September 18, 2006

Response to Pope's Words Shows Little Progress in Muslim World

Responding to Pope Benedict's erudite speech on faith and reason with murder and firebombing doesn't produce sympathy. Yet that's what too many Muslims have done the past few days.

Daniel Johnson sees Pope Benedict's role as similar to Pope John Paul II's fight against athiest Communism. Dad29 wonders if bad MSM reporting blew up Benedict's brief mention of Islam into something more deadly.

I'm at a similar place at Australian Cardinal George Pell:

But Cardinal Pell today backed Pope Benedict, saying the violent reaction to his comments on Islam and violence illustrated his fears.

"The violent reactions in many parts of the Islamic world justified one of Pope Benedict's main fears," Cardinal Pell said in a statement.

"They showed the link for many Islamists between religion and violence, their refusal to respond to criticism with rational arguments, but only with demonstrations, threats and actual violence.

"Our major priority must be to maintain peace and harmony within the Australian community, but no lasting achievements can be grounded in fantasies and evasions."

It's been five years since the Sep. 11 attacks and I'm still waiting for moderate Muslims to begin fighting for their faith. If you want to talk about a battle that has made zero progress it's the one between moderate and extremist Muslims.