Pope calls for genuine respect of religious freedom in Turkey

[struggle4progress]

02/02/2009 16:45
VATICAN – TURKEY

Pope calls for genuine respect of religious freedom in Turkey

In receiving the country’s bishops, Benedict XVI expresses hope to see a joint commission set up to determine the Catholic Church’s legal status in the country ...

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In receiving Turkish bishops on their five-year ad limina apostolorum visit to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI called on the Turkish government to guarantee genuine religious freedom in the ostensibly secular but predominantly Muslim state and to agree to a joint commission that would prepare the ground for the legal recognition of the Catholic Church in Turkey ...

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=14376&size=A

[Captain Needa]

1. Catholic church is LEGAL in Turkey

Not only catholic, but Syrian and Greek Orthodox churches received their legal status from the former Sultan Mohammed VI and it was acknowledged again when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the modern secular Republic of Turkey.

Edit for minor typo

[Chulanowa]

2. But it's not DOMINANT

Which is probably what the Pope's problem is here.

Remember, the whole shebang is fueled by paranoia and fantasies of persecution

[Captain Needa]

3. It isn't in most of Europe either

The fact is that the Catholic church uses statistics to get public funding, but 90% of us have never attended church and younger generations even don't receive baptism. I myself forwarded a certified letter to my episcopate stating that I wanted to express my will to abandon the catholic church and that said letter should be considered as an act of apostasy.

[chaplainM]

4. The Pope believes in religious liberty...

...only in nations where Catholics are a minority. Where Catholics are a majority, his holiness believes Catholic precepts should be enforced by the police power of the state.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. To the Bishop of Rome I say: You first

When you are willing to genuine respect for religious freedom, among Catholics and non-Catholics alike, I'm sure others will be willing to extend you the same courtesy.

[Deep13]

6. Or else the Inquisition with burn you alive.

:eyes: