I told my mom that BHO had time to meet with the Dalai Lama last week but, no time to meet with the pope this week.

"That's okay. The pope ain't missing a thing."

re: #1 MandyManners

I told my mom that BHO had time to meet with the Dalai Lama last week but, no time to meet with the pope this week.

"That's okay. The pope ain't missing a thing."

LOL!

the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu leaders
Jain?
Jain?
What's "Jain"?

"He said he was disappointed that no time was made in the pope’s six-day trip for even a brief private meeting with U.S. Muslim leaders."

Well he's having an interfaith event with them for heavens sake. Oops, I forgot-it's never enough. Otherwise, the seething gets disrupted.

NEW YORK - Unease with Pope Benedict XVI’s approach to Islam has led a U.S. Muslim group to decline joining in an interfaith event with him later this week.

And The Pope breathes a huge sigh of relief.

re: #4 Izzy Dunne

/Tarzan

Several other U.S. Muslim leaders expressed similar concerns about the pope,

Sorry, but that should be capitol "P" on the Pope. Twice, in that blurb. A writer for AP who claims to "AP Religion Writer" should know better.

Dear Muslims,

Nobody likes you. Except moonbats, but they're not really people.

Sincerely,
Everyone

re: #8 EC Marm

Sorry, but that should be capitol "P" on the Pope. Twice, in that blurb. A writer for AP who claims to "AP Religion Writer" should know better.

Yes, but they'll always capitalize prophet when discussing Mo.

Muzammil H. Siddiqi, chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, which interprets Islamic law. “Popes come and go, but the church is there.”

And the Church will be there after Islam goes the way of Aztec human sacrifice, Mr. Siddiqi.

Im sure the Pope is going to lose sleep over that one.

re: #4 Izzy Dunne

the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu leaders
Jain?
Jain?
What's "Jain"?

A religion practiced in India. Centered around Bombay, IIRC.

So I guess this means Benedict will be enjoying his stay.

Salam al-Marayati, said he was disappointed that no time was made in the pope’s six-day trip for even a brief private meeting with U.S. Muslim leaders.

Why, in all that is holy, would the Pope want a private meeting with these people. But, of course -- besides being Muslims they are also Californians. Naturally, they would expect special treatment.

And who is the MPAC?

The Muslim Public Affairs Council's War on Steve Emerson
By Robert Spencer
FrontPageMagazine.com | Wednesday, January 12, 2005

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) has identified its chief enemy. At a conference on “Countering Religious & Political Extremism” held on December 18 (and later televised on C-Span), it distributed a 48-page booklet attacking not bin Laden, or Zawahiri, or Zarqawi, but anti-terrorism expert Steven Emerson. Entitled “Counterproductive Counterterrorism,” the booklet sought to frame opposition to Emerson as a national security issue: “In order to enhance the security of our country, it is necessary to expose the vocal minority of Americans who continue to exploit the tragedy of September 11 to advance their pre-existing anti-Muslim agenda.”

[Link: www.frontpagemagazine.com...]

Rumor has it that the Pope has quite a speech planned for Ground Zero. There will be much seething and gnashing of teeth.

re: #16 JammieWearingFool

So I guess this means Benedict will be enjoying his stay.

He won't have to wear as much cologne either.

“Our going there is more out of respect for the Catholic Church itself,” said Muzammil H. Siddiqi, chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, which interprets Islamic law.

They have respect for the Catholic Church? Since when?

Just Passing by.
This pic in a Mexican newspaper explains very well why the hatred of muslims, communists and others.
The caption says: "The two most powerful men in the world"

Eat your hearts out, you dirty sons of the caliphate.

Ok, I'm running away from this thread.
Laters and God bless all :)

*POOF*

U.S. Catholic and Muslim leaders started holding interfaith talks in the early 1990s, and many of the Muslim leaders invited to the event Thursday are veterans of those discussions.

And what have been the fruits of these decades long interfaith talks?

Anyone?

Several other U.S. Muslim leaders expressed similar concerns about the pope, but pledged to participate in the Washington gathering, saying the two faiths should do everything possible to improve relations.

Oh, I understand now.

