Iraq calls for calm after Pope's remarks

[ECH1969]

Iraq's government called on Muslims on Saturday not to attack the country's small Christian minority in response to remarks by Pope Benedict that have angered Muslims.

The door of a church in Basra was attacked overnight, in what appeared to be the first strike on a Christian target in Iraq since the comments.

"We call on all those who love God's prophets not to carry out actions that will harm our Christian brothers here," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in an interview with Iraqiya state television.

Iraq's Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Vatican's top diplomat in Baghdad to seek an explanation for the remarks and had sent a letter expressing concern via Iraq's own embassy at the Vatican.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060916/wl_nm/religion_pope_iraq_dc_2

[imfreaky]

1. Wow, I guess the only thing I can say is...

that's a good thing.

[hlthe2b]

2. yeah, that guy Ratzinger... what a "card..."

just spreading the love and message of peace throughout the world, ain't he? :sarcasm:

Perhaps his choice of "Benedict" is apropros.... He does seem to be following a "Benedict Arnold" course to the message of Christ, it seems...

Sorry, my Catholic friends... But this is one Pope who SHOULDN'T BE...

[VegasWolf]

3. No trampling with the Muslim religion, they seem to be trying to take over

the entire world. What is it with religions and their need to convert people?

[IndianaGreen]

5. Pope Ratzo is on a Crusade against Islam, unlike John Paul II

Pope remarks reveal harder stance
By Peter Gould
BBC News website

John Paul II wanted to reach out to other religions and in 2001, on a visit to Syria, he became the first pope to set foot in a mosque.

It was a gesture intended to help end centuries of hostility and suspicion between the two religions.

<snip>

One of the first signs of a toughening of the Vatican's stance came with the removal from office of Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald.

The British-born cleric ran a Vatican department that promoted dialogue with other religions. A distinguished scholar on Arab affairs, he was an acknowledged expert on the Islamic world.


Archbishop Fitzgerald: a highly-
respected scholar

The decision by Benedict XVI to remove him from his post, and send him to Egypt as papal nuncio, was widely seen as a demotion.

Some wondered about the wisdom of the move.

Father Thomas Reese, a Jesuit scholar and an authority on the workings of the Vatican, told the BBC news website of his concerns: "The Pope's worst decision so far has been the exiling of Archbishop Fitzgerald," he said in an interview in April this year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5352404.stm

[msongs]

4. good thing iraqis have nothing else to worry about nt

[VegasWolf]

6. Well, if this pope thing doesn't pan out for him, he should stay away from

standup comedy.