bismi-lLahi-rRahmani-rRahiem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
=== News Update ===
Benedict `should come clean'
Canadian Arab group finds stand disappointing Muslim diplomats mostly mum after meeting pontiff
Sep. 26, 2006.
STUART LAIDLAW
FAITH AND ETHICS REPORTER
Pope Benedict XVI has still not apologized for equating Islam with violence in a speech and now seems to be using the ensuing controversy to forge an allegiance with conservative Muslims, Canada's largest Arab organization says.
"He should come clean," Khaled Mouammar, president of the Canadian Arab Federation, said yesterday after meeting with the Toronto Star editorial board.
His strong reaction stood in sharp contrast to those of Muslim envoys to the Vatican who met Benedict yesterday to discuss fallout from a speech the Pope gave Sept. 12.
At a German university, Benedict quoted 14th-century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, a Greek Orthodox Christian, as saying the Prophet Muhammad commanded "to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
That unleashed anger in the Muslim world, forcing the Pope repeatedly to say he regretted the reaction to his speech.
Mouammar said all Arabs felt targeted by the remarks, even those who are not Muslim.
"My wife was infuriated and she's Catholic," Mouammar, a Christian Palestinian, told the Star's editorial board.
Mohamed Boudjenane, federation executive director, said Benedict's words need to be seen in the context of others from the Roman Catholic leader, who laments Christianity's waning influence in Europe and argues against Muslim Turkey joining the European Union.
"That Pope has a precedent with the Islamic world," said Boudjenane, a Muslim.
Yesterday, Benedict met envoys from Muslim nations and representatives of Italian Muslim groups at his summer residence outside Rome. He used the 30-minute meeting to call for more interfaith dialogue.
Mouammar stressed that the Pope still has not apologized for the comments themselves, only the reaction to them.
"He has never apologized that he really condoned what this emperor said," Mouammar said. "He should say: `I am sorry that I quoted this guy and based my conclusions on him.'"
The Pope repeatedly has said he does not agree with the emperor he quoted. Mouammar does not accept this explanation because the Pope based his conclusion in the speech — that reason and violence are not compatible — on the emperor's statement.
"He indirectly agreed," Mouammar said.
Some at yesterday's meeting with the Pope saw good in it.
Mario Scialoja, adviser to the Italian section of the World Muslim League, told Reuters News Agency he had not expected "another (papal) apology.
"He recalled the differences but expressed his willingness to continue in a cordial and fruitful dialogue," said Scialoja, who described the pontiff's speech as "very good and warm."
Nearly all those at the meeting drove off without comment.
The Pope used the word "dialogue" eight times during his five-minute address at Castel Gandolfo.
He said Catholics and Muslims should focus on what they agree on, not on what divides them.
"It is imperative that Christians and Muslims engage with one another (on) the numerous challenges that present themselves to humanity, especially those concerning the defence and promotion of the dignity of the human person and of the rights ensuing from that dignity," the Pope said.
Mouammar said such a plea would only appeal to conservative Muslims. "He is talking about family-values issues, such as same-sex marriage, abortion, that sort of thing."
Boudjenane said the Vatican stand on such issues would appeal to the conservative "fringe" of Islam, but not to more moderate Muslims.
Iraq's ambassador to the Holy See said the pontiff's meeting with Muslims should end the anger over his address at the university in Regensburg where he once taught theology.
"The Holy Father stated his profound respect for Islam. This is what we were expecting," Iraqi envoy Albert Edward Ismail Yelda said, as he left. "It is now time to put what happened behind and build bridges."
Al-Jazeera, in Arabic, carried Benedict's speech live.
Others attending included a diplomat from Indonesia, where Christian-Muslim tensions were heightened last week by the execution of three Catholic militants.
Saudi Arabia, the seat of Islam, does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Vatican.
source:
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1159221039138&call_page=TS_World&call_pageid=968332188854&call_pagepath=News/World&pubid=968163964505
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-muslim voice-
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