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| Home Front: Culture Wars |
| How Will Rome Face Mecca? |
| 2006-04-06 |
| Excerpt: Pope John Paul II viewed Islam as a useful ally against Communism and secularism. Front Page Magazine's "The Vatican's Pro-Saddam Tilt?" also chronicled how the late pope sought to engage Islam to promote world peace through ecumenism, even at the expense of Christian minorities in Muslim nations. But Benedict XVI subtly announced a radical change from the outset. At his installation Mass, the new pope welcomed fellow Catholics, other Christians and Jews in his greeting, but not Muslims. Later, two selected speakers delivered intercessory prayers for oppressed Christians. One prayer was in Arabic. However, Benedict and his bishops must confront what French historian Alain Besancon called the "indulgent ecumenicism" that dominates the Christian response to Islam |
| Posted by:ed |
| #5 Face?... I had in mind more the other end, if you know what I mean. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-04-06 15:41 |
| #4 That proven capability is the reason that the Swiss are not permitted to be mercenaries, excepting serving in the Papal Guard. There are some centuries old treaties that bind the Swiss from letting their citizens serve in any other countries armies, the Swiss pikemen were the elite shock troops that all of Europe feared for a long time. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2006-04-06 15:15 |
| #3 I have no problem with a Vatican Swiss Guards manpower plus-up/transformation, ie., providing them a SOF and AC-130 capabilitly, MTT's, etc. Don't be fooled by the pike, XLG black beret and multi-coloured, Michelangelo designed uniform, they are very capable. Louis XI hired some of them as contractors and instructors for the French army as did the King of Spain. At the end of the 15th Century, with Charles VIII the Italian Wars began, the Swiss Guards were described by Italian historian Guicciardini, as "the nerve and hope of the army." In 1495 the life of the King of France was saved thanks to the immovable firmness of his Swiss foot-soldiers. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-06 12:08 |
| #2 Let's hope this Pope has as great and beneficent an impact on the world as the last. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-04-06 10:38 |
| #1 Coming fromthis Catholic, it looks like many parts of the Church have come awake and are realizing the threat of, and duplicity inherent in, fundamentalist Islam. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2006-04-06 10:32 |