Tancredo urges pope to stand his ground

M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 21, 2006 at midnight

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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 is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He has spoken about what he sees as a "clash of civilizations" between Islamic radicals and Western societies. He drew worldwide ire in 2005 when, in response to a hypothetical question, he told an interviewer that the U.S. 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 Quran that he believes prove the point the pope was making, including calls to "smite" unbelievers and "slay the idolaters wherever you find them."

The letter drew an angry response from Nayyera Haq, communications director for Rep. John Salazar. Haq, who is Muslim, stressed in an e-mail that she was speaking for herself and not for 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."

Many Muslim leaders have called for the pope to make a more direct apology.

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