Monday, September 18, 2006
The Pope Gets in the Game
The Pope's comments were calculated precisely, thoughtfully and carefully delivered. His remarks, which referenced compulsory conversion to Islam via "the sword", were made in the aftermath of the kidnapping and forced conversion of 2 journalists working for Fox in the Gaza strip. They were also made in the aftermath of the recent Hezbollah - Israel battle, and the commitment of German troops to southern Lebanon (and the associated emphasis by the Germans on rules of engagement designed to allow them to confront Hezbollah). Let's not forget this is a German Pope.
History does not unfold entirely accidently, and I don't believe this Pope made his remarks casually. He views himself as the steward of 1 billion people, and most Catholics around the world accept this. No Muslim leader has the same authority.
I think he has just told 1 billion Catholics, and others who will listen, including Muslims, that Islam's notion of forced conversion is bullshit.
This is a very big deal, all happening as Germany (and France) mobilizes militarily in the Middle East and prepares to work with the US on Iran. Think of this however you like, but I think this Pope is laying the groundwork to mobilize the European (and perhaps global) Catholic community.
9 Comments:
By 
, at
Mon Sep 18, 11:13:00 AM:
I'd like to point out something that I think has gone largely unappreciated in the criticism of Germany's lack of involvement in confronting Islamic terrorism. It is a *seismic* shift for Germany to be putting its troops in a position where they are likely to have to aggressively engage and pursue enemy forces, let alone theoretically having to shoot at Israeli soldiers! There is much political resistance in Germany on this issue, see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5217438.stm
As a US citizen of German extraction, I would like to see Germany, along with the rest of continental Europe, take its place among the great military powers and contribute to the security of the peaceful world. However, I'm afraid that that won't happen for another 50 years. There are people still alive in Germany today who remember the horrors perpetrated in the name of the German people, and who therefore consider *any military action at all* by Germans anathema. Even a 60-year apology tour cannot erase those influences. Perhaps in another 50 years, when there is no one left alive who remembers WWII, and the survivor's children are old and out of power, will you truly begin to see Europe again pull its own weight militarily on the world stage. But unfortunately, I don't think it will happen any time soon - and to blame the Europeans for this is to be ignorant of the scars that WWII left on the European psyche.
By 
Charlottesvillain, at
Mon Sep 18, 12:44:00 PM:
If the demographers are right, 50 years from now will be too late, for Germany and for most of Europe.
By , at
Mon Sep 18, 01:28:00 PM:
i wish I could agree with your take on the popes wakeup call to his followers, and maybe to the rest of the civilized world. I assume from your comments,(and this is my first visit to your site) that you are US based. I am not, I reside in Europe, and for the life of me, I cannot understand the anti-American, anti-Jewish sentiment so prevalent here. I see the local news, I drive through areas with "istan" attributes. I see crimes daily in the name of religiom, I see apologists and appeasers in the headlines, and I shake my head in amazement at the crass stupidity of woolley minded, crass headed liberals. Campaigns are commencing for the introduction of Sharia law, racial and murderous incitement are proclaimed loudly and publicly, and they are tolerated by the authorities, and defended by the lefties. The country has its collective brain strapped to its sphincter muscle. The capital has been bombed, honour killings are happening.......
It will take far more than the pope to wake up the chattering classes. Maybe another 9/11, or a dirty bomb......
Sometimes I just despair
By Dan Kauffman, at
Mon Sep 18, 08:04:00 PM:
I demand an apology from the Imam of Grand Mosque in Mecca.
I mean his usual sermons make anything the Pope said look tame.
As for European military aid to us?
The European Parliament's reportcard on the State of the Military in Euorope said that they spend about half of what we do
~250 Billion Euros/year
for a military that is
TEN PERCENT as efficient as ours.
By , at
Mon Sep 18, 10:51:00 PM:
I have to agree - the Pope laid it out. He not only defended Catholics, he defended all of Western Civ.
He also knowingly put himself at risk of assasination.
Gutsy move and done quietly and with style and grace - no Rambo antics here. This guy is our leader - even for non-believers like me.
By Cardinalpark, at
Tue Sep 19, 09:39:00 AM:
Hey, we shouldn't forget that a Turkish Muslim tried to assassinate the last Pope, probably at the behest of the Soviets. There is no doubt that the Vatican gets this battle, in very personal terms. This Pope is a doctrinal expert. He is German. The Cardinals were not fooling around when they named this guy.
As for Europe, the fog of socialism still has Europeans confused about the US and drives much of the anti-Americanism referenced above. Over time, as the offensive threat of Islamic fascism grows, more Socialists will come around. Hitchens and his crowd were smart enough to get it immediately. Unfortunately, most socialists ain't so smart, and they're still smarting from the Soviet's embarrassment. Whatever, as the battle wears on, they will become less relevant.
By Consul-At-Arms, at
Tue Sep 19, 12:29:00 PM:
I've linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2006/09/re-pope-gets-in-game.html
By , at
Tue Sep 19, 02:18:00 PM:
I agree. The Pope is leading the way for the recover of Western Civilization. He's got a stature that no political leader has. God bless him and grant him health and safety.
By , at
Tue Sep 19, 11:28:00 PM:
This is not the first time Benedict has taken a stand against Islam. From an April 17 entry:
Perhaps alone of the major denominations, Catholicism understands the need at times for military action to protect the innocent. While the self-loathing West amuses itself with exhuming long-discredited heresies, the Church is getting down to serious business.
Pope Benedict's call for "reciprocity" in religious tolerance is a great starting point. Though Islam projects an image of strength and fearlessness, its action speak otherwise. Why else enforce conversion with the threat of death? Why else ban Bibles and other faiths from the Arabian peninsula?
Pope Benedict is, to our knowledge, the first Christian leader to speak out in such plain terms.
Whilst the flaccid Anglicans and bitterly divided Methodists debate how much of their liturgy to gut, how openly to embrace moral licentiousness and turn their backs on Scripture, the Church is, in its own ponderous way, preparing for the Long War as only it can do.
His Holiness knew exactly what he was doing. For those who have been paying attention, this is merely the next step.
