THE PAPAL BLUNDER.

There has been a fair amount of sympathy for the Pope over the furore caused by reports of his address at Regensburg, when he cited the words of a C14 Byzantine emperor, condemning the works and deeds of the Prophet Mohammed as cruel and evil. Many Muslims seem highly sensitive to criticism, and protests erupted. What was more surprising was another part of the Papal statement, asserting that Christianity is based on logic and reason and indicating that Islam was not. Over many years Christian clergy, teachers and others have made the distinction between what can be proved by reason, logic and verifiable scientific method and what is beyond such proof, notably matters of belief or faith. What induced Joseph Ratzinger to depart from that orthodox viewpoint is bewildering. Selecting a quotation from a Byzantine ruler attacking Islam may have been his choice, but to try and contrast that faith with Christianity by claiming that the latter is different in being consistently reasoned and humane seems extraordinary.

It is good that he has now apologized for what many Muslims have seen as offensive, but the false argument remains, that one creed is categorized as enlightened, whereas the other is classed as arbitrary and brutal. In fact most religions have differing strengths and weaknesses and also contain much that is reasoned and logical, but in essence such belief systems are matters of faith, which are incapable of secular and demonstrable proof. It is true that in recent years there has been a great surge in the number of Muslims and their distribution across the world, to say nothing of their increasing fervour, all factors making them likely subjects of comment and concern. However, Joseph Ratzinger is the leader of 1.1 billion followers, and as such is believed to have the necessary political and diplomatic skills to match that commitment. They were unfortunately not displayed in the Regensburg lecture, and the impression remains, that he believes Christianity to be enlightened and logical, whereas Islam is arbitrary, perverse and, apparently, even cruel.

With all goodwill, it is not going to make the fostering of good relations between the world's assorted faiths any easier. It is to be hoped that Benedict XVI and those who think like him will realize once more the truth, so widely held, that most religions are matters of faith, which cannot be objectively and demonstrably proved or disproved. That surely is a prerequisite for seeking true peace and cooperation.

Michael B. Buck.