Benedict the Bold

I've made no secret of my repulsion to Papa Ratzinger. Nevertheless, I have to say that I'm growing a fond respect for the old codger. For one thing, I respect his intellectual take on religion. He's obviously a brilliant thinker and master reasoner. This, I applaud. However, it makes one question his commitment to logic and respect of free will that he's so fond of coercing the faithful to accepting his dogma or not receiving the sacraments. Nevertheless, I think that his recent homily on Islam is striking in a good way. I regret some of his quotations from Empror Paleologus saying that the only thing new that Mohammed offered was blood. Still, no one in recent memory has offered such a scathing denunciation of the suppression and bloodlust that characterizes fundamentalist Islam. His condemnation of jihad and praise of reason are some of the most thoughtful words to come out of the Vatican in some time. Mmmm. More please. If only the Democrats could speak with such conviction.