It's one of those meetings that have been penciled in at the same time every year for the past twenty years, everyone shows up, they talk a lot, but absolutely nothing gets accomplished.

Then they do it again next year.

Here we have one of the major religions reaching out for common ground and peace and brotherhood. Of course we also have five different radical Islamic groups decrying the heretic invasion by the Catholics. Nothing is said about Saudi invasion of Wahabinsm in all parts of the world preaching intolerance and hatred for all who do not subscribe to their faith. Propaganda is easy for Islamic terrorists when you have the near total support of western media...

More on MPAC:

MPAC's worldview is further revealed by its many additional public statements on a wide array of issues and events:

According to MPAC: "Israel was established by terrorism"; its founding "involved the unjust and illegal usurpation of Muslim and Christian land and rights"; and "to recognize the legitimacy of that crime is a crime in itself."

MPAC characterizes Israel as a "racist, chauvinistic and militaristic" state that is prosecuting "a war to steal land from Palestinians, to decimate their leadership, to humiliate the Palestinian people."

Condemning Israel's "apartheid-like ideology," MPAC warns: "History shows that Muslim and Christian religious rights are not safe under Israeli occupation."

Israelis are "the worst terrorists in the world," says MPAC, "... Yet Israel is not found on the list of state sponsors of terrorism in the [U.S.] State Department Report on Terrorism."

MPAC co-sponsored pro-Palestinian rallies in the fall of 2000, where MPAC speakers chanted "Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews, the Army of Muhammed is coming for you!" The rally featured literature and many placards calling for the annihilation of the Jews and Israel.

A few hours after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, MPAC Co-Founder Salam Al-Marayati told a Los Angeles talk radio audience: "If we're going to look at suspects, we should look at the groups that benefit the most from these kinds of incidents, and I think we should put the state of Israel on the suspect list because I think this diverts attention from what's happening in the Palestinian territories so that they can go on with their aggression and occupation and apartheid policies."

On November 30, 2002, MPAC Vice Chairman Aslam Abdullah said: "Those who are part of the political Zionist movement in America ... know it very well that without the support of the United States ... their country, namely Israel, would not be able to pursue its apartheid and racist policies in the Middle East. They will use every means possible to ensure that American administration stays on their side. They will create false enemies, they will distort facts, they will manipulate events; and they will concoct and fabricate lies. They have taken America hostage."

MPAC was a signatory to a MAY 20, 2004 Joint Muslims/Arab-American Statement on Israeli Violence in Gaza, which "strongly condemn[ed]" Israel's "indiscriminate killings of innocent Palestinians, including many children," and its "demolition of Palestinian homes" -- but made no mention of Arab terrorism.

On March 23, 2005, MPAC National Director Ahmed Younis spoke at a Muslim Students' Association-sponsored event, where he explained that because Adolf Eichmann was himself a Jew, it could accurately be said that Jews had killed themselves in the Holocaust.

MPAC endorsed a November 1, 2001 document characterizing the 9/11 attacks as a legal matter to be addressed by criminal-justice procedures rather than military means. Ascribing the hijackers' motives to alleged social injustices against which they were protesting, this document called on the United States "to promote fundamental rights around the world."

MPAC speakers regularly complain that the U.S. is "dominated" by Zionists and favors Jews over Muslims.

Opposed to efforts to shut down Islamic charities that fund terrorism -- alleging that such efforts interfere with freedom of religion and the exercise of the Muslim obligation to give to charity -- MPAC states that the U.S. government should instead investigate what it terms Jewish "terrorists" like the Jewish Defense League. The Council signed and sponsored a petition to reinstate the assets of Hamas' charitable front, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, after it was designated as a front for terrorist financing.

[Link: www.discoverthenetworks.org...]

re: #21 Lucius Septimius

They have respect for the Catholic Church? Since when?

It'd be nice if they had space for the Catholic Church, somewhere near Mecca, for instance.

Lizards, it's worth digesting His Holiness' 2006 Regensburg lecture again. It's slow going, but it illustrates a very, very capable mind. And one entirely cognizant of Islam's threat to Western, post-Enlightenment, Judeo-Christian-secular civilization:

[Link: www.vatican.va...]

