By the Power of the Holy Spirit - Smite the Mohammedian Followers

Benny the 16th
Originally uploaded by Phalanx.

Apparently Benny the 16th set off a global row by quoting at 14th century text in which it was proclaimed -- "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

Now if that isn't a swift kick in the ass, then I don't know what is??!?!

Granted the way the most loud-mouthed Muslims in the Arab world have brought condemnation upon the entire religion of late, so this reactionary-right-wing send up isn't entirely without provocation. However, you have to be careful when insulting a religion -- especially when it's coming for a Catholic -- a group that is perhaps the most tainted and blood-stained of all religions in the history of the world. And the thing with Muslims is, they trip at the slightest slight of Islam... remember how they were TRIPPIN'! when a couple of political cartoons mocking Mohammed were published earlier this year!

The thing is you can't really flunk the Catholic Church for dropping incindiary bombs on so-called heathens, as that's been its M.O. for its entire existence.

What is crazy is that the Vatican OBVIOUSLy had people go over and over and over the speach, before it was given and they "didn't catch" the blast at Islam? Hard to believe. To top it off, Benny the 16th was supposed to be going to Turkey next week for some sort of state function -- not a smart move to keep that trip on the schedule. Although Pope Johnny P Deuce was shot and survived another 20 years, who's to say that Benny the 16th couldn't take a bullet and maintain the papal seat for another 5 or 10 years.

We'll see...