NZ groups at odds over Pope's speech

Two religious bodies in New Zealand are at odds over a recent speech by Pope Benedict XVI which has raised the hackles of Muslim leaders round the world.

The Pope sparked controversy on September 12 when he referred to the words of the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said the Prophet Muhammad commanded his followers "to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

In a speech to students at a German university, the Pontiff referred to "jihad" and "holy war", and said violence was incompatible with the nature of God.

The religious adviser for the International Muslim Association of New Zealand, Mohammed Amir, said the Pope was not creating good perceptions of the Islamic community and his remarks had upset Muslims. "We are working on peace, and trying to break down barriers, so this kind of comment will put these things behind."

Mr Amir said jihad was a misunderstood concept. "It is not a violent war. Jihad means 'struggling for justice'. The biggest type of jihad is the jihad of fighting against our own ego."

The Pontiff's remarks did not reflect the views of New Zealanders, Mr Amir said. "There is not anger [against Islam] in the community in that sense."

Catholic Communications spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said it was deeply saddening to Catholics that the Pope's comments had been taken out of context.

The speech was "a university discourse to theologians and philosophers", she said. "Here in New Zealand the Catholic Church has given and received support from our Islamic sisters and brothers, especially in matters where our respective faiths have been undermined."


Reader comments

Re: previous comment. It is extremely bizarre that you claim 14th Century Europe did not have glass. In-fact, glass was invented by Phoenicians (a Semitic group with no true, modern-day descendants) and was utilised by the Romans. In-fact, glass was used by the ancient Greeks in the 5th Century BC. Superior architecture? All Islamic architecture is based on Seljuk/Ottoman designs which themselves are essentially based on the Hagia Sophia, a Greek Byzantine church since looted and converted into the famous mosque of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople). Islamic groups retaining Greek philosophy? Umm, excuse me but Greek culture itself would not have survived had it not been for the ancient Romans. They had been studying and applying Greek philosphy and culture over 2000 years ago. Islam did not exist until the 7th century AD. You have completely ignored the fundamental starting point of the entire European/Western World: the Roman Empire. Your statements make absolutely no sense and have nothing to do with the issue at hand.
- - - posted 11.23am Sept 18 by Alfred Nottingham

Things the 14th century islamic world had and 14th Europe had not were glass, mathematics called algebra, superior architecture and the retainment of Greek Philosphy which formed the basis for the technological and scientific advance of the Western World.
- - - posted 9.07am Sept 18 by Art Zegelaar, Whangarei