At the outset, I wonder whether all of this diplomatic exercise, perhaps best evinced by the post and the comment above, is now academic given that there is an apology (irrespective of whether some quarters view it as insufficient) by Pope Benedict XVI.

Yet, there it is i.e. even with the apology made by the learned man himself, there still is a need to play down what MAY be implicit from the statement by pointing fingers at other factors eg. the speech was made in an academic setting or the media holds the blame. If that is done, then once again it becomes necessary to reconsider the purport of the Pope’s remarks.

Further to the above, whilst I am aware that YB Teresa has commented in Parliament that the Pope was merely advocating that reason has an important role in faith, I can’t say I agree that the Pope’s remarks is simply that. (See http://tinyurl.com/zbnpa) The learned gentleman, Pope Benedict XVI, did say a number of things, some explicit but some implicit.

Even so, I trust I can be forgiven if I do not expound what is implicit as YB Teresa’s post here has not set out the ‘true purport’ of the Pope’s remarks and shall leave that in the good hands of those who wish to reconsider the speech in light of this comment.