Posted on 05/14/2004 10:11:07 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican warned Catholic women on Friday to think hard before marrying a Muslim and urged Muslims to show more respect for human rights, gender equality and democracy.
Calling women "the least protected member of the Muslim family," it spoke of the "bitter experience" western Catholics had with Muslim husbands, especially if they married outside the Islamic world and later moved to his country of origin.
The comments in a document about migrants around the world were preceded by remarks about points of agreement between Christians and Muslims but they seemed likely to fuel mistrust between the world's two largest religions.
The document said the Church discouraged marriages between believers in traditionally Catholic countries and non-Christian migrants.
It hoped Muslims would show "a growing awareness that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered."
When a Catholic woman and Muslim man wanted to marry, it said, "bitter experience teaches us that a particularly careful and in-depth preparation is called for."
It said one possible problem was with Muslim in-laws and advised future mothers that they must insist on Church policy that children born of a mixed marriage be baptized and brought up as Catholics.
If the marriage is registered in the consulate of a Muslim country, the document said, the Catholic must be careful not to sign a document or swear an oath including the shahada, the Islamic profession of faith, which would amount to converting.
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
The document highlighted the contrasting approaches the Vatican has taken in recent years toward Islam, which has emerged as a strong rival for souls, especially in Africa.
Pope John Paul has broken ground in dialogue with Muslims and even prayed in a mosque in Damascus. He won plaudits in the Muslim world for his strong opposition to the Iraq war.
But Vatican officials and leading Catholic prelates have expressed increasingly critical views about the spread of Islam and the challenge this poses for Catholicism.
The Vatican's top theologian, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, said earlier this week the West "no longer loves itself" and so was unable to respond to the challenge of Islam, which was growing because it expressed "greater spiritual energy."
The migration document also discouraged churches from letting non-Christians use their places of worship.
This issue arose last month when Muslims in Spain asked to be able to pray in Cordoba cathedral, which was once a mosque. A senior Vatican official said this would be "problematic."
Actually, just within the last year I saw "Not without my daughter" on TV. But I believe it was on something like USA or Lifetime. Not one of the traditional "alphabets." And YES, people should see this movie. Based on a true story. I had read the book, and it came pretty close to what actually happened, as I recall. Every thing was hunky dorry...then hubby got homesick for mother Islam and the burka babes and it was "over."
read later
"I saw this movie too, not on TV of course because it will NOT be played after 9-11.
It puts muslim men in a very bad and accurate light and I agree everyone should see it."
Actually, it was aired on the Bravo Channel not too long ago. I was surprised to see it while channel surfing.
There is no mosque in the boudnaries of Rome. It is in the suburb. Within Rome, no building can be taller than the Vatican.
The book was much better!
Islam is just a hoax.
But compare the life of Jesus to the life of Mohammed --- or with the lives of Moses or Abraham --- which one had a large harem with even 6 year old brides and the widows of men he murdered? Which one killed many people? Looking at the leader can tell you something about those who choose to follow him.
"duuuuh, there ARE Arab CHRISTIANS too,.."
Duuuuh, I know that!
"I have seen plenty of American women with broken mouths married to 'christian' Americans. This broad brush crap has got to stop on all sides."
True enough....but CHRISTIAN AMERICAN women HAVE RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY! It's against the law to assault anyone....but I don't see Arab Muslims fighting to stop those honor killings.
duuuuuh, ;-P then why did you ask it in such a way that you 'sif Arab necessarily means slammie.
First....I wasn't asking you the question.....second....I read too much into this woman's info about her husband....and third.....don't be in a such a hurry to slam someone who wasn't speaking to you.
I am not going to enter into a pissing contest with leymen educated by sinister propagandists. But I can offer up this story.
Mohammad saw one of his soldiers about to kill a civilian. Stopped the killer and asked: "Why are you putting him to the knife?" Answer: "He is a non-believer." Mohammad: "And so were you until not long ago."
Propagandists? Are you saying the 50 year old plus Mohammed didn't really take a 6 year old girl for a bride or have a very large harem which included widows of men he killed? Jesus never killed anyone, did not promote polygamy or sex with small girls --- and we're talking about the leaders. I know some individual Muslims are good people but who do they choose to follow? They might not lead the same life Mohammed led but they choose him.
>> CHRISTIAN AMERICAN women HAVE RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY!
Better yet, (just plain) women have rights in this country.
And even though they also have rights in this and other countries, they are abused due to the traditions of this or that circle.
The opression of the female gender is due to a fear by men of being dominated by them. It's got nothing to do with the essence of religion, even though reflected in the allegories and symbols here and there.. This fear reaches back to the early days of mankind. Once the subject of awe for bringing forth life in the lack of an understanding of the role of man in conception, women have lost their power only slowly over time. There are still remnants of this power present in society today, however discreet, in the form of "mother" earth, and the "virgin mother" Mary..
Women are making a comeback all over the world, yet only as slowly as they they became opressed. Be patient. There's an old Roman emperor who once said "Hurry slowly."
Marrying little girls was common in the middle ages in Europe as well, yet the marriage was not consummated until the girl had her period.
Mohammad cuts down the number of wives from 40 to four on the condition that the man should love each equally, which really suggests monogamy.
What the hell is wrong with killing if we do it everyday. We call it collateral damage. How many innocents have lost their lives in recent wars.
No I am not interested in a pissing contest with leymen educated by propagandists.
Good day.
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