“Obama’s comments were criticized as ‘offensive,’ ‘wrongheaded’ and detached from present-day reality. Of course, it’s more politically acceptable to criticize the president then the pope – time will tell if Francis’ remarks draw a similar response.” Happy to oblige.

Gary: the Pope’s comments are offensive, wrongheaded, and detached from present-day reality. Where today are the Christians who are guilty of “ideological extremism” that moves them to “violent conflict, hatred and brutal atrocities”? Where are there mobs of Christian “extremists” lynching innocent Muslims for perceived “blasphemy,” turning mosques into churches, and forcing Muslims to submit to them and pay them a special tax?

There is an escalating Muslim persecution of Christians that makes the Pope’s moral equivalence at best, disastrously out of focus. At best. Do the suffering Christians not warrant any consideration at all? Any realistic discussion of what has happened and is happening to them? Does the Pope not have any responsibility to speak out realistically and honestly about them and why they are being persecuted?

Do those who say he does immediately by doing so put themselves outside of the Church? Are Catholics so in awe of his position they will not oppose him to his face when he stands condemned (cf. Galatians 2:11)? Do they really think God values blind sycophancy over standing for the truth even against the hierarchy?

A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms.”The remarks echo those delivered – albeit with more explicit historical references – by President Barack Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast in February.