Coupled with Allam's recent baptism and his forthcoming Sunday sermon at Ground Zero, I reckon BXVI is the best Pope we've seen in living memory. This is a very extraordinarily intelligent man- with none of JPII's later theatrics like kissing the Qur'an.

The Pope's Rottweiler has become... the Rottweiler Pope.

re: #21 Lucius Septimius

They have respect for the Catholic Church? Since when?

Was that before or after some of their followers trashed the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem?

re: #4 Izzy Dunne

the Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu leaders
Jain?
Jain?
What's "Jain"?

Hindu sect.Extreme vegetarians, worry about killing gnats acciddntally

re: #26 stevieray

It'd be nice if they had space for the Catholic Church, somewhere near Mecca, for instance.

He mentions that every time he talks with the Saudis. I know he means it, but part of me also thinks he says it because he knows it pisses them off.

these moral and intellectual midgets(no offense to any little people amongst us) must realize how inferior they would look in the presence of true human greatness..go get em' Il Papa...

re: #29 Jim in Virginia

I had a former student who's a Jain. She's now a lawyer for the IRS. So much for refraining from killing gnats.

Oil and water.

Or maybe, more aptly, Water and sodium.

How come Allah willed some of his Imams to go to the event and some of them to stay away? Allah can't make up his mind.

re: #35 mich-again

How come Allah willed some of his Imams to go to the event and some of them to stay away? Allah can't make up his mind.

He made up a bunch of shit, but not his mind.

The meeting probably fell through when the Vatican requested that the Israelis handle security.

re: #35 mich-again

How come Allah willed some of his Imams to go to the event and some of them to stay away? Allah can't make up his mind.

allah has no mind..he and his followers are the epitome of pure human savagery

re: #17 wee fury

Why, in all that is holy, would the Pope want a private meeting with these people. But, of course -- besides being Muslims they are also Californians. Naturally, they would expect special treatment.

What's to discuss?
Benedict: You should convert to Christianity .
Muslims: Submit to Allah, infidel.
Benedict: Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

#35 mich-again

How come Allah willed some of his Imams to go to the event and some of them to stay away? Allah can't make up his mind.

And a psychotic, possibly bi-polar, pedophile thug was his prophet.
At least, there is symmetry.

OT:

Looks like Bubba is still the gift that keeps on giving:Bill Clinton says older people too saavy to be fooled by Obama.

Here Hillde is attacking O-bama for being elitist and hubby steps up to the plate and hits into an unassisted triple play.

Sorry-
saavy=savvy

re: #31 joecitizen

these moral and intellectual midgets(no offense to any little people amongst us) must realize how inferior they would look in the presence of true human greatness..go get em' Il Papa...

I think you're giving the Islamonutjobs too much credit. They see the Pope as someone powerful, and therefore, want special recognition from him to make them appear important and powerful. Since the Pope didn't choose to do that, their "feelings" are hurt, so they have to proclaim loudly that they don't want to meet with him.

The Pope isn't a dhimmi

Islam as a whole is pretty narcissistic IMHO

re: #3 Sparkizzy

LOL!

She's a yellow-dog Democrat but, she's coming around.

re: #27 earl

"This is a very extraordinarily intelligent man"

not intelligent enough to recognize protestants as fellow Christians in the fight, though....

re: #39 Jim in Virginia

What's to discuss?
Benedict: You should convert to Christianity Catholicism.
Muslims: Submit to Allah, infidel.
Benedict: Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Fixed it for ya. ; )

He said he was disappointed that no time was made in the pope’s six-day trip for even a brief private meeting with U.S. Muslim leaders.

The Pope doesn't want to give the ROPers a chance at assassinating him over an imagined insult to their prophet for profit.

If allah doesn't like the Pope then let allah deal with it allah, the moon dog did create everything including the Pope. /s

re: #27 earl

He was the Pope's Rottweiler. Now we call him the German Shepherd! (Still tough ...but a little sweeter!)

re: #45 paxnhymn

"This is a very extraordinarily intelligent man"

not intelligent enough to recognize protestants as fellow Christians in the fight, though....

now pax,ya should have taken my advice from earlier today..sip some shitty wine,have a wafer,and relax..plenty of time ahead to continue this internecine feud..heh

re: #1 MandyManners

I told my mom that BHO had time to meet with the Dalai Lama last week but, no time to meet with the pope this week.

