for the world. I was just quoting the old emperor. But upon further reflection, I was reminded of the mighty civilizations that Islam has spawned, and I marveled at their profound contribution to humanity.”

The Pope listed some of the best known predominantly-Muslim nations — Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

“Reciting the names of these Muslim lands makes me even more sorry,” he added.

A leading Muslim cleric in Baghdad welcomed the apology as he declared a Fatwa calling for the brutal execution of the 79 year-old Pontiff whom he referred to as “an infidel puppet of the Zionist pig baboons.”

Here’s the real news: Full coverage. Not so funny.

And what about forgive and forget? Not here.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi has tried to defuse anger, saying the pope did not intend to offend Muslim sensibilities and insisting Benedict respects Islam. In Pakistan, the Vatican envoy voiced regret at “the hurt caused to Muslims.”

But Muslim leaders said outreach efforts by papal emissaries were not enough.

“We do not accept the apology through Vatican channels … and ask him (Benedict) to offer a personal apology — not through his officials,” Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, Lebanon’s most senior Shiite cleric, told worshippers in Beirut.

The best defense is a good offense. AP reports:

Pakistan’s legislature unanimously condemned Pope Benedict XVI. Lebanon’s top Shiite cleric demanded an apology. And in Turkey, the ruling party likened the pontiff to Hitler and Mussolini and accused him of reviving the mentality of the Crusades.
. . .

Across the Islamic world Friday, Benedict’s remarks on Islam and jihad in a speech in Germany unleashed a torrent of rage that many fear could burst into violent protests like those that followed publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

And that’s exactly what this is all about: Fear. Or maybe France.

By citing an obscure Medieval text that characterizes some of the teachings of Islam’s founder as “evil and inhuman,” Benedict inflamed Muslim passions and aggravated fears of a new outbreak of anti-Western protests.

Maybe he should’ve just read the translation of Arabic instructions found in the luggage of 9/11 lead hijack pilot Mohammed Atta. They’re a little more “contemporary,” but still to the point.

The last outpouring of Islamic anger at the West came in February over the prophet cartoons first published in a Danish newspaper. The drawings sparked protests — some of them deadly — in almost every Muslim nation in the world.

Yes, we recall. Even McDonald’s wasn’t spared.

With all this indignance and outrage, you might almost think that the Pope declared, “Convert or die.” (He didn’t. They did.)

“The declarations from the pope are more dangerous than the cartoons, because they come from the most important Christian authority in the world — the cartoons just came from an artist,” said Diaa Rashwan, an analyst in Cairo, Egypt, who studies Islamic militancy.

More “dangerous” than the cartoons. Even these? Wow.

Well, there you have it, people. The YAFM video sums it up.
(Warning: It’s a cartoon, too)

We think they doth protest too much. Truth hurts.

Like Michelle Malkin, we support the Pope.

UPDATE:
Read our archives for more coverage on Islam

1. Muslims express fury over pope’s remarks

   …

   Muslims around the world expressed outrage Friday over Pope Benedict XVI’s comments on Islam, with T…

   Trackback by Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator — September 15, 2006 @ 3:37 pm

2. […] UPDATE: More at Sweetness & Light, Dumb Ox News delightful rant, PJ Media Michelle Malkin I support the Pope, California Conservative […]

   Pingback by Pierre Legrand’s Pink Flamingo Bar » The 14th worldwide meltdown of Muslims caused by Pope — September 15, 2006 @ 4:21 pm

3. Pope Benedict is Islam’s New Salman Rushdi…

   Pope Benedict gives a lecture against violence and coercion in religion and Muslims respond by burning him in effigy….

   Trackback by Amy Proctor — September 15, 2006 @ 9:14 pm

4. Will Pope’s Position Sway Catholics at Election Time?…

   Let’ me pose a question here: Will the Muslim uprising against the Pope affect the November election?
   About 52% voted for Bush and 47% voted for Kerry in 2004….

   Trackback by Sticky Notes — September 16, 2006 @ 5:39 am

5. The Islamofascists threaten both Pope Benedict and…

   Two more cases of jihadists threatening free speech and countries have come up this week. First, there is the Islamic world’s violent (surprise surprise) reaction to Pope Benedict’s very courageous criticism of Islam. There’s more about the case her…

   Trackback by Tel-Chai Nation — September 17, 2006 @ 11:18 am

6. For The Love Of God - Lan astaslem…

   For the love of God. Repeat after me. Lan astaslem

   “Lan astaslem.”
   I will not submit. I will not surrender
   Pope asked to convert to Islam
   19/09/2006 15:56 - (SA)
   Tripoli - The elder son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has c…

   Trackback by Ironic Surrealism — September 21, 2006 @ 8:57 am

7. […] California Conservative Pope Benedict XVI is Right: […]

   Pingback by For The Love Of God - Lan astaslem : Velvet Hammer’s - Ironic Surrealism — July 14, 2007 @ 8:26 pm

8. Valium side effects….

   Valium ekg. Valium picture. Valium….

