Posted on 10/07/2006 10:51:02 AM PDT by Dan Evans
Another state-sponsored mosque is being constructed in France, where Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy took action for the reinterpretation of secularism.
With the support of the French state, Muslims, who previously congregated in various buildings for prayer, will now have mosques in downtown locales.
The construction of one mosque, Creteil Mosque, was commenced on Thursday night.
The mosque project proposed by Muslims living in Val-de-Marne of Paris three years ago was finally implemented with the support of the municipality.
When completed by 2008, it will be the first mosque with two domes and a minaret in the region.
The mosque will have a 2,000 person capacity.
Land for the mosque worth 4,000,000 euros was granted by the Creteil Municipality.
The municipality will also donate 1,000,000 euros during the construction process.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by French politicians as well as Christian and Jewish clerics.
Delivering a speech during the ceremony, city mayor Laurent Cathala provided remarkable insights on secularism and harmony.
The number of mosques is too few for the huge Muslim population in France, Cathala said recalling that immigrant Muslims, who have been sidelined by the dominant culture, could perceive the lack of mosques as another sign of exclusion.
Cathala further said that Muslim requests for mosques and cemeteries indicate their desire and willingness toward integration with and adaptation to the French society.
Recalling there was a noticeable lack of mosques in their region, Cathala noted that because Muslims did not have sufficient funds, the municipality had decided to provide funding for the construction of the mosque.
While the mosque construction coincides with the debates over the place of Islam in France, Cathala stressed that France is a country that can renew itself to embrace newcomers.
Cathala also reiterated the words of Gen. Lyautey, who spoke during the construction of the first French mosque in 1926.
Secularism lesson
Cathala expressed strong reaction to criticisms claiming he had violated the principle of secularism by allocating financial resources to the construction of the mosque.
Cathala noted that using secularism to disguise fear and the denial of diversity distorts the basic principle of the republic.
The law on secularism adopted in 1905 bans government funding for religious institutions. However, Cathala reminded that under the same law, the state must ensure equal opportunities to perform religious obligation to all citizens.
Stupid French-- mixing their own poison.
Five million in state funds to build a Mosque. Why? Because Muslims are poor and don't have the funds.
These French are so charitable to those who would cut off their heads.
God will not be mocked, (Gal. 6:7). When His institutions are thrown down by man He will allow our Enemy to come in and fill the void. There is no "middle ground" that exists between good and evil, it's one or the other, (Mathew 12:30 & Rev. 3:16). Every time we pass a low that further seperates our governments from God, the more we help evil. I hope and pray the former Christians of the West will wake up before it's too late. Our enemy is on fire with their faith while we have nearly lost ours, and this gives them a huge advantage over us.
Evidently, I'll have to be returned to the reeducation camp, because I don't understand this 'logic'.
And sooner or later they'll come running to us again to come get them out of a problem they caused.
EXCELLENT POINT!! I'm bookmarking this statement!
"...the huge Muslim population in France..."
Pretty much says it all, doesn't it?
I have been thinking about how le Catedral de Notre Dame will look with a minaret. And, will the Frenchies care. Maybe the Eiffel Tower could be moved?
I would say this would be sarcasm, but, then again.........
Oh, and BTW, I don't remember Hari Kiri as a French tradition. Could be a new craze.
reminds me of Churchill's caveat that they are feeding the crocodile in hopes he will eat them last.
Evidently, I'll have to be returned to the reeducation camp, because I don't understand this 'logic'.
Yes, it's difficult to understand how a french municipality can finance a mosque if the 1905's law totally bans it. To do this "miracle", you need a trick. And the trick, for the muslims, with the complicity of the municipality of course, is to declare the future mosque not as a religious building, but as a building for cultural activities. And so you can perfectly legally spend million of euros of local taxes to build a pseudo cultural centre with a magnificent minaret and golden domes. Isnt' it marvellous ?
I only hope someone near Creteil will be courageous enough to bring an action against the Creteil municipality as soon as possible.
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