Posted on 07/20/2012 4:27:17 AM PDT by markomalley
Other countries’ propagation of a stricter form of Islam in Albania is causing tensions with Christians and with other Muslims, a charity leader says.
Peter Rettig, head of the South-East Europe Section of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, said that young imams trained in Turkey and Saudi Arabia are spreading “a different form of Islam from what is customary” in Albania. The countries are strongly promoting the building of Islamic schools.
“This is leading to tensions,” he told Aid to the Church in Need.
The Catholic charity’s project partners have reported incidents that are “not dramatic” but their number “shows a worrying trend,” Rettig said.
He noted other problems in the country, such as long-term development being threatened by widespread corruption and unclear property rights.
These problems affect Catholic Church projects. Chapels, churches and parish facilities cannot be built because of the unclear situation.
Albania has a variety of religions but statistics are unreliable and many individuals lack a basic knowledge of their faith.
About 60 percent of the 3.2 million people in Albania belong to Sunni Islam, while eight percent are Bektashi, a religion similar to Islamic Sufism.
Orthodox Christians comprise about 20 percent of the population while Catholics make up 10 percent.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
Stories like this should remind us of two things. One, our tyrannical government has sided exclusively with the moslems in the Balkans.
2nd, i know we all enjoy threads that bash Catholicism, and there are plenty of threads where Catholics bash protestants. We both better put aside the stupid insults and dire exortations that one sect join the other, and realize that together, we face true enemies in this world.
Our differences pale in comparison to what we face in our government and in islam.
Alas, where is Enver Hojxa when you need him?
Tell me about it. I heard that women in Albania walk around alone, without wearing space suits. Something’s gotta give.
Albanians perform a very valuable function in Europe. They make Gypsies look good.
Thanks markomalley.
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