Posted on 10/10/2005 9:53:37 AM PDT by nickcarraway
VATICAN CITY -- A Roman Catholic bishop taking part in the Vatican synod criticized Muslim countries on Saturday for not allowing Christians to practice their faith.
Archbishop Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia cited the example of Ethiopian and Eritrean guest workers in Arab countries who he claimed were unable to practice their Christian faith.
He named Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the Gulf States in a speech to more than 240 bishops gathered at the Vatican to discuss the problems facing the Catholic Church worldwide.
"Before going to these Muslim countries, they are forced to change their Christian name to a Muslim one, and in particular, the women have to dress in Muslim clothing.
"Once they have reached their destination, they have their passports taken away and are subjected to every kind of abuse and oppression. In this situation many are forced to become Muslims," according to a text of the prelate's speech released to Italian journalists.
"They are forced to go to these Muslim countries because of poverty in their own countries and because other Christian countries are barred to them. "The right to profess their own religion is denied them," he said, including being able to go to mass and communion. "It's modern day religious persecution."
Muslims persecuting Christian!! I'm shocked to hear this. Even more, I'm shocked that a Catholic Cardinal would have the NERVE to buck the Vatican's historic and American Catholic Hierarchy's current public embrace of Muslim's.
Wow, who'd of thunk it? The reporter should get a pulitzer for this scoop.
"Vatican's historic...embrace of Muslims"?
Over centuries many Christians fought against the Muslims over the Holy Land - no embrace historically. Recently, yes - Vatican II emphasized dialogue and peacemaking and offering Christian charity, even to traditional enemies.
AND here in Ole Mexico, mountain communities led by fanatical Catholic Priests bar any Evangelicals to come to their