Alex Update from David Manuel

As you know, last December, my co-steward of the Boston Noon Hour, Alex Canavan, was diagnosed with colon cancer. As it had recurred for the third time in the same place, the prognosis could not have been less promising.

We went into prayer. You prayed, we prayed, Alex prayed, we all prayed often with the laying on of hands.

From the beginning, Alex's faith never wavered; in fact, the further he went into the shadow valley, the firmer his faith became. God had told him, as He had told a number of us, that He was going to heal Alex, though it would be a long process.

When he went in for surgery at Mass General, the surgeon discovered that it was far worse than anticipated. There was a mass behind his sacrum at the base of his spine, where it had been hidden for years from the CAT scans. The doctors decided to shrink it as much as possible with focused radiation.

At the next Noon Hour, while Alex was in hospital, we came against the cancer with spiritual radiation, focusing with our prayers on all aspects of his healing. At the end of the hour, God gave me a word which I shrank back from declaring. It was too explicit, too extreme. But I checked it with Basil, who had gotten the same word.

So with more holy boldness than I really felt, I declared that Alex would be totally and completely healed, and that his healing would be one of many miracles associated with what God was about to do in Boston. Afterwards, Dick O came up to me and said that if I hadn't declared that word, he would have. Because he'd been given the exact same word.

Last Wednesday Alex attended the Noon Hour. He looked good and felt great. Leading the worship with gusto and exuberance, he was the old Alex and then some. But that night, the bleeding from his rectum, which had gone on for weeks, built to a crescendo. He was up all night with the heavy bleeding which continued into the morning. Though he refused to dwell on it, he began to wonder if this was the beginning of the end.

Later in the morning he got a call from an old friend out in Seattle, Ronnie Svenhards, whom he had not seen or heard from, since they were together at the world convention of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International fourteen years ago. Ronnie, who had been International Vice President of the FGBMFI, when Alex was an International Director, had learned of Alex's condition from Diane Scott, executive secretary to Demos Shakarian, the late founder of FGBFMI. She did not tell Ronnie the nature or location of Alex's cancer, only that it was life-threatening.

As Ronnie went into prayer for Alex, the Lord abruptly directed him to Mark 5:25-34 the account of the woman with the issue of blood, who had been suffering from it for twelve years. The moment she touched the hem of Jesus' garment, she was healed. After Ronnie finished reading it, the Lord told him to call Alex and tell him that the Lord was giving Alex that Scripture as a gift.

Alex thanked Ronnie, but several hours passed before he realized that he was no longer bleeding. Not a drop. It has not recurred and it has been six days.

Wisdom might dictate keeping silent for a season. Let's make sure the bleeding really has stopped. We don't want to get everyone's hopes up, only to have them dashed. Besides, if you hold up Alex as an example of God's miraculous healing power, you're only inviting the devil to take him down. And don't go overboard prophesying complete healing for him. If he dies, you'll look like a fool.

But that would be conventional wisdom. What we're dealing with here, and have been from the beginning, is highly unconventional wisdom. Supernatural wisdom. If Alex and I had been careful, if we had heeded the counsel of cautious friends, we would never have started the Noon Hour. What could be more ridiculous than to think that in the stressed-out marketplace, anyone would have time to give an hour in the middle of their busy day in the middle of the work week, to just come and pray.

Speaking for myself, I've already burned all my bridges behind me. If I turn out to be a false prophet, it will be a relief. (Nobody in their right mind would want to be a prophet.) Meantime, we'll just keep on keeping on. Here's what I heard in my heart, as I asked the Lord about all of this:

I want you to proclaim this far and wide. It is only part of the healing I am doing in your brother Alex, but it is an important part.

Should I put it out in an update?

Absolutely. Write with economy. Let the story tell itself, and I will do the highlighting, as each one reads it.

Grace me, Father. Do you have a word for the Noon Hour?

I do.

My children, gather close, for the time is drawing close. You have seen my hand on Alex. Soon you will soon see it on all of you. Not one heart that enters my temple on Wednesday will leave untouched.

Open your hearts to me, and from my heart I will give you more love than you have ever experienced. When you fell in love with me at the beginning of our walk together, you experienced a sense of awe and wonder, that the Creator of the Universe could care so much for one of His creations.

You are about to experience it again.

-David Manuel

A Shi'ite Muslim tells of Jesus appearing to him

We had an extraordinary event at the Noon Hour yesterday, thanks to a divine miscommunication and the kindness of Bob Weiner's wife Rose who shares his burden and ours for the coming Awakening in Boston. We heard the testimony of a Shi'ate Muslim from Iran, to whom Jesus appeared, and who, faced this supernatural but unshakable reality, gave his heart to Him.

