The Crusades

In the wake of the Holy Father's recent talk I would offer the following points to be meditated upon by those in the Muslim world still upset over the Crusades. First of all, the last crusade ended in 1204. That's right 802 years ago. I think it's time to get over it. Second, you won! Nobody likes a sore winner. Last, you really don't have the moral high ground on this. There's no question but that Muslim armies were a threat to the Christian world. After all, Muslim armies had destroyed Christian North Africa, including Hippo where St Augustine was Bishop and well as the churches founded by St Paul in Asia Minor and the great monastic communities in Egypt. Muslim armies also invaded and occupied Spain for quite a while and tried to attack the rest of Europe but were stopped. Attacks from the east continiued thereafter. If Muslims were the victim of lthe Crusades Christians were victims of the Muslim armies.