"That's okay. The pope ain't missing a thing."

And that sums it up perfectly.

Big
Fat
Hairy
Deal

The Pope will get over whatever little crybaby group doesn't attend.

re: #45 paxnhymn

"This is a very extraordinarily intelligent man"

not intelligent enough to recognize protestants as fellow Christians in the fight, though....

Wrong.

I am completely indifferent re: the pope, but I do have a definite opinion about islamists, so whatever he does to tweek their noses is fine by me (within reason, of course).

I doubt Benedict will be losing any sleep over this.

re: #49 joecitizen

now pax,ya should have taken my advice from earlier today..sip some shitty wine,have a wafer,and relax..plenty of time ahead to continue this internecine feud..heh

your right...I'll be glad when his anti-Protestant ass leaves, though.

re: #8 EC Marm

Sorry, but that should be capitol "P" on the Pope. Twice, in that blurb. A writer for AP who claims to "AP Religion Writer" should know better.

Apparently style guides vary as to whether to capitalize. The majority agree with you, but it's not universal. Here is one in which capitalization is only when the title precedes a name:

pope. Lowercase unless it immediately precedes the name of the individual who holds the position.
The pope will be visiting the United States next month.
The first Polish pope was Pope John Paul II.

re: #52 Slumbering Behemoth

I want the Pope to do more than figuratively tweak the collective noses of muslims. I want him to figuratively bite off the collective noses of muslims before spitting them out of an open window at the Vatican so the crows may feast.

I want more than a Baptist church, a Kingdom Hall and an Orthodox synagogue in Mecca. I want the Jesuits to open a mission there.

re: #57 Jim in Virginia

Weather report on that day:

Hell just froze over.

re: #56 song_and_dance_man

yeah, and THEY can't even completely trace the lineage back to Peter...

re: #59 paxnhymn

So what about the Baptists? Can't they trace their linage back to John the Baptist?

Several other U.S. Muslim leaders expressed similar concerns about the pope, but pledged to participate in the Washington gathering, saying the two faiths should do everything possible to improve relations.

But there’s only one side that has a "relational" problem here – Muslims. So why does the Pope have to change his game to “improve relations?” Shouldn’t Muslims just, you know, fuck off?

re: #60 Perplexed

So what about the Baptists? Can't they trace their linage back to John the Baptist?

you're right...what's your point?

re: #60 Perplexed

So what about the Baptists? Can't they trace their linage back to John the Baptist?

Yes, we can.

Years ago, when I was a kid, the pastor of my parent's church went off on Catholics, calling them idol worshipers, etc. Too many statues in the church for his taste, I guess.

My mother asked the Irish Catholic (just off the boat, so to speak) lady next door why she believed she would go to Heaven when she died. The lady said "Because the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins!"

It was good enough for my Mom then, and it's good enough for me now.

re: #62 paxnhymn

Well, it is true that Jesus said 'on this rock I build my Church.' Jesus was also baptized by John the Baptist and baptism is one of the tenets of Christian faith. It seems like this is a tempest in a tea pot.

re: #64 Grammy Cracker

You get a ding. Bless you ma'am.

Apparently the AP Style Guide is not to capitalize:

titles --Capitalize formal titles immediately before a name, and do not separate the title from the name by a comma. Examples: I saw President Clinton. I got to meet Pope John Paul II. Titles that appear after a name or standing alone are ALMOST NEVER capitalized. If you're wondering about those exceptions, see AP, "nobility." Also note that sometimes, a person's title is set off by commas. In those cases, it is lower case. If you're wondering when to use a comma between title and name, see "appositives," or just listen for the natural pause when you say the sentence aloud. If you pause, use a comma. Examples: The president, (PAUSE) George W. Bush, (PAUSE) ate a burger. President (NO PAUSE) George W. Bush got indigestion.

This is kind of surprising, because I thought Muslims had invented catholicism.

I think I read it in the NYTIMES.

re: #64 Grammy Cracker

uhhh...that's not lineage and sucession...that's inheritance. big difference. Besides, the "lineage" argument was always stupid and inconsequential. I had a Pentecostal tell me one time that they were actually the first Christians because they're denomination officially began at Pentacost. I just gave him a disgusted look and walked away...

