Pope to meet angry Muslims, oppressed Christians

Pope to meet angry Muslims, oppressed Christians
1st visit to Islamic land after his controversial remarks in Germany

Posted: November 28, 20061:00 a.m. Eastern
By Mary Jo Anderson© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

As multiple "popemobiles" follow decoy routes through the streets of Istanbul, police boats zip across the Bosphorus and snipers pace along the roofs of ancient buildings, drama worthy of a Hollywood thriller precedes the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Turkey today for a visit in which he will be met by angry Muslims and the leader of oppressed Christians.

An estimated 30,000 Islamic protesters gathered to demonstrate Sunday against the head of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics. The pro-Islamic political parties that organized the event say Benedict insulted Islam in his Sept.12 speech at Regensburg, Germany. "Go home" chanted student members of the Felicity political party that threatened to bus in 75,000 demonstrators for the pope's visit.

Benedict is traveling to Turkey at the invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. The two will celebrate the feast day liturgy of Andrew the apostle, the brother of Peter. Tradition holds Andrew founded the Christian faith in Asia Minor, building a church in the city known as Byzantium – later Constantinople, now Istanbul.

The ecumenical patriarchate of Constantinople is the head of the communion of Eastern churches, including the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and Serbian Orthodox churches.
The Orthodox communion broke away from Roman Catholicism in 1054 – the Great Schism – over matters of papal primacy and points of doctrine. Pope John Paul II fostered a great affection and concern for "the other lung of the church," despite the divisions that remain between them. Both churches seek reunion.
'Do you doubt that we live in dhimmitude?'
The pope and the patriarch are sure to discuss the plight of the Orthodox in Turkey where issues of religious tolerance and freedom chafe against their daily lives. The Orthodox are not permitted to freely elect their leadership. Turkish law determines who is eligible to be elected ecumenical patriarch, confining potential candidates to Turkish citizens who reside in Turkey.
According to an Orthodox source, "The result of these restrictions is that in the not-so-distant future, the ecumenical patriarchate may not be able to elect a patriarch."
Currently the Orthodox in Turkey, including the highest level of the patriarchate itself, are prohibited from owning property. Recently the Turkish government confiscated an Orthodox seminary and an orphanage. Even the books for Orthodox schools come under Turkish scrutiny.
"Do you doubt that we live in dhimmitude?" scoffed an Orthodox physician.
Partly for this reason, Bartholomew I is anxious to promote Turkey's membership in the European Union. Such membership would force Turkey to observe the EU laws on religious freedom.

The patriarch plans to urge the pope to relax his views on Turkey's membership in the EU.
"It is not wrong for Turkey to become a member of the EU as a Muslim country because it would bring mutual richness," he said.

Much is at stake in the historic visit – the first visit of Pope Benedict XVI to an Islamic nation. Among Muslim nations, Turkey is considered the most moderate religiously, and its secular government ardently hopes to become the first Islamic member of the European Union.

However, in recent years radical political groups have gained power in this nation of 70 million where 98 percent of the population is Muslim.

Tuesday, the pontiff will arrive in Ankara, the nation's capital, to discuss political and religious concerns with the president, Necdet Sezer, and outspoken Islamic cleric, Ali Bardakoglu, head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate.

In September, Bardakoglu publicly denounced the pope and suggested the pontiff cancel his trip to Turkey. The source of Bardakoglu's ire was Benedict's speech to scholars at Regensburg in which the pope quoted from a 14th century text that denounced Muhammad's decree – that the Islamic faith could be forced with the sword – as "evil and inhumane."

Within hours of the address in Regensburg, priests in Islamic countries were murdered and churches were burned. Muslims "protesting" the speech – because it insulted their "peaceful" religion – shot an African nun in the back. Threats were made against the life of the pope.

Western commentators rushed to report the pope had apologized, but a careful reading of the official remarks show he expressed "regret" that "some were offended" by the text that had been cited.

Just days ago in Ankara, Bardakoglu declared, "I think the attitude the pope should take is that neither Islam nor Christianity is a source of violence."

That comment prompted one Vatican watcher to quip, "Then Ali Bardakoglu should instruct his imams to behave peacefully."
Bardakoglu oversees the work of 100,000 Islamic clerics along with their lectures and teachings.

In addition to the awkwardness between the pope and Turkish officials following Regensburg, there is the matter of Turkey's proposed EU membership.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, before his election to the papacy, he advised Europeans that an Islamic Turkey was incompatible with European culture and legal traditions.

When questioned about the compatibility of the EU and his country, Ali Bardakoglu responded: "The European Union as a Christian club would pave the way for other similar groupings that would seriously hurt the cause of world peace. For that reason, I think it important that the EU be based on common values rather than religion."

While the secular Western press speculates the pontiff will be "seeking to mend fences" after Regensburg, the reality is likely very different. The pope will participate in the usual public gestures and overtures, such as a photo op at Istanbul's famous Blue Mosque, but stop short of kissing the Quran as John Paul II did in 1999 as a gesture of respect. The cognocenti speculate Benedict has a new angle of view – less about accommodation of Muslim sensitivities and more about an engagement of the Islamic intellect on matters of truth.

'Offensive' lecture

James V. Schall, S.J., professor of government at Georgetown University, analyzed the "offensive" Regensburg lecture.

He noted, "The pope was given the occasion to speak in an academic lecture format the truth about something that concerns us all, including Muslims themselves. Before any action can take place, understanding must come first. This is where the really difficult work lies. The lack of a serious effort first to understand the validity of Islam's claims about itself has resulted in a political confusion about what to do about it. Unless one's theology is straight, one's politics probably will be skewered. The central issue is not about 'terrorism,' … but about whether Islam, or many of its followers, thinks that it is their right and duty to use terror to further their religious goals."

Others concur. After Regensburg, an opinion piece appeared in the Asia Times saying, "But of greater weight is the pope's observation that Allah is a god whose 'absolute transcendence' allows no constraint, to the point that Allah is free if he chooses to promote evil."

Christian theologians are careful to point out that the Christian God is constrained – constrained by love for man. This is precisely the dialogue some say Benedict fully intended to open in public. They point to his first papal encyclical, "God is Love."

"In a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence," he wrote, "this message (that God is love) is both timely and significant."