Norway terrorist suspect denounces Benedict XVI in online manifesto

Rome, Italy, Jul 27, 2011 / 15:55 pm

An extensive online book written by Anders Behring Breivik criticizes Pope Benedict XVI for defending the rights of immigrants, especially Muslims.

In his manifesto, “2083—European Declaration of Independence,” Breivik calls Benedict XVI “God’s Rottweiler,” and accuses him of “embodying elements of the sensible and the silly Christian ways of treating the Islamic threat.

“Although Benedict has stressed the need for 'reciprocity' in Christian-Muslim relations and urged Islamic countries to ensure religious rights for Christian migrants, he has also said that Christians should continue welcoming Muslim immigrants with open arms,” Brievik wrote.

Breivik was arrested for detonating a car bomb at the government headquarters in downtown Oslo on July 22. That attack took the lives of eight people and injured many more.

Hours later he appeared at a youth camp for the children of the political Labour Party on Utoya Island. Dressed as a police officer, he began a shooting spree that killed 68.

Massimo Introvigne, a sociologist and representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, recently spoke with Vatican Radio and responded to reports labeling Breivik as a fundamentalist Christian.

Introvigne said it was ironic that Breivik’s book was posted online by a minister of the “Church of Satan,” which is legally recognized in Norway. He added that Breivik, who was baptized in the Lutheran Church of Norway, is not a fundamentalist Christian, but rather a ‘cultural Christian’ who uses the Christian heritage of Europe as a pretext for attacking Islam.”

The sociologist also pointed out that Breivik belongs to the Grand Masonic Lodge of Norway.