I have never been a fan of any pope and probably never will, but if this pope wants to start a Crusade I may have to join him.

re: #66 Jim in Virginia

You get a ding. Bless you ma'am.

Thanks, Jim - but isn't that really all that matters? I know we say different prayers, sing different hymns, and practice different traditions, but the bottom line is, we agree on the most important thing:

The Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins.....

/and praise God for that!

Damn! I guess that means I won't get to see the headline I've been hoping for: Muslim Leader Eggs Benedict

re: #69 paxnhymn

uhhh...that's not lineage and sucession...that's inheritance. big difference. Besides, the "lineage" argument was always stupid and inconsequential. I had a Pentecostal tell me one time that they were actually the first Christians because they're denomination officially began at Pentacost. I just gave him a disgusted look and walked away...

Okay. See my #74, then. That's my point.

Local news: anti Catholic protesters at the Vatican embassy, angry over sexual abuse by priests. "The Pope is a terrorist."
"Abstinence makes you frustrated and you take out your frustrations on anyone you can find and kids and women are weak and easy to abuse."
Except that's not abstinence.

re: #45 paxnhymn

"This is a very extraordinarily intelligent man"

not intelligent enough to recognize protestants as fellow Christians in the fight, though....

Grow a pair. Finish what you are saying. Your veiled hatred of Catholics is starting to show.

re: #69 paxnhymn

uhhh...that's not lineage and sucession...that's inheritance. big difference. Besides, the "lineage" argument was always stupid and inconsequential. I had a Pentecostal tell me one time that they were actually the first Christians because they're denomination officially began at Pentacost. I just gave him a disgusted look and walked away...

speaking as a seriously lapsed catholic and non believer,I would think that the saving power of Jesus in your respective faiths would overwhelm any differences in denomination and practice..I think GrannyCracker was spot on..too often this argument, which has raged for HUNDREDS of years,descends into mindless childishness and name calling..

re: #75 ploome hineni

Everybody helps in their own way. Bob Hope told jokes to the troops.

Has anyone else here read "The Territorial Imperative" by Robert Ardrey?

re: #69 paxnhymn

uhhh...that's not lineage and sucession...that's inheritance. big difference. Besides, the "lineage" argument was always stupid and inconsequential. I had a Pentecostal tell me one time that they were actually the first Christians because they're denomination officially began at Pentacost. I just gave him a disgusted look and walked away...

Presbyterians were the first Christians. Acts chapter 6, the Twelve pick seven elders or prebyters.

John Calvin just cleaned up a few things.

re: #83 sirsurfalot

Grow a pair. Finish what you are saying. Your veiled hatred of Catholics is starting to show.

I was Rc for 30 years. My family is still RC. I don't hate RCs.
I do not like this pope! He is devicive with The Body which makes him unworthy of leadership. instead of bridging, he tears further apart.

re: #75 ploome hineni
/cue music..
Onward Christian soldiers
marching as to war....

Does the Catholic church still believe in the Church Militant? I think Benedict does.

re: #62 paxnhymn

you're right...what's your point?

and what is your point?
Do you know how you sound?

re: #89 Jim in Virginia

ohh for the love of......

:-D

re: #93 sirsurfalot

and what is your point?
Do you know how you sound?

grounded. well grounded.

you say tomato, i say tomahto..is about the level of this debate..i just love me some pope threads

re: #77 ploome hineni

if we start with the holy rolling, I will have to leave

/lay off the hallellulyas pleas

Please don't leave, Ploome!

REAL Christians know that the Jewish people are God's chosen ones. We don't have to understand any more than that. It's His covenant, and that's all that matters.

One of the things I love most about LGF is the kind education our Jewish friends impart to me about their traditions and celebrations. Yours is a most beautiful faith, and I respect you completely.

re: #97 Grammy Cracker

very wonderful and i concur.

re: #100 ploome hineni

please stop

we are all G-ds children

but some of us have CHOSEN G-d

Consider it done. My sentiments were genuine, and I meant no offense.