We've all heard the stories "little more than rumors" of Jesus appearing to Muslims throughout the Middle East. We hoped they were true; our hearts told us they were. But I had actually met only one eleven years ago in a refugee camp in Croatia. Ruja was a badly-frightened young woman in Mostar at the height of the Bosnian War. On a night when the entire city was reeling under the shelling of Serb gunners on the surrounding mountains, the Lord appeared to her in her room.

She had been a cultural Muslim; she became a vibrant Christian. Kamran Yaraei, the very tall, very humble, very likeable young man who shared his story with us yesterday was no cultural Muslim. From childhood he had known God was real, and he had a deep love for Him. Islam was the only religion he knew, so of devout Muslims he became the most devout. He read the Koran faithfully and prayed five times a day. Year after year he poured out his heart to Allah, who never replied, never gave him the slightest indication that his prayers had been heard. Never returned his love.

Disheartened, Kamran came to America, to Atlanta, to become an actor. As it turned out, his acting coach was a deeply-committed Christian. She started challenging his faith. If he loved God so much, why was he angry at Him? "Because He doesn't love me back!" Maybe you should try praying to Jesus, the Son of God.."That's blasphemy!" Kamran exclaimed. "God is too holy to have a son!" She smiled. "The God I worship could not be more holy, and He does have a Son. Try talking to Him."

So Kamran told Jesus that he didn't believe in Him. But “ if He was whom his coach said He was, then he was willing to be convinced. A little while later, at the urging of his friend, he attended a big church in Atlanta. That Sunday there were several thousand people in the congregation. He was late arriving, so an usher took him to one of the only seats still available in the front row.

Soon the pastor was preaching up a storm, pacing back and forth in front of the congegation. And behind him there was another man, robed, with a rod in His hand. He, too, was walking back and forth. Then He came over to Kamran, touched his heart, and stepped inside of him. Instantly Kamran felt so much love, he could not move. He could not speak. All he could do was weep at the overwhelming love that Jesus had brought with Him. Love was all he had ever wished for from God, and now He had so much, it blew out all his receptors.

The rest of the story is charming and delightful and too long to go into here. (You can check out his website at holyspiritadventures.org.) Last night he spoke at Harvard, in the Law School, to some eighty students of all ethnic backgrounds. They were more than captivated; they were enthralled. He's speaking again at Harvard tomorrow night, and undoubtedly there will be a far greater number attending. Pray for him, as we did yesterday, for the Lord to mightily anoint him, for warrior angels to surround him, that all attempts of the enemy to challenge and disrupt be thwarted, and for God to be glorified.

Other news: Alex was with us and in fine fettle, leading the worship with gusto. Medically his situation has not improved, but he feels great, and his faith is through the roof. Keep praying for him. He has been receiving daily radiation for a week and the chemo starts today.

A number of you have asked about my workshops. Next Thursday and Friday, the 8th and 9th , at Gateway Christian Fellowship in West Haven, Connecticut, I'm doing a two-day distillation of the five-day workshop I lead each summer at Gordon Conwell Seminary (August 6-10 this year). And then on Saturday, the 11th , also at Gateway, I'm leading a day-long hearing God's voice workshop. If your spirit quickens to either (or both) of these, don't do as we so often do, and put off making up your mind till the last possible moment. Last year, so many came to the hearing God workshop that we had to turn people away. So call now to register [203-934-0880]. And remember, if God wants you there, guess who doesn't? Don't let the other one distract you with schedule conflicts and/or last-minute emergencies. A description of each workshop is attached.

Finally, Dick O. heard this in his heart this morning; You noticed how the maturity and strength of those there, are increasing weekly. That will continue until my call for Awakening sounds. You are all readying, although you will never be ready in your own strength. But you will be mighty warriors in My strength. Be still, and know that I am God. Listen to me and pray, pray, pray.

-David Manuel

Kitty O'Shea's Prayer Group - January 22, 2007

Five regulars gathered at Kitty’s to pray today.

After some catchup sharing, S encouraged us with his recent realization that all, even the most hardened, have the propensity to believe, and do in fact believe in something—they just choose to ignore the subject of belief which is trustworthy and true.

As we went to prayer, we asked that we would ourselves exercise our ‘muscles’ of belief and faith, even when we could not see things happening or changing, for example in the longed for revival in Boston. We asked that our ‘dry bones’ would live again.

