But he didn’t bring up the Crusades so it’s all good
by digby
Gary Emerling of US News and World Report noticed a similarity between the Pope’s address this morning and a speech by Obama that was harshly criticized by conservatives when he gave it:
Many of his comments were lightly delivered and unlikely to elicit much controversy, though the reaction might be different if they were given by another world leader.
Case in point: Toward the beginning of his address, Francis alluded to religious extremism, noting that “no religion is immune” from it. His full quote as prepared for delivery:
“Our world is increasingly a place of violent conflict, hatred and brutal atrocities, committed even in the name of God and of religion. We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism. This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind. A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms.”
The remarks echo those delivered – albeit with more explicit historical references – by President Barack Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast in February.
“Lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ … So this is not unique to one group or one religion. There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith.”
Obama’s comments were criticized as “offensive,” “wrongheaded” and detached from present-day reality. Of course, it’s more politically acceptable to criticize the president then the pope – time will tell if Francis’ remarks draw a similar response.
Actually, the right wing is furious with this pope and is having no problem criticizing him. But I did note that on Fox’s “Outnumbered” this morning they were simply saying the Pope was obviously talking about Islam and left it at that.
The idea that all religions have the capacity to be barbaric in the name of God is indisputable. Not that right wingers care. In fact, they don’t even care about religion, unless it’s a useful tool for their ideology. That point has become obvious over the past few days as we’ve seen them trashing the Pope like he was the fourth Dixie Chick.
Update: Haha. The White House tweeted this story out:
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