Pope asks Karzai to spare convert

[sabra]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1600931.htm

Pope asks Karzai to spare convert

Pope Benedict has written to Afghan President Hamid Karzai asking that charges be dropped against a man facing a possible death sentence for converting from Islam to Christianity.

The appeal has been in the Pope's name by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

The Cardinal says the Pope's appeal is inspired by "profound human compassion" and by the "firm belief in the dignity of human life and by respect for every person's freedom of conscience and religion".

...

"I am certain, Mr President, that the dropping of the case against Mr Rahman would bestow great honour upon the Afghan people and would raise a chorus of admiration in the international community," the letter said.

[sui generis]

1. it's too bad the pope didn't ask the Iranians to spare

gay teenage boys from torture and hanging, and young women from being stoned to death for the crime of being raped. It's too bad only religion qualifies the involvement of the pope - to merely ask for this one life to be spared, and not to change the system for everyone.

If the pope wants to make a difference he should ask a meeting with the clerics who codemn apostasy to death and talk about how another prophet's followers have found enrichment in allowing diversity.

Ah, but that would be a lie, wouldn't it.

[movonne]

2. I'm sure they could care less what the pope has to say...after all

don't they want to kill a Christian...

[Malva Zebrina]

3. If people are responsible for "converting" muslims, knowing the law

that forbids apostasy amongst Muslims, then they are in some way also responsible, in their zeal to convert, for the deaths of those who go over to Christiantiy. this is the religous law that these Muslims live with, indeed are born into and many sincerely believe in their religion.

Missionaries and the like, who cajole, tempt and gleefully distribute bibles as a measure of their "faith" (the number of bibles distributed is important to them and they brag about that)to these people are indeed,imo, reponsible for the plight of the Muslim whose child is found to have a bible in his possession. It is the father of that child who will be killed.

[acmavm]

4. Not trying to be offensive because I'm a believer (not the Monkee's

kind), anyway, does that mean we aren't going to preach that everyone who isn't Christian automatically goes to a hot fiery afterlife? Is everyone (as in the words of Rodney King, sort of) all going to get along now?

[cliss]

5. I'm sure Hamid "puppet" Karzai

got the letter. He's just finished reading it. He's trying to decide what to do. Let the man go free? And risk a civil war.

Or let him be put to death, and risk George Bush's wrath.

Let's see....which is worse? He thinks carefully about his options. As he sips his tea, he asks his advisors what they would do. No question about it.

It's a case of the "devil closer than the devil far away".

[LynnTheDem]

6. WHY is no media pointing out the FACT that BUSH has killed a lot of

innocent Afghani men, women & kids for his bullshit "democracy" crap, and things are AS BAD OR WORSE than ever in Afghanistan???

Just as the Iraqis are WORSE OFF NOW than they were under Hussein.

How is wanting to execute a man for conveting to Christianity equal to "Afghanistan a success"???!!