Pope Benedict Gets Tough

Not more than a few days ago, I made the comment about the Pope and the lack of news coming from the Vatican recently. Needless to say, this is no longer an issue.

Last week, this Pope, Pope Benedict, quoted a 14th century passage about Islam and incited calls for his death from all over the world. While he has remarked that those were not his words, he did choose to use them. Pope Benedict was using someone else's words to only point out the obvious- threats, violence and terrorism are not the roots of any religion.

While critics will say the Pope John Paul was a better stateman and took time to visit 23 Muslim countries during his papacy, I think Pope Benedict left no doubt in anyone's mind that he is solid on the finer points of theology (as Pope John Paul's former theology watch dog) but is a bit of a bull in a china shop in terms of diplomacy. Critics would also have you believe that this rhetoric between the Vatican and Muslim leaders is a return to the Crusades. While the circumstances and the culture are completely different, I would suggest this is just a dramatic statement meant to invoke a larger conversation about a war of religions. This is not a war of religions, rather, this is a war on terrorists lead by islamo-fascists.

It is refreshing to find a leader other than President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, especially a religious leader, come to the conclusion that terrorism and sectarian violence are simply not acceptable. Not acceptable in the United States, not acceptable in Great Britain and not acceptable at the Vatican either.