Pope publishes annoted version of his Regensburg address (+ commentary)

CWNews:

Oct. 09 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI has produced an annotated version of the speech that he delivered in Regensburg on September 12, in an effort to clarify his intent.

In comments that he includes as footnotes to the annotated text, now available on the Vatican web site, the Pontiff affirms his respect for Muslims, and emphasizes that a quote from Emperor Manuel II Paelologus was not intended as an affront to Islam.

Let me fast-forward to the important annotation:

Where the Pope quoted Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus as saying "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached," the Pope has now added the following comment:

"In the Muslim world, this quotation has unfortunately been taken as an expression of my personal position, thus arousing understandable indignation. I hope that the reader of my text can see immediately that this sentence does not express my personal view of the Qur’an, for which I have the respect due to the holy book of a great religion. In quoting the text of the Emperor Manuel II, I intended solely to draw out the essential relationship between faith and reason. On this point I am in agreement with Manuel II, but without endorsing his polemic."

There are other annotations, but I think it's obvious that this clarification is the only reason the entire project was undertaken. Sadly, it appears to be nothing but more retreating to Muslim pressure. But if the Pope's comment aroused "understandable indignation" it certainly didn't arouse the extreme overreaction it received. And actually, I don't believe that the Pope's comment even warrented "understandable indignation." You have no right to be indignant if it was your inability to understand a quotation that caused your reaction.

As for the Pope saying he has "the respect due to the holy book of a great religion," well, for all intents and purposes that is a practically meaningless sentiment. I can't see that kind of general statement swaying anyone. So why try to accomodate unreasonable individuals with language that won't appease them and will instead only serve to weaken the truths that you have tried to reveal about Islam and violence?

Half-apologies, after all, never help anything. Especially when you have nothing to apologize for in the first place.

[photo: Associated Press]