We also prayed for one another in various needs and circumstances which we had shared at the beginning:

• K—for his team as they meet in Orlando this week
• For the upcoming Africa retreat prior to the National Prayer breakfast
• S —on his upcoming holiday to Costa Rica;
• D—for ongoing wisdom about adopting a third child, even though their decision has been postponed for now, and for wisdom as he considers how to expand his practice/company;
• T—for his work search, including recent promising discussions with Dick’s Carpenters’ Trust, for which we also prayed.

We also remembered to pray for and bless Kitty O Sheas, and held out the prospect that it might one day be filled with pray-ers.

January 19th Praise & Worship Service @ Tremont Temple

An invitation from Roberto Miranda Senior Pastor, Congregación León de Judá and Chairman of Covenant for New England:

Covenant for New England is inviting God's people from all over New England to gather at Tremont Temple on Friday, January 19, 2007 for a service of worship, intercession and proclamation of God’s Word. Our purpose is to continue promoting the unity of God’s people in this region, to clamor for a visitation of the Holy Spirit upon our spiritually dry land, and to continue pressing in toward the renewal of the Church in New England.

In times of dryness and scarcity, God calls us to gather and seek His face, to repent and mourn in the Spirit, and to call for His refreshing rain. In Joel 2:12 He declares:

“Even now, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” As we seek Him earnestly and collectively, He promises to respond and pour His blessings upon the land: “Then the Lord will be jealous for his land and take pity on his people. The Lord will reply to them: ‘I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, enough to satisfy you fully.’” (Joel 2:18) There is, of course, a spiritual dimension to this imagery. Grain, wine and oil have always been symbols of the blessings of God’s Spirit, His Word, joy and anointing.

The history of revival shows that when God’s people gather across denominational and geographic lines to seek His face in a sustained way, major blessing takes place. Covenant seeks to be an instrument to facilitate such gatherings in the future. We want to make these gatherings as meaningful and purposeful as possible. We want them to reflect the diversity of Christians in this region. They should be an opportunity for Christians of all denominational backgrounds to be refreshed, inspired and instructed on the dynamics of a Spirit-filled life, a life that is contagious and impacting.

If we covenant together, as God’s regional Church, to seek Him with all our heart until He pours the blessing that He intends, I believe that we will see major change in the spiritual condition of this land.

Please come on Friday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. to Tremont Temple and invite others. Pray that the Lord will pour out His blessing upon us that evening, and that we will all be refreshed and strengthened.

A note about parking: Limited validated parking is available at One Beacon Street. More reliable parking available at the Boston Common Underground Garage. Enter on Charles Street South. Directions to Tremont Temple

Kitty O'Shea's Prayer Group - January 8, 2007

Five regulars gathered at Kitty’s to pray today, joined by Theo who was originally from Cameroon and had visited the group once before. Andrea noted the frequent connection to Africa which came up in some way in the group; in prayer later, we asked God to reveal whether this had further meaning for any of us.

Kelly shared Jeremiah 29:11 as we went to prayer: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Kelley also felt a strong assurance of God’s love and acceptance of us all. For David, the future and a hope in Jeremiah linked to Paul’s placement of hope in the context of love in Romans 5:3-5: 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

As we pondered on the new year, we prayed for clean hands and pure hearts; and we asked that God enlarge our vision of him as he revealed his will to us. We recalled some of the images and pictures received in prayer last year of dams or levies bursting, and we invited God’s spirit to continue his work in Kittys, in Tremont Temple, Boston and surrounding areas, and to bring more healings.

We also prayed for one another in various needs and circumstances which we had shared at the beginning:

• T—for wisdom in his ongoing job search;
• D—for God’s grace and wisdom as he and his wife continue to work through the question of adopting a child;
• J—grateful for God’s provision and for the recent change in her mother, and praying for protection from a possible work-related health hazard discovered recently;
• K—thankful for provision of new support but seeking further;
• A—considering the implications of changing work circumstances.
• G—grateful for some work-related stability.

We remembered too those regulars who were not present today; and prayed for healing for A from Tremont Temple who has cancer.

A word for Alex - and all of us

Dear friends of the Noon Hour,

Our brother Alex is facing the prospect of major abdominal surgery before the end of the year. So Wednesday, as Basil and I drove to the Noon Hour, we felt the entire hour should be spent raising prayer for him.

It was a glorious time. We took Alex on and prayed the prayers God gave us to pray. The presence of the Lord was so strong, and continued so strong, that a lot of us just hung around together with Him for a good half-hour after the hour was over.

