Issue 145

Pope Causes Controversy, Tim Comments:

25th September 2006

With the Pontiff's recent citation during a speech having caused such controversy in recent weeks two of Waterfront's columnists outline their views on the reaction to what has turned out to be a PR disaster for the Vatican. Here is Tim's comment:
 

For another view, check out Abdullahi Arabo's comment.

Recently, we once again saw sections of the Islamic world explode in uproar as they took offence to a coverage in the western media. I speak, of course, of the furore surrounding a quotation used by Pope Benedict XVI in a speech he recently made to the University of Regensberg in Germany. The quote referenced a 14th Century Byzantine emperor who had associated the coming of Mohammed with the spread of religion by the sword. The Pope has since apologised for any offence caused, insisting that he, quite properly, has the deepest respect for Islam and its people.

The response to the comment was mixed. The western media seized upon it - it was immediately evident that it had the potential to cause trouble. By doing so the media inevitably provoked much of that trouble. In Pakistan, the parliament passed a measure condemning the Pope and the remark, while the Vatican embassy was summoned. Elsewhere, the Pope was burnt in effigy, surrounded by various other violent reactions.

Some of these reactions were measured. The Pakistani parliament is perfectly entitled to draft a motion condemning the words if it chooses to - that's what it is there for. Summoning the Vatican ambassador to give him a dressing down seems to me excessive, but it all amounts to a call for an apology, so fair enough.

What I fail to understand are the violent reactions to such things. It's not the first time we've seen such reactions, and it surely must be prevented. Western leaders should not be prevented from saying things on the assumption it will provoke violent reaction. I respect the right to protest and argue, but I don't respect the right to do so violently.

What is almost ironic is that the words complained of were not even those of the Pope himself. He used the quotation to illustrate a point actually contrary to the citation itself. Moreover, it was a couple of lines in a fifteen page speech, was not the point of his argument, and, as has been made clear on several occasions since the incident, were not his words.

This surely cannot continue. Yes, as a leader and as a global figure the Pope has a responsibility to choose his words carefully. He can't incite hatred, he can't threaten. It was probably a misjudgement to use the words he did, but surely an apology and a clarification should be sufficient to calm protest.

At some point, it must be asked, which is the greater crime? A misjudgement by a Western leader, albeit an intelligent learned one, or the offence caused by a mob calling for his death? Where is the criticism for these people?

The Muslim faith is not a violent one: in the vast, vast majority of cases they are an intelligent, sensitive people. Like any population, there is a radical section predisposed to violence - this is certainly not unique to Islam. In this country we need only look to the struggles in Ireland for our own example, or the snipers who attacked the US capital several years ago.

Where such violent protest appears however, regardless of the perceived insult that caused it, the countries where it takes place have a duty to restrain the violent minority with the rule of law and support the peaceful protest of the majority.

Tim Sculthorpe