I don't think the pope apologized, either...

Submitted by J.S. (Canada), Sep 21, 2006 at 11:09

The pope has not apologized (in substance) for his lecture (nor should he). And the second point I'd like to make -- I don't think (as some in the press are suggesting) that the 14 centuray quotation (from a christian emperor to a Persian -- perhaps a sly reference to Ahmadinejad (?) was a "gaffe" or an "accident."

I think the pope chose the quotation with considered deliberation (no accident) -- the pope is too well educated and informed to have made an "error" -- perhaps he did not foresee the violence which would ensue -- but I think he may have been "testing the waters." Perhaps he was posing a question (can there be a dialogue?) and seeing what the response would be... perhaps even separating the violent extremists from the more moderate elements within Islam (?)

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