At the end, this word came:

My children, I am pleased with your heartfelt prayers and concern for your brother Alex. I have already begun the healing in him, both in his heart and in his nether regions. I am going to heal him completely and totally, and this will be one of the healing miracles associated with the Awakening I am bringing to Boston. So be of good cheer, and keep your brother in your prayers.

It's not soon anymore; it's already begun. Merry Christmas!

-David Manuel

Feel unloved? It's a lie!

When I awoke this morning, I was weighed down with discouragement. Nothing seemed to be working out. All our prayers, all our efforts -- all seemed in vain.

So I got with the Lord, who reminded me that weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. [Psalm 30:5] That helped. Then He gave me the names of friends with hearts for Revival who felt similarly discouraged, and called me to pray for them, right then, at that moment. That helped more.

Then our friend Madeleine emailed me a picture of the Noon Hour, and that really helped. And then the Lord called me to include here the Word He had given, at the previous Noon Hour -- the perfect antidote to the other's one poisonous lie that nothing you are doing or praying matters.

I love you, each one of you. In the stillness of the night, you will know my love. In the stress of the marketplace, you will know my love. In the suffering you endure for my sake, you will know my love. When the other one would have you believe that I have left you or forsaken you, there shall you suddenly know the depths of my love. So open your hearts right now, and let me fill them to overflowing with my love.

Join us tomorrow. Do your shopping before or after, write that report before or after, make that call before or after, but come -- and receive the greatest present He has to offer: His limitless, unfathomable, surprising love. And you can expect a time of healing right after the Noon Hour, for He seems to be taking us in that direction. Here's a word Alex received two days ago.

But I have come to give life abundantly, first in the preaching of my Gospel that produces eternal life in my people. One of the great signs that the Kingdom of God has drawn near, that salvation is for all who call upon my name, is the healing gifts that I shower upon my people. As I have mentioned before, I am interested in the restoration of the whole person, health to spirit, soul and body.

Need restoring? Come pray with us.

-David Manuel

The story of Squanto & the First Thanksgiving

Sam brought up the story of Squanto on Monday, as an example of the difficulties Christians often face in their walks of faith. Here was a Native American, literally, ripped from the New England shoreline for gain by unscrupulous European merchants, who, through a series of providential meetings, learns English (as well as Spanish), & converts to Christianity (when monks "buy" him, essentially freeing him).

"Estas libre (es-TAS LEE-bray)! You are free." Squanto looked into the clear eyes of this man of God. Though he knew no Spanish, he understood. Over the next few weeks he pieced it together. Their love for Jesus had prompted these Christian brothers to buy Indian slaves and teach them the Christian faith. As the monks nursed him back to health, Squanto began to love this Jesus, too.

Amazingly he makes his way home, only to discover more heartache. His people, including his family had been destroyed from disease. Alone, he found solace in a neighboring Rhode Island-based tribe, lead by Samoset. When the pilgrims arrived 6 months later, he'd been prepared to help these fellow Christians. What Satan meant for evil, the Lord had turned to good.

William Bradford, the colonists' governor, prayed: "Thank You, great God, for the bounty You have supplied to us. Thank You for protecting us in hardship and meeting all our needs. . . ." Towards the end of the long prayer, Squanto was startled to hear his own name. "And thank You for bringing to us the Indian Squanto, your own special instrument to save us from hunger and help us to establish our colony in this new land." Squanto stood proudly. It was a day to remember.

Two Fathers, Two Feasts

Excerpted from Max Lucado's Eye of the Storm:

I drove the family to Grandma’s last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab.

A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his.

A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. The fact that my pilgrims were all under the age of seven only enriched my learning experience.

As minutes rolled into hours and our car rolled through the hills, I began to realize that what I was saying to my kids had a familiar ring. I had heard it before—from God. All of a sudden, the car became a classroom. I realized that I was doing for a few hours what God has done for centuries: encouraging travelers who’d rather rest than ride.

I shared the idea with Denalyn. We began to discover similarities between the two journeys. Here are a few we noted.

In order to reach the destination, we have to say no to some requests.

Children have no concept of minutes or miles.

Children can’t envision the reward.

It’s worth it.

As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. Yesterday’s challenges were lost in today’s joy.

That’s what Paul meant. God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.

Remember this: God may not do what you want, but he will do what is right … and best. He’s the Father of forward motion. Trust him. He will get you home. And the trials of the trip will be lost in the joys of the feast.

