Cardinal tells BBC he hopes Pope's recent clarification will remove offence

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, told the BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme this morning that Pope Benedict XVI had not been trying to argue that there was a greater propensity to violence in Islam. He also said, in relation to Pope Benedict XVI's recent clarification of his speech given in Regensburg on 12 September: "I sincerely hope what Pope Benedict has said will diminish and take away any offence that has been taken and that moderate Islam, moderate Muslims, will, in fact, make sure that some of the more immoderate responses to his words will cease." Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor also pointed out that in his lecture, Pope Benedict XVI had been calling for a broader debate in Europe between faith and culture: " Because how can we have a dialogue, a good dialogue with Islam which links faith and life and politics and culture, totally inter-mingled", said Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, "if in Europe you actually separate them." The full interview can be heard at: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/