« Pithy summations: | Main | Rebuilding New Orleans »
September 15, 2006
A Whapping of Wisdom
Of course, although it was a quotation and not His Holiness's own words, it's worth pointing out that he obviously did choose an unusually vivid and obscure quotation. Had any of us heard of this emperor before, besides Matthew? In thinking about this, I think we see again that now, 1 1/2 years after his election, just as in the case with the upcoming liturgical documents, Benedict is returning to the themes of his opening homily. He said at that time that we lived in a dictatorship of relativism. I honestly wouldn't have thought to employ the example which Benedict did, but it has certainly caused a stir: secularists are outraged that Benedict dare argue that Christianity is better or true, muslims are outraged that the Pope --the Pope-- didn't affirm that Islam is better or true. Is there a dictatorship of relativism? Benedict may very well have purposely let this vivid quote fly, just to prove precisely this point.
Still no one else is talking about the fact that a Turkish Muslim killed a German Catholic priest the very day that Benedict critized violence in the name of religion...
Drew at Shrine of the Holy Whapping
Well, it wasn't that day - it happened on 9/11, so a couple days before, and the priest survived the atack, but point still taken.
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
Why have most commentators so far taken it for granted that the Pope was quoting the Emperor "approvingly". In the text he says the Emperor was probably being too brusque in his absolute condemnation of Islam. If all these Muslims feigning outrage can't even understand that nuance, then there really is no hope for "dialogue". These people are utterly deaf to reason; which actually proves both the Emperor's and Pope's points!
Posted by: Dennis at Sep 15, 2006 5:36:11 PM
It should also be noted that the priest was not killed, but survived and is in a serious, but not deadly state. The Turk seems to be a substance abuser and mentally disturbed. As the dean of Kassel said, the deed was by no means motivated by religios hatred.
Link: http://www.hna.de/kasselticker/00_20060912205339_Zustand_des_Kaplans_wieder_stabil.html
Posted by: Victor at Sep 15, 2006 5:38:31 PM
.."the deed was by no means motivated by religios hatred."
I will snark and reply that it was only a priest that was shot because they are in such plentiful supply and Imans are just too busy to be available.
Posted by: Martin at Sep 15, 2006 7:01:07 PM
God knows that I am in a mood to blame it all to the Muslims, but in this case I tend to believe it. Reportedly, the Turkish man, who is a substance abuser for a long time and also obviously has mental issues, had come to the priest and his colleague for several weeks blaming them to be the embodiment of evil.
But I must admit the thought came into my mind that perhaps the dean just says "it was not motivated by religious hatred" not to further stir the conflict...
Posted by: Victor at Sep 15, 2006 7:52:55 PM
