[lbo-talk] Pope "deeply sorry" about reaction to quotes in Muslim world

[B.]

Quoting 14th century Byzantine emperors on anything,
let alone Islam, does not seem like a good idea to me.
-B.

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Pope Issues An Explanation But Not An Apology

POSTED: 8:20 am EDT September 17, 2006
UPDATED: 8:22 am EDT September 17, 2006

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CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy -- Pope Benedict says remarks
he made last week that have angered Muslims worldwide
do not reflect his personal opinion.

Benedict said he's "deeply sorry" about the angry
reaction to the quotes he used in a speech denouncing
violence in the name of religion. A Medieval Christian
text he cited characterizes some of the teachings of
Muhammad as "evil and inhuman."

The pope addressed followers Sunday from a balcony at
his summer residence outside Rome. He said he hopes
his words serve "to appease hearts and to clarify the
true meaning" of his address. He said his intent was
to invite "frank and sincere dialogue, with great
mutual respect."

Benedict looked relaxed as he greeted pilgrims who
stood in the pouring rain. Because of threats over his
comments last week, security Sunday was
extraordinarily tight. Sharpshooters stood guard from
a nearby building. Police checked people with metal
detectors before they entered the courtyard. And some
metal-tipped umbrellas and bottles of liquid were
confiscated.

http://www.nbc10.com/news/9868764/detail.html?treets=phi&tid=2655155299813&tml=phi_12pm&tmi=phi_12pm_1_10550209172006&ts=H

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Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Accepts Pope's Apology
By VOA News
17 September 2006

	

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says the Pope's comments
Sunday amount to a sufficient apology for his earlier
remark about Islam.

A top official of the banned but tolerated
Brotherhood, Muhammad Habib, said in Cairo he
considered the Pope's new statement to be a
retraction.  He said the group still hopes the Pope
will further explain his views about Islam.

Elsewhere, Muslims continued to protest the Pope's
comments last week in an address in Germany.

Two more churches in the West Bank were set on fire in
apparent retaliation for the pope's remarks. One of
Sunday's attacks caused serious damage to a church in
the town of Tulkarem. The other incident took place in
the village of Tubas near Jenin, where a small church
was partially burned after being hit by firebombs.

In Qom, Iran, several hundred theology students
protested against the Pope's remarks.

And a senior Iranian cleric, Ahmad Khatami, said the
Pope should learn about Islam.

In Regensburg, Germany, this week, the Pope quoted
from a 14th century Byzantine emperor who apparently
said that some of the teachings of the Prophet
Muhammad brought "evil and inhuman" things to the
world.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-09-17-voa15.cfm