Kitty O'Shea's Prayer Group - October 30, 2006

Ten regulars gathered at Kitty’s to pray today.

We met in the week of Halloween, mindful of the shadow cast by all the attention given to occult practices, especially in places like nearby Salem. However, we were encouraged by the news K brought of ministries like the Bridge which sought to use the gifts of the spirit to minister powerfully to people in that area. K’s children had also been encouraged and challenged by powerful prophetic words spoken into their lives during the preceding weekend. Also, we were blessed by M’s account of ministering freedom from oppression to a woman at the Greater Boston Healing Center last week; and A’s reminder from the Psalms of the God who turns the traps of the evil back on themselves.

D pictured the biblical account of the statue of the false Philistine God Dagon falling repeatedly before the ark of the true God (1 Samuel 5). We prayed with him that all would fall at the feet of the true God; and that his covenants would be respected; and that we would make wise and bold use of the authority given us as his people.

We specifically remembered:
That the people of Salem, and especially those drawn to the occult and to that area this week, would know the true prince of Peace, and receive freedom from the Prince of darkness.
That there would be economic alternatives which brought true prosperity to Salem, not based on its reputation.
Law enforcement agencies during the Halloween period.To ask forgiveness for times, like in the witchburnings, when we the church have taken matters into our own hands and not sought God’s word and ways.
J’s friend T who seemed to be taken in by certain practices, and for J as she continued to be a faithful friend to her.
D’s forthcoming work-related presentations over the next two weeks—and his concern that his words would not fall to be ground but be fruitful.

We also gave thanks for:
The woman healed by God through the prayers of M and her colleague
Success at work
The complete healing of D’s eyesight.

Kitty O'Shea's Prayer Group - October 23, 2006

Six regulars, with Ron, gathered at Kitty’s to pray today.

We met, remembering God’s sovereignty over the nations, prompted by S’s encounter with Vietnamese students during street evangelism in Cambridge; and the visit of an Uzbek pastor to Boston on a sabbatical; and over the city of Boston as well. We prayed for these students to be touched by the words on the Vietnamese language tracts which they read; and for the Uzbek pastor as he prepares to return to a nation in which persecution is growing. We prayed too for the forthcoming elections in this nation.

We lifted up the choice of new Police Commissioner in Boston; and again, prayed for Kitty’s, which seemed to be thriving with much noise and activity as we met.

We also gave thanks for:

• D’s successful eye operation;
• Provision in J’s existing work situation;
• The recent retreat with area pastors at which J. spoke;
• K’s children.

We specifically remembered:

• G. in the midst of intense work pressure
• D. who had attended previously
• Provision for K. in his new ministry.

President Bush sees Third Awakening

From Rich Lowry & Kate Kate O'Beirne's story @ National Review Online, Sep. 12, 2006
The President mentioned that he is struck by the number of people he meets who tell him they are praying for him. He jokingly noted, “Now maybe the only people who pray in America come to my events,” but he wonders if there is evidence of a Third Awakening saying, “It feels like it to me.” He talked about the two constituencies that faithfully supported President Lincoln, noting that he had recently read extensively about the former President and his own policies aren’t based on his insights (nor obviously does he consider himself another Lincoln). Bush explained that Lincoln’s strongest supporters were religious people from the Second Awakening “who saw life in terms of good and evil” and who agreed with Lincoln that slavery was evil, and the Union soldiers who Lincoln had “great affection and admiration for.”

About the current situation, he added, “A lot of people in America see this as a confrontation between good and evil, including me.” He kept coming back to how cultures change, both in America and overseas. “Cultures do change and ideological struggles are won.” “There was a stark change between the culture of the ‘50’s and the 60’s—boom—and I think there’s change happening here.” “It seems to me that there’s a Third Awakening.”

Joseph Ratzinger on the destiny of reason

(Abridged from the 10/2/06 Weekly Standard article, by Lee Harris)

Ratzinger is troubled that most educated people today appear to think that they know what they are talking about, even when they are talking about very difficult things, like reason and faith. Reason, they think, is modern reason. But, as Ratzinger notes, modern reason is a far more limited and narrow concept than the Greek notion of reason. The Greeks felt that they could reason about anything and everything--about the immortality of the soul, metempsychosis, the nature of God, the role of reason in the universe, and so on. Modern reason, from the time of Kant, has repudiated this kind of wild speculative reason. For modern reason, there is no point in even asking such questions, because there is no way of answering them scientifically. Modern reason, after Kant, became identified with what modern science does. Modern science uses mathematics and the empirical method to discover truths about which we can all be certain: Such truths are called scientific truths. It is the business of modern reason to severely limit its activity to the discovery of such truths, and to refrain from pure speculation.

