[Editor’s Note: This letter is in response to Mark Shea’s article Cursed Are the Peacemakers.]
Dear Mark,
Perhaps the good Cardinal doesn't realize that his brief, but very public proclamation, much like the well publicized John Paul II Koran kiss, truly disturbs and offends many faithful, well-informed Catholics, and sends a vague, often misleading message to everyone else.
Like the John Paul II incident, it's not what he actually says or does, but what he fails to adequately explain and qualify, that causes the problem.
With just a little more thought, and a little more sensitivity to the needs and concerns of Catholics, the Cardinal could have achieved his objective without offending anyone.
They've been known to do things like that in Washington, from time to time. It's called diplomacy.
Peace!
Larry Douglas
Just Another Faithful Catholic
Dear Larry,
On the other hand, with just a little more effort, faithful, well-informed Catholics could learn what the Church actually teaches about Islam and our theological relationship to it and discover that the Cardinal said nothing wrong at all. They might even show a little gratitude that a Muslim king undertook to answer Benedict's call for reasonable Muslims to cooperate in the quest to oppose Radical Islam.
Sincerely,
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
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