Many people wonder (or hope?) Pope Benedict will be to Islamofascism what Pope John Paul II was to communism.
Unfortunately, less than two months shy of his first full year as Pontiff, the Vatican (at least, IMHO) has not outrightly taken a solid, official stance on "how to deal with Islam": Vatican to Muslims: practice what you preach.
[...] "We must always stress our demand for reciprocity in political contacts with authorities in Islamic countries and, even more, in cultural contacts," Foreign Minister Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo told the daily Corriere della Sera.To state what most of us already know, like many Western entities, expecting such "reciprocity" presupposes such a concept can even exist in Islamic "civilization". There is no reciprocity --- only submission.Reciprocity -- allowing Christian minorities the same rights as Muslims generally have in Western countries, such as building houses of worship or practicing religion freely -- is at the heart of Vatican diplomacy toward Muslim states.
I realize this call for reciprocity may be originating from Pope Benedict's work entitled Dominus Iesus--in which he discussed the need for inter-faith dialogue and the mutual respect for all human dignity-- but this approach requires "the other faith" to meet you halfway at the table.
[...] As often happens at the Vatican, lower-level officials have been more outspoken than the Pope and his main aides.What kind of authentic Biblically sound foreign-policy platform can the Vatican develop towards the Muslim world?"Enough now with this turning the other cheek! It's our duty to protect ourselves," Monsignor Velasio De Paolis, secretary of the Vatican's supreme court, thundered in the daily La Stampa. Jesus told his followers to "turn the other cheek" when struck.
"The West has had relations with the Arab countries for half a century, mostly for oil, and has not been able to get the slightest concession on human rights," he said.
Bishop Rino Fisichella, head of one of the Roman universities that train young priests from around the world, told Corriere della Sera the Vatican should speak out more.
"Let's drop this diplomatic silence," said the rector of the Pontifical Lateran University. "We should put pressure on international organizations to make the societies and states in majority Muslim countries face up to their responsibilities."
"Enough now with this turning the other cheek!"???
"...drop this diplomatic silence"???
And do what?
The Vatican should stick to Christ's teachings and proclaim the Gospel.
Christ is the light of the world---and with the evil and darkness enveloping free nations in the name of the "religion of peace" --- we need Him now more than ever.
Cross-posted at Vince Aut Morire