All of the respective merits and demerits of this argument notwithstanding, there’s something of a fiddling-while-Rome-burns aspect to the debate (I’m responding less to John than to various emailers).

Even if the Vatican was trying to suggest that the attacks on Israel were legitimate — which I do not believe — the sad part is that nobody who cares about the Pope’s opinion would translate that into a greenlight to commit more atrocities against Jews. The people who really dig blowing up Jews also like blowing-up non-Jewish Europeans, Arabs, Americans etc. I’m not saying that what the Pope says on these issues is irrelevant or unimportant, but arguing about who should be offended by a less than 100% comprehensive but otherwise categorical condemnation of terrorism is a bit of a distraction.

It’s a bit like looking for your car keys where the light is good. We know the Vatican is sensitive to such accusations, but largely powerless to affect those responsible. But since the Vatican will react while the actual enemy will only laugh we complain go where there’s some traction.