From WRAL.com:
Relatives of a beheaded Iraqi priest said his captors had demanded a church apology for recent papal comments about Islam.
They said the Orthodox priest was abducted Sunday by an unidentified group, which demanded a ransom. The kidnappers also wanted the priest’s church to condemn controversial recent remarks by Pope Benedict. In a speech last month, the pope quoted a medieval text describing Islam as a religion spread by the sword.
The relatives said the priest’s church had already posted signs condemning the pope’s statement. A similar message was posted again after the abduction.
The priest’s son had apparently been talking with the kidnappers by phone, and had agreed to pay a $40,000 ransom. But contact abruptly ceased Tuesday night. The priest’s decapitated body was found Wednesday in the northern Iraq city of Mosul.
Since the start of the Muslim holy month, U.S. officials in Baghdad said the number of attacks there is up by 15 percent.
Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said Ramadan “historically” brings more violence. And Caldwell warned that the military is assuming “it will still get worse before it gets better.” He’s anticipating a continued increase in violence over the next two weeks, until the holy month ends.
The Pope quoted a medieval text describing Islam as a religion spread by the sword. A local church offered repeated apologies – and appeasement – all to no avail. So in response what do Mohammad’s followers do? They cut the head off a Christian priest. And they do so during Islam’s most holy month.
And they call Islam The Religion of Peace™.
Yes, we are in the middle of World War III: Civilization Against Militant Islam.
