Jihadi Du Jour: Pope Gives Blessing With No Apology

Pope Benedict XVI gave his Angelus blessing at St. Peter's Square this morning, saying:

"I would only wish to add that I am really deeply regretful of the reactions which have been provoked by a brief speech I made… which was deemed offensive to the Islamic people," he told crowds gathered in a rainy St Peter's Square.

"I hope that this will suffice to placate the souls and to make clear the true significance of my speech which in its whole sense was an invitation to a frank and sincere dialogue with great mutual respect," he said.

I don't know if even offering his head would placate some souls. Mutual respect is a concept that I don't believe is something to hold your breath for. But it is good that the jihadis are not the only ones giving out invitations these days. For the Pope, as the Vicar Of Christ, it certainly is his job. It is not at all unreasonable for a religious leader to compare and contrast his faith to others. Jesus' words of "who do you think I am?' really depend on who's you are asking. Jihadi response to that question is more often than not one of loosing one's head-- your's... not theirs. "Convert or Else" is clearly a Muslim concept regarded more highly than "mutual respect and frank dialogue".

Reactions from the Mullah crowd:

Threats: One Iraqi insurgent group, the Mujahedeen Army, also threatened a suicide bomb attack against the Vatican in a statement posted on a website frequently used by militant movements, although the authenticity of the warning could not be immediately verified.

Uncooperation: Turkish prime minister Tayyip Erdogan has also cast doubt over whether the Pope's planned trip to the predominantly Muslim country, in November, will now take place. Asked whether the visit was still likely to go ahead, Mr Erdogan, who described the pontiff's comments as "ugly and unfortunate", replied: "I wouldn't know."

Hoohawing: Yesterday's expression of regret by the Vatican over the Pope's remarks was better received by British Muslims.

"It's certainly a welcome step that the Pope recognises the hurt that his speech caused," said Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain.

"He quoted the words of the emperor who made very derogatory remarks about the Prophet, and his inclusion has caused enormous hurt," he added.

Ok... that is to say nothing about the derogatory remarks and enormous hurt inflicted on the Christian and Western Martyrs by Islam over the centuries by people that want to throw back to the 10th Century. The Pope gave them a 14th Century example of what they are doing right now!

I think so far the best and briefest response to the "offending speech" is this short comment about what the Pope meant by French religious historian Odon Vallet :

"Benedict XVI says that the Christian revelation is not contrary to reason... while for Islam, God's revelation is superior to reason and so can do without it, which would explain the part of passions and violence in Islam," Vallet said.

"I do think that is done on purpose: this is someone who has always voiced his thoughts, sometimes brutally. He is no diplomat," Vallet said.

Benedict XVI is just being himself and saying what he thinks about the fundamentals of radical Islam. That's an example we should all follow.

***UPDATED*** Nuns Death Possibly Linked To Pope's Comments.

Ya Think?

Somalian Sheikh Abubukar Hassan Malin had commanded Friday, after Muslim prayers: "Whoever offends our Prophet Mohammed should be killed on the spot by the nearest Muslim!"

I guess someone took him at his word.

Gunmen killed Sister Leonella (right) and her bodyguard Sunday at the entrance of the hospital where she worked in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Eternal rest grant to her, 0 Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace. Amen.

Linked at: Hot Air.com
and Sweet Spirits of Ammonia

Labels: Christianity vs Islam, Mujahedeen, Pope Benedict XVI, Somalia