The reason I asked about "The Territorial Imperative" is that in it Ardrey proposes the following equation: "Amity equals Enmity plus Hazard."

In other words, if you and I have our butts in the same crack we are friends until we have extricated our butts from that crack.

Right now the whole of Christendom is faced with the greatest threat it's faced since the last time Islam reared its ugly head.

Can we please wait until we have dealt with that threat before we go hacking away at each other over theological details?

re: #101 Grammy Cracker

Consider it done. My sentiments were genuine, and I meant no offense.

ploome's not offended. Just pleasantly modest.

re: #91 paxnhymn

I was Rc for 30 years. My family is still RC. I don't hate RCs.
I do not like this pope! He is devicive with The Body which makes him unworthy of leadership. instead of bridging, he tears further apart.

Doing a fine job of bridge building yourself.

re: #103 USBeast

but, by the same token, if you and I are in a fighting position against a common enemy, and every once and a while you reach over and slap me, eventually, common enemy or not, I'm going to deal with you...

I'm pleased that the Pope won't have time for a meeting with the muslims and I hope he doesn't grovel to them, like everyone else seems to, in apology. We need more leaders to quit kowtowing to this sorry excuse of a religion(ous cult).

re: #105 ploome hineni

so choosing is possible for everyone

Ahh! I understand... and agree.

re: #106 sirsurfalot

Doing a fine job of bridge building yourself.

i don't need the Bishop of Rome. i know our commonality.

re: #107 paxnhymn

but, by the same token, if you and I are in a fighting position against a common enemy, and every once and a while you reach over and slap me, eventually, common enemy or not, I'm going to deal with you...

You'll notice I addressed my remarks to the assembly, not to any individual.

Class! Behave!

I have never commented here and will never likely comment again.
We are all children of God and will need to face the menace of evil that is Islam together.
I love how you all enjoy each others hopes and dreams.
As as the lovely Freeper who was a Marine and passed away recently envoked.."play nice".
Benedict is the Man and we should all embrace his fortitude..

Don't see nobody else out there in the Human form helpin' us out at the mo'.

re: #84 joecitizen

speaking as a seriously lapsed catholic and non believer,I would think that the saving power of Jesus in your respective faiths would overwhelm any differences in denomination and practice..I think GrannyCracker was spot on..too often this argument, which has raged for HUNDREDS of years,descends into mindless childishness and name calling..

All you have to do is check when you church domain was started . Then check out what was deleted when it was started!

re: #105 ploome hineni

so choosing is possible for everyone

I'll have a steamed chocolate pudding, then.

re: #112 ploome hineni

..it is somthing difficult for gentiles to understand, the Judiasm does not believe that only JEws participate in the "world to come"

hey Im good on about 5 of those..mebbe I should reconsider!

re: #115 beachkatie

All you have to do is check when you church domain was started . Then check out what was deleted when it was started!

ok?

re: #118 ploome hineni

ya gotta give Elmer Fudd one thing...he's got big brass ones!

re: #111 paxnhymn

i don't need the Bishop of Rome. i know our commonality.

and he does not need you either.
"i don't need the Bishop of Rome. i know our commonality".
You say you were Rc for 30 years? I doubt that. Be that as it may, but if true, as a Rc, who are YOU to pass judgement on Pope Benedict? I thought so, look if Rc is not your cup of tea, the door was made for you. Please have a nice cold cup of stfu on the way out.

re: #123 ploome hineni

G-d created us in the image of HIS IMAGE

Are you sure?

re: #112 ploome hineni
Thank you, Ploome, for that lucid explanation. That clears up several things I have wondered about.

JWM

re: #114 acapesket123

Wow, you weren't kidding. But I would second Ploome's comment. Please feel welcome to join in the conversations. (We have some good ones!)

JWM

And now I must be off to bed. Be kind to one another! We're all in this thing together.....

/a blessed good night to you all, Lizards!

re: #132 ploome hineni

one last thing

Jews have a sort of 'golden rule' also

DO not do unto others, that which is abhorrent to you

think about the difference

Interesting. I have a copy of the Analects of Confucius. He phrases it in the negative as well.
(Wife is home. Gotta' go get dinner.) BBL

JWM

With muslims, there is no "inter-faith".

