No citation, how typical.
The Catholic news organization quoted was Zenit. I'm pretty sure you've heard of them.
The link provided will take you to the original. Here's the article in full that is found at the link - note the headline:
ISLAM CO-OPTING FATIMA
Iranian TV: Our Lady of Fatima is Really Fatima, Daughter of the Prophet MohammedVATICAN CITY, MAY 13 (ZENIT) - On October 23, 1995, Iranian television began running stories that the apparitions in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 were religious phenomena of Muslim origin.
Growing Muslim interest in the holy site is sparked by the Portuguese town's name: Fatima, which is Arabic. Portugal and Spain were both once under Islamic rule, and are the only such countries to ever break free from such a government.
According to historical accounts, in 1156 a battle was fought between Christian and Muslim forces in the locality. A Christian knight saved a young girl named Fatma (Fatima) from the dangers of the pitched battle. Later she converted to Christianity and married the knight, only to die shortly afterwards. In grief, the knight became a monk and the town was renamed Fatima in her honor.
According to Iranian Television, the woman who appeared to the three shepherd children in 1917 was not the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, but Fatima, the daughter of the prophet Mohammed, founder of Islam. Her message was reported to be "I am Fatima, daughter of the Prophet of Islam." This television report has helped launch the growing waves of Muslim pilgrims who have been visiting this Christian site in Portugal in recent years.
Catholics, on the other hand, say that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the three shepherd children. She told them to pray, especially encouraging the prayer of the Rosary. Lucía, the only surviving recipient of the vision, was entrusted with three "secrets," of which the third has never been made public. She recently assured that the third secret was never intended for general proclamation. Pope John Paul II has had a strong devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, especially since the failed assassination attempt of Ali Agca, which occurred precisely on May 13, 1991, the anniversary of the first vision at Fatima (May 13, 1917). ZA980513-3
Yes, we shouldn’t hesitate to confidently assert such authors are simply liars. All too often, Catholics do try to enter into dialog with servants of the devil, whether they are Muslims or Calvinists.
What’s amazing is that folks will continue to cite such bold-faced liars, without the slightest qualms that they are spreading lies. It seems that they rationalize that they disagree with Catholic apologists, so that makes Catholic apologists liars in their eyes, but the authors know that they are stating outright lies, not merely contestable conclusions.
Apparently, God’s word isn’t sufficient for these liars. They have to add lies on top of it, and then they presume that anyone who disagrees with them is hellbound for “rejecting the truth.”
What? You DON'T say that at least once during your Rosary...I'm shocked. (how does one indicate a strong rolling of the eyes?)
People have got to stop taking The Onion seriously. And people have to stop believing everything they find on the internet! Good grief....let's use our God given intellects!