Tancredo to pope: 'Hang in there'

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Controversy over the Pope’s recent statements about Islam spilled into Colorado politics on Wednesday, as Rep. Tom Tancredo urged the pontiff to "resist calls to apologize" and a Muslim congressional staff member accused Tancredo of throwing "fuel on the fire with his hateful words."

Tancredo, a Littleton Republican, sent a letter urging Pope Benedict XVI to stand his ground on a recent speech in which he quoted a 14th Century Byzantine Emperor who said, "Show me just what Mohammed 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."

"It is not surprising that your statements prompted such a visceral reaction in much of the Islamic world, where the free exercise of religion is largely proscribed," Tancredo wrote. "Conversion from Islam to any other religion is illegal. Punishment is swift and severe – in some cases death."

Tancredo was raised Roman Catholic but now is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He often has spoken about what he sees as a "clash of civilizations" between Islamic radicals and western societies.

Tancredo drew worldwide ire in 2005 when, in response to a hypothetical question, he told an interviewer that the United States could threaten to bomb the holy site of Mecca in the event of terrorist attacks.

In Wednesday’s letter, Tancredo cited four quotations from The Koran that he believes prove the point the Pope was making, including calls to "smite" unbelievers and "slay the idolaters wherever you find them."

But the letter drew an angry response from Nayyera Haq, the Muslim communications director for Rep. John Salazar. She stressed in an e-mail that she was speaking for herself and not her boss.

"As a man, Tom Tancredo has always been articulate in expressing his hatred of Islam and immigrants — no surprise there," Haq said. "In his arrogance, he chooses to disregard the existence of millions of law abiding Muslim American citizens. What is surprising is that as an elected representative, someone who should be working towards our collective safety, Tancredo chooses to throw more fuel on the fire with his hateful words."

"Tancredo is being irresponsible with his congressional authority and is knowingly creating a more dangerous environment for all of us. Congressman Tancredo should focus more on building bridges with the progressives in the Muslim world rather than burning the few bridges we have left."

A worldwide furor erupted after the pope’s initial speech Sept. 12 in his native Germany. On Sunday, he issued a statement saying he was "deeply sorry" for the angry reaction to his speech, which has included scattered violence around the world.

Many Muslim leaders have called for a more direct apology. The pope stopped short of that in a speech Wednesday, but he said his comments had been misunderstood and that he never intended to malign Islam.

Tancredo said he sent the letter to encourage the Pope to stand his ground.

"It’s sort of, ‘Hang in there, Pope,’" Tancredo said in an interview.

Still, he was not expecting a response.

"I can’t even get the head of the Department of Homeland Security to write me back," Tancredo said.