Ratzinger, it must be stressed, has no trouble with the truths revealed by modern science. He welcomes them. He has no argument with Darwin or Einstein or Heisenberg. What disturbs him is the assumption that scientific reason is the only form of reason, and that whatever is not scientifically provable lies outside the universe of reason. According to Ratzinger, the results of this "modern self-limitation of reason" are twofold. First, "the human sciences, such as history, psychology, sociology, and philosophy, attempt to conform themselves to this canon of scientificity." Second, "by its very nature [the scientific] method excludes the question of God, making it appear an unscientific or pre-scientific question."

...Socrates hated the very thought of slavery--slavery to other men, slavery to mere opinions, slavery to fear, slavery to our own low desires, slavery to our own high ambitions. He believed that reason could liberate human beings from these various forms of slavery. Socrates would have protested against the very thought of a God who was delighted by forced conversions, or who was pleased when his worshipers proudly boasted that they were his slaves. He would have fought against those who teach that the universe is an uncaring thing, or who tell us that freedom is an illusion and our mind a phantom. Ultimately, perhaps, Socrates would have seen little to distinguish between those who bow down trembling before an irrational god and those who resign themselves before an utterly indifferent universe.

In his moving and heroic speech, Joseph Ratzinger has chosen to play the part of Socrates, not giving us dogmatic answers, but stinging us with provocative questions. Shall we abandon the lofty and noble conception of reason for which Socrates gave his life? Shall we delude ourselves into thinking that the life of reason can survive without courage and character? Shall we be content with lives we refuse to examine, because such examination requires us to ask questions for which science can give no definite answer? The destiny of reason will be determined by how we in the modern West answer these questions.

Pope Benedict Demands Reciprocity

(abridged from Captains Quarter's Blog, Sep. 26)

Pope Benedict XVI met with envoys from several Muslim nations today, greeting them warmly and emphasizing the need for dialogue between the faiths. He did not offer another apology for his remarks at Regensburg two weeks ago, but he did remind the envoys that they have not fulfilled their responsibilities in ensuring freedom of religious practice for Christians:

Pope Benedict XVI told Muslim diplomats Monday that ''our future'' depends on dialogue between Christians and Muslims, an attempt to ease relations strained by his recent remarks about Islam and violence.

The pontiff quoted from his predecessor, John Paul II, who had close relations with the Muslim world, when he described the need for ''reciprocity in all fields,'' including religious freedom. Benedict spoke in French to a roomful of diplomats from 21 countries and the Arab League in his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in the Alban Hills near Rome.

After his five-minute speech in a salon in the papal palace, Benedict greeted each envoy individually, clasping their hands warmly and chatting for a few moments with every one.

''The circumstances which have given risen to our gathering are well known,'' Benedict said, referring to his remarks on Islam in a Sept. 12 speech at Regensburg, Germany. He did not address those remarks at length. ...

Benedict cited John Paul II's statement that ''Respect and dialogue require reciprocity in all spheres,'' particularly religious freedom, a major issue for the Vatican in Saudi Arabia and other countries where non-Muslims cannot worship openly.

Defending reason, from David Warren online

There is more, far more, to be said about Pope Benedict’s speech at Universität Regensburg last week. It was an important statement, not only for Catholics. But what he said has almost dissolved in the international fracas over a quotation of a quotation, taken maliciously out of context. The Pope was speaking about the ground rules for “dialogue”, not only between Muslims and Catholics. He was saying that Reason -- let’s give that a capital letter -- was the only ground on which we could discuss anything, since in matters of Faith, we are bound to disagree. But even our respective beliefs may be examined in the light of reason, and must be, if our dialogue is not to be a sham, an imposture, a dissemblance, a cheat.

The first thing is to note that the speech was only obliquely about Islam. Angry Muslims who think it was all about them have been badly misinformed. The Pope was addressing the intellectuals of the West, through a fine old institution of higher education where he used to teach. He was offering a “Selbstkritik der modernen Vernunft” -- a critique “from within” of modern reason. He was very careful to take no article of Catholic faith for granted, to play by the rules of strict reason...

Tolerance applies only to persons, but never to truth…or principals. About these things we must be intolerant…right is right if nobody is right; and wrong is wrong if everybody is wrong. And in this day and age we need not a church that is right when the world is right, but a church that is right when the world is wrong.

-Bishop Fulton Sheen

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