I'll say this for the Pope-he's got guts going to a place like this. What a contrast to those gutless Islamaniacs, who shoot priests and nuns from behind. This contrast alone should make any Muslim with half a brain switch to Christianity.

Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at November 2, 2006 9:15 AM

"The prime minister probably thought that by not meeting the pope he had one less problem during the electoral campaign."

Or maybe he just snubbed him for religious reasons.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen at November 2, 2006 9:18 AM

Ahead of papal visit, leading Turkish cleric says criticizing Islam threatens world peace

A clear threat. By the cleric.

see http://ummahnewslinks.com/

Posted by: FreeSpeech at November 2, 2006 9:35 AM

Let me get this straight... A left wing extremist is a communist agitator. So, what is a right wing extremist in Turkey? Does he advocate a monarchy or caliphate or what? It can be maddening how these terms are thrown around.

Posted by: Wild Bill at November 2, 2006 9:36 AM

Sorry, ummahnewslink to this particular news is here
http://tinyurl.com/y8gdrf

Posted by: FreeSpeech at November 2, 2006 9:38 AM

He just doesn't want to get caught in the cross-fire.

(God forbid.)

Posted by: Josephine at November 2, 2006 9:42 AM

Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not meet Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Turkey on 28 November-1 December to please extremists in the Muslim majority country in view of general elections in a year's time, said the president of Catholic bishops in Turkey, Ruggero Franceschini on Thursday

So the point of this papal visit is to accomplish exactly what?

John Paul kissed the quaran and declared that it was a "holy book" when he visited the Middle-East some years back.

What was accomplished by that stunt I'll never comprehend, but okay, its not my church leader.

In any case the symbolism attached to the papal office itself and the rejection of such a visit for the reasons offered is self-identifying.

I'll wager that even if Benedict copied John Paul by kissing a quaran and declaring it a "holy book," no possible good will come of it for either the Roman Church, or Western Chirstian Civilization (if it still exists.)

From the islamic position such a stunt will only be seen as an act of dhimmitude wherein the dhimmi, in this case the pope, would be demonstrating that he is indeed "made to feel subjucated" to the islamic masters.

So I wonder, has anyone ever heard of a mufti or islamic cleric kissing the New Testament and likewise declaring it a "holy book?"

Posted by: witness at November 2, 2006 11:06 AM

The Turks are playig to script. When benedict turns up in Turkey there will either be violent demonstrations against him or the violent suppression of demonstrations - perhaps both. Europeans will look on and think: "Cripes! We don't want that lot in the EU!" The only problem with the plan is that much of the European press will blame the Pope as the sole begetter of all the trouble. Only last week a particularly smarmy Oxbridge academic referred, on TV, to the Pope's 'gaffe or, to put it more politely, infelicity of phrasing,' He maintained that, because of past prejudice against Muslims, making strongly critical emarks about Islam was the equivelent of using the 'N-word.'

Posted by: wallyUK at November 2, 2006 12:32 PM

Benedict is light years ahead of Bush or Kerry in terms of comprehension of what is at stake with islam, and how to deal with it.

While supporting Christians in Turkey is admirable, I'm not sure that this papal visit will materially support them nor elevate their dhimmi status.

The European media will no doubt blame the pope is something happens, and will blame him if nothing occurs.

As far as the academic who opined "...because of past prejudice against Muslims, making strongly critical emarks about Islam was the equivelent of using the 'N-word'"; -- such mindsets are the weapons by which the whole of Europe will become islamitized.

Realizing this and the fact that at one point in history, the papacy was overcome by the islamic hoards occupying Rome and was little more than a dhimmi state; perhaps Benedict's visit to Turkey is really preparation for the future reality of an islamic Europe, wherein the Roman Church will be forced to reside?

One hopes not of course, but prudent planning begins with the current reality and Benedict knows it!

Posted by: witness at November 2, 2006 1:28 PM

http://ummahnewslinks.com/2006/11/02/turkey-muslim-vows-to-strangle-pope.aspx

For mo' mo-wackiness please see above! They are SOOO stooopid!! Lord have Mercy!

Their stupidity shall be their undoing when the chips are down.

They are as singleminded as they are dumb. They exhibit all the signs of dementia. A clinical analysis would allow but one conclusion: the islamic world as a whole -umma- needs to be de-programmed.

I sure hope the Pope won't defile himself by even touching that vile and hateful tract called the kloran.

I still hope to think that Pope John Paul realized his mistake by sucking up to those scumbags and they decided to get a tough guy in there to right the course. Much as we need to get rid of "Rummy".
I do hope the Vatgican is toughening up!! This trip to turkey will tell a lot.

The Pope would be well-advised to consider the effect of his actions on his flock and on the folks back home. A bit of intestinal fortitude might even serve to draw in younger people again ;-)

This will be a Papal visit I will follow very closely for the very first time in my life. I am sure turkey will reveal its ugly face to the world. Of course the Dhimmi media will try and spin spin spin....

Posted by: germaninamerica at November 2, 2006 2:55 PM

"Turkish PM not meeting pope"

the pope says thank you, I don't have to bear such lowlife scum next to me.

Turkey moves FAR away from europe...
Posted by: StillFedUp

And please do keep moving even FARTHER... don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Good bye turkey
Don't cry for us turkey
You aren't one of us.
You aren't good enough.

Don't cry for us turkey.
you are islamic.
you are so useless.
Your women are ugly

So please don't blame us.
When we have Christmas.
So happy without you.
Good bye turkey good bye

Posted by: germaninamerica at November 2, 2006 2:59 PM

Oh dear oh my Turkey has plans for Europe (the same kinds of plans they had for Northern Cyprus). My fellow freedom lovers like a an exmuslim Turkish friend of mine said: "Tureky is one revolutionary coup away from being a declared an Islamic Republic." Dont forget that all observant and informed Muslims want a return to the Caliphite and when that existed it was the Ottomons who ran the show. President Clinton (an idiots idiot) would pressure Europe to let Turkey join the EU knowing full well that a reborn Ottoman Empire with Islam at its center has always been at the heart of Turkish Nationalist feeling. Yes they love their Attaturk but if you think that they will accept that secular govt over Islam when push comes to shove then you really do not understand the Turkish or Islamic mind.

I like what americaningermany said:
"They are as singleminded as they are dumb. They exhibit all the signs of dementia. A clinical analysis would allow but one conclusion: the islamic world as a whole -umma- needs to be de-programmed."

And I would advise liberal thinkers not to forget Turkeys past if they think Turkey is different than say Saudi Arabia or Egypt!

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18154

Posted by: THE ALLIES SHALL WIN at November 2, 2006 3:39 PM

PS whatever the Pope does I hope he sticks to his courage of his convictions, God bless him . I like this Pope --I think he "gets it" --otherwise he would have never quoted a *gasp* 14th century Christian Byzantine emperor. The Byzantines never attacked Islamists the islamists started attacking them as soon as they reached the fringes of the Christian empire and even sent the emperor's "invitations to Islam". This Pope is very well educated he knows all about Islam Im sure.

Posted by: THE ALLIES SHALL WIN at November 2, 2006 3:53 PM

I could care less about what the pope does or says. He IS NOT a politician, he is pro-Palestinian and the entire world looks at him as if he were God.

What is interesting to me is that the Catholic faith believes everyone in the world should be Catholic, a belief shared by the Muslims. Only, the Muslims believe all infidels should become Muslim.

What is the Catholic church and the Muslims join forces? Awfully horrible thought.

Posted by: Lives - Get One at November 2, 2006 9:27 PM