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9. […] California Conservative Pope Benedict XVI is Right: […]

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1. The truth about Islam according to the Teachings of the Koran and the Hadith (biography and sayings of the prophet Muhammad) is that the “religion of peace” is a religion of murder, hatred, terror, and war consisting of killings of non-Muslims and Muslims in the name of Allah. Yes, all in the 21st Century. Their own teachings require ALL followers to adhere to the number one goal which is to have world rule by any means necessary including Jihad.

   In contrast Biblical Christianity are persons who are “truly” born-again and follows Jesus who said: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

   There are many that confess to be Christians throughout history and even down to the present day that engaged in bloody wars of conquest, intolerance, slavery, the Holocaust and cruel exploitation of the poor. The truth is they are not followers of the Jesus Christ of the Holy Scriptures. They are not” true” Christians they are hypocrites (pretenders) whom Jesus refers to in Matthew 7:21-23: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?

   Beware of those who claim to be Christians (Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, 7th day Adventists, Christian Science, Unity, etc.) but follow another Jesus, another spirit, and another gospel as the Apostle Paul was referring to in 2 Corinthians11: 4.

   Romans 8:9b; if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His.

   Bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ,

   William
   www.actioncross.net

   Comment by William Taylor Sr — September 15, 2006 @ 6:38 pm

2. “Actions speak louder then words”Two churches in the West Bank were hit by firebombs Saturday, and a group claiming responsibility said it was protesting Benedict’s words. Scattered protests elsewhere, however, have been peaceful.

   Just proved the pope right! My questions is why is ok for the Islamic extremist to have freedom of speech, and request the
   termination of a leader of people, but not ok for a christian leader to have freedom of speech and express unaproval for violence?
   Are they afraid the word is mightier then the sword?

   The hawk
   The hawk perched awaiting its prey, allowed me relatively close as it did not appear afraid, you have to appreciate its
   stance in the chain,as it only kills what it needs to sustain, it doesn’t fight for
   money, religion or for land, there’s alot to be taught to the angered man. Nature’s natural selection is survival of the strong,I believe as a people…….
   Rachel charlotte Miller c 2006

   Comment by Rachel Miller — September 16, 2006 @ 4:03 am

3. Due to the fact that I live in the Middle East, I cannot identify myself nor my location further. The hypocrisy surrounding the outcry over Pope Bendedict’s comments is utterly laughable. Every single Friday, tens of thousands of Muslim imams in mosques around the world give weekly sermons wherein they completely misrepresent, denigrate and outright lie as they speak about Christianity, Judaism and other major world religions. Their highest level authorities, the very ones who are ‘demanding’ that the Pope apologize and retract his statements, have all on countless occasions have said things far worse about Catholicism and other Christian Churches than Pope Benedict has ever uttered. The fact remains that the Islamic religion has never been able to tolerate criticism of any kind. It began with their prophet killing Jews in Medina when some of them suppossedly made fun of his claim to prophethood. It continues to this day.

   May you be honest enough to expose the hypocrisy of the Muslim world - they can dish it out, but they surely can’t take it.

   Comment by DJ — September 16, 2006 @ 4:34 am

4. We in the West know Islam. We have known it for 1400 years.

   I, as a Westerner, am not afraid of Islam.

   I will never submit.

   To Muslims worldwide: if you want a war with us, you shall have one. You will feel the wrath of our civilization which will destroy everything you have managed to create is spite of your cult’s aversion to progress and inquiry.

   We are not afraid of you. We are not afraid to die in the defense of our way of life and our children’s future as free men.

   Your future is up to you. Stand with the world and evolve or be crushed by the forces of reason.

   Comment by Scott in CA — September 16, 2006 @ 1:08 pm

5. Pope Benedict XVI was very courageous in saying what needs to be said in regards to Islamo-Fascism. And he hasn’t apologized for what he said. He just said he is sorry that the Muslims were offended.

   But, I guess the Muslims can’t handle the truth.

   By the way, leftists have come out and renounced the Pope’s comments.

   Here is what one liberal blogger posted.

   http://melt212.livejournal.com/171321.html

   “I feel empathy for the muslims who just got bitch slapped by the pope because I had a boyfriend like that once. ”

   Spoken like a true member of the Democratic Party base. Treats foreign affairs like it was the Jerry Springer show.

   Comment by jeff — September 16, 2006 @ 1:10 pm