And while the Turkish Muslims might want him dead, I’m sure they don’t want it to happen on their soil. After all that would surely put an end to their EU membership aspirations….

While I am no longer a Catholic…

My brother is studying to become a priest. He just flew back from Rome to due some work in the States.

His spritual advisor is heading to Turkey with the the Pope and is worried. Frankly the Vatican is worried about the Popes trip to Turkey.

Rome is aware of “Islamic Jihad”

As a scholar — and as “Ratzinger”, he *WAS* a university professor for some years — he’s not speaking “ex cathedra”. He’s speaking as a writer with whom anyone can dispute…and, from what I’ve heard, you’d be advised to bring your lunch. This guy’s sharp.

…and get a good night’s sleep. And pray. ;-)

No, Islam is NOT a Religion of Peace!

No, there is no place for “separation of church and state” in the Muslim world! The Islamic faith and the Islamic law are interconnected. It is a theo-political entity, in which the theology and the law are connected.

Furthermore, our own constitution, the first amendment, does NOT endorse separation of church and state. It clarifies that the government many not establish a state mandated religion, and that the state may not prohibit the free practice of religion, even among government officials in government buildings!

How far have we come from reality?

William

It has zero credibility with people who think it has zero credibility. you have to be ‘devoutly’catholic to understand

btw, i wasn’t offended ;) — mainmann

…the whole 1st Vatican Council thing had sparks flying off of the Church for quite some time.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992)
PART ONE/SECTION TWO/CHAPTER THREE/ARTICLE 9/Paragraph 4/subparagraph 891:
“The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful – who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals….”

So, so’s there isn’t any question “(w)hen the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine ‘for belief as being divinely revealed,’ and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions ‘must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.’”

…not bad for a Presbyterian, no?

I’d bet that there’re pastors out there in Protestant land who’d *LOVE* to shut down a troublesome elder, deacon or elderly church matron just *ONCE* in their ministry by playing to “infallibility card”…and it’s great that none of ‘em can.

When the Pope speaks “ex cathedra” (from the throne) on matters of doctrine concerning faith and morals, what he says goes. It doesn’t play well among most Americans, most Protestants, and especially among Calvinists. Still, taken *IN CONTEXT*, all he’s doing is sort of exercising the “buck stops here” option.

As a scholar — and as “Ratzinger”, he *WAS* a university professor for some years — he’s not speaking “ex cathedra”. He’s speaking as a writer with whom anyone can dispute…and, from what I’ve heard, you’d be advised to bring your lunch. This guy’s sharp.

Credit where it’s due.

Sorry to offend Roman Catholics, but Papal Infallibility has precisely zero credibility with me (even when properly invoked…..

It has zero credibility with people who think it has zero credibility. you have to be ‘devoutly’catholic to understand

btw, i wasn’t offended ;)

I doubt he’ll do anything dramatic, but then, this is a guy who likes to surprise people.

Well, although i’ve not read the book, but the article by the telegraph is a little dramatic. Papal infalibility is narrowly defined to only include matters of faith and doctrine, not researched history.

Like is said i haven’t read the book, but it might contain some of the ‘inspired’ writing by Anne Emmerich. Hopefully i made sense here

This assumes, of course, that religions do not seek to exercise direct political power, as that is not their province, and it also assumes that they utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of religion.

Apparently, His Holiness has not read the Koran.

“Don’t get blown up” is also good advice. It’s sort of like the “don’t pick up the soap” advice given to guys new to jail.

What a state the world is in when we need the Pope to argue for the separation of church and state.

Great point! I’m sure the major papers and politicians will be all over the irony of this … or not.