There is allah, islam and taqiyya.

As a public service I should point out that, if you haven't filed your tax return, now would be a good time to panic. :)

To Maine's Michael re : 125 post
I rest my case.
I am not as well versed as you all, so this is it for me.
I do know that there is a God and he loves me dearly.
I do know that lovely, warm hearted people are here on this planet now that are helping my family through life's journey, for that reason alone I am eternally grateful.
I try my best to help other fellow passengers through life's journey, just cause.
We all have been given a gift that is wonderous in that we have faith in WAY more freaking important elements of life than our lowly selves.
We need to remember that as a "Gang of Believers" we have a 1.5 billion strong Army of cultists lunatics that wish to kill us.
Our Churches don't mean bupkie..
but our collective faith does.

This is why I don't post.. it takes me a month of Sundays!

re: #143 acapesket123

I will wait a month of Sundays for eloquence.

Why, Thank you!
I just know that I am an Automatic thread killer!

Would you want to meet someone who hated you for things they thought you said? I wouldn't. But, naturally, the Muslim groups are the victims of a terrible shunning. Poor, poor Muslim groups... Why can't the Pope just kow-tow to them? Oh, that's right! He's not the Archbishop of Canterbury.

re: #145 acapesket123

Why, Thank you!
I just know that I am an Automatic thread killer!

A good thread can't be killed. It just runs out...as this one seems to be doing.

Chime in again, when you feel the urge. Don't worry about being a slow typist...and always remember Preview Is My Friend.

It has been a long day here in moneyland, so I am just going to say:

Viva il Papa!

Poop on the Muslim honchos who dissed the Pope.
Thanks to any Muslim honchos who didn't.
Fuck Bill Maher. Or, as Lenny Bruce would say, don't fuck Bill Maher.

Now - food! - a hot bath! Sleep! Thank GOD April 15th is out of the way.

If you were the Pope, wouldn't you be worried that one of the Muslims in the "private meeting" would try to kill you? The Pope is after all an old man who could be killed quickly without a weapon. Even if the murderer were caught and imprisoned he would be lionized throughout the Muslim world.

,,,more ceremonial than substantive” and his organization would not participate. He said he was disappointed that no time was made in the pope’s six-day trip for even a brief private meeting with U.S. Muslim leaders.

Catholic pope's first visit to USA, Islamists are made because he won't make time for a meeting? Talk about being self righteous delusional asses. My head hurts thinking about the idiocy of their demands.

Of course they are! Following the lead of their Islamist spokespersons. I suppose to them, the Pope is a more delusional infidel than most, and therefor deserving of some verbal abuse. The Islamists really don't realize how juvenile they sound.

re: #9 savage_nation

Muslims cant even talk to anyone in a civilized manner.

That's because, as barbarians, they find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to act as civilized people.

Nice contrast. Carter hugging murderous Hamas thugs while US Muslims won't even say hello to the Pope.

I'm not at my home computer so I can't drag up that post from True German Allay where he said that Benedict, when bishop of Munich (IIRC) said that islam was a "Sackgasse" (dead end street).

Maybe some other lizard saved that or could search it out and re-post it.

It is quite good.

re: #56 song_and_dance_man

I think he was refering to the gay Episcopalian bishop in New Hampshire when he made the "churches" remark. Many Episcopalians left their church over that issue so they probably would agree with the pope. It created a crisis in that denomination.

They refuse to sit in conference with His Holiness, Benedict XVI, because they are afraid of what he will say.

They know the words of The Pope carry unmatched moral and theological authority. By his words alone, Benedict XVI can unmask the malignant flaws inherent in Islam, and expose it to the world as evil.

Over 1 billion people believe that his voice mouths the actual word of God.

.

re: #61 eff plus

I'm reminded of this when I think about the number of violent conflicts currently going on that involve Muslims.

Islam sure does think itself important .

I find Islam to be more like a mosquito.

This thread illustrates exactly why I seldom post here any more.

With a few exceptions from some (viz., ojoe #155, who raises an interesting angle to the Papal visit and His Holiness' thinking on Islam- and which posted question I doubt will be answered by anyone posting here), the posts are variously off-topic, irrelevant and/or unlettered.

