This is a thread about Catholic liturgical practice. The phrase "facing east" is a vernacular rendition of the Latin "ad orientam", which has substantial theological underpinnings to do with the nature of the Mass in its essential sacrificial aspect and the role of the Catholic priest in it.
To quote St. Augustine: "When we rise to pray, we turn East, where heaven begins. And we do this not because God is there, as if He had moved away from the other directions on earth..., but rather to help us remember to turn our mind towards a higher order, that is, to God.". As another poster has previously pointed out, this is based on a passage in Matthew's Gospel.
Islam is a hybrid of teachings and practices taken from both Judaism and Christianity which predate it (as well as pagan novelties), so the fact that some Muslims on earth face east (towards Mecca) is entirely irrelevant to the subject. Muslims say God is merciful, too. Does that mean that invoking the mercy of God means we're closet Muslims?
Why even barge into a thread devoted to Catholic worship? Don't you have a rapture to catch, or something?
Rapture to catch? I hope!
No one barges into an open thread. That is the point.
***Why even barge into a thread devoted to Catholic worship? Don’t you have a rapture to catch, or something?***
Why? Because then she couldn’t play with her pompous, theological sling shot.