BCT Editorial – 9/20/06

This page was last updated on September 20, 2006.

Testament of faith; Editorial; Beaver County Times; September 20, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Nun’s final words stand in contrast to Islamic rage against the pope

“Sister Leonella devoted her humble life to helping the sick in Africa. She died Sunday, gunned down in Somalia. Her dying words were reported to be, ‘I forgive, I forgive.’

“Somalia is so unstable that her murderer might never be found. However, it is not against the odds that she was murdered in retaliation for Pope Benedict XVI’s ill-advised reference to an obscure medieval text which, according to The Associated Press, characterized some of the teachings of Islam’s founder as ‘evil and inhuman.’”

[RWC] What was “ill-advised” about Pope Benedict’s comments?

“The context of the pope’s reference to Mohammad is important. He was not singling out Islam for special criticism. The quote he used was part of a broad talk on any religious motivation for violence.

“The new Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, told The AP the pontiff sought in his speech to condemn all religious motivation for violence ‘from whatever side it may come.’

“He also noted that earlier in his trip to Germany the pope had warned ‘secularized Western culture’ against holding contempt for any religion or believers.

“Sadly, far too many in the Islamic world overlooked the historical context of the speech - Pope Benedict was citing an exchange between a 14th-century Byzantine ruler and an educated Persian on the truths of Christianity and Islam - or its overall intent.

“As always seems to happen, hard-line Muslims took the initiative. When news of the speech got out, Muslims took to the streets, with at least four West Bank churches being attacked. Moderate Muslims either chided the pope for his comments or remained silent, as they so often do.”

[RWC] It makes you wonder how “moderate” so-called “Moderate Muslims” are, doesn’t it? I’m beginning to believe the “moderate Muslim” is mythology created by people who don’t want to face the truth.

“In an attempt to calm the situation, the pope apologized for his use of the quote. However, many Muslims refused to be mollified.

“This is the context in which Sister Leonella and her bodyguard were gunned down, and in which she uttered her last words, ‘I forgive, I forgive.’

“The contrast could not be more compelling - or damning.”

[RWC] Yet a mere 17 days ago, the Times was concerned that referring to Islamofascism unfairly tainted Muslims.