Charles is doing truly significant work with this blog, and all-too-many posting here are not worthy of the descriptor "Lizards". An intellectual "means test" ought to be imposed- I'm finding numerous ex-Lizards posting on any number of other blogs...

re: #160 Earl

Wut do u meen?

re: #160 Earl

Here's the referenced post, Earl:

True German Ally 4/20/05 8:57:37 am #179

From my conversations with him in the late 70s, when he was archbishop of Munich, I learned a few things about him:

1) That he hated the Nazis even during his short time in the Hitler Youth. He was a nominal member, but was exempted weeks after his compulsory joining because of his fragile health and studies in the Catholic seminary (many boys actually joined Catholic institutions to avoid service in the HJ.) His teen years had a lasting effect on him as he was able to see the difference between reality and what the Nazis taught. His love for truth and being truthful all the time stems from this early experience.

2) He was a progressive Catholic in his early year (played an important role at the 2nd Vaticanum), but the intolerance of 1968 made him change his mind. He abhorred communism and the carefree nihilist thinkings in these times and became a conservative, but not a reactionary, as many claim.

3) He saw the dangers of Islamic fanatism in the 70s already. Khomeini was a menetekel for him. At this time he didn't see Islam so much as a threat for Europe (yet), but for Asia and Africa.

4) He is more a friend of the Jews than most other Catholic priests. I remember him saying that Christians and Jews are on the same direction to salvation, just on different paths. Islam instead was an aberration that would lead humanity into a religious "dead end street" (Sackgasse was his exact word). He strongly favoured a rapprochement between the Catholic and Jewish faith, but didn't see any common ground between Christianity and Islam.
Latest proof of this was that he strongly supported John Paul II travel to Israel but did have a big headache about that voyage to Damascus. I doubt you'll see Benedict XVI visiting a mosque... ever. And he sees Turkey as a big religious threat to the judeochristian identity of Europe.

He may come across as the Great Inquisitor, but he has never refused discussion and arguments. He is firm on the "essentials" of the Catholic faith. The German Catholic professors he suspended clearly violated the essential principles of Catholicism. He is an extremely intelligent, bright personality... a bit shy with people though. He won't pretend to have the charisma of JPII.

And yes, I think, we'll see a few surprises from him in the next years. I had to chuckle when I heard the Chicoms demands today. Oh boy, they are messing with the wrong guy here.

Benedict of Nursia one restored the Christian faith in a devastated Europe. Commentators have focussed much on Benedict XV as the closest role model of Ratzinger. But I think he's much closer to Benedict XIV.

[Link: [Link: www.newadvent.org...]...]

And yes, he loved the "Apfelmaultaschen" (pasta made with potato flour, filled with apples and powder sugar and cinnamon on top) my wife prepared for him :-)

They look like this:
[Link: [Link: www.donau.de...]...]

I guess you won't find this detail on CNN :-)

Siddiqui is from the same mosque as Adam Gadahn, (terrorist convert...Orange County, CA).

Siddiqui is also a prominent member of the Islamic Society of North America.

What would anyone expect of this guy?

re: #13 Palandine

And the Church will be there after Islam goes the way of Aztec human sacrifice, Mr. Siddiqi.

Not even roman emperors could ever defeat christians and they were a civilization, go figure muslims.

“Popes come and go, but the church is there.”

The Pope certainly has better things to do than play pogo with pro-Israel Protestants - such as paving the way for a successor who is not a yelling antisemite. In the case Muzammil H. Siddiqi mentioned, those Protestants could be more relied upon than certain anti-Israel Catholics. As the saying goes, you go to heaven with the Church you have, not with the one you would like to have.

re: #91 paxnhymn

I know this is late in the thread, but...

What you are trying to do is to criticize. I can respect that. However, if you expect to get taken seriously while criticizing a high profile person or institution, you must do so reasonably, dispassionately and as objectively as you can make it.

This is the litmus test I apply to all criticism, no matter who it comes from or what it says. That's why when these self appointed representatives of the Muslim community criticize someone or some text or speech, I look at my litmus test and ask myself if they're being reasonable, dispassionate, and objective.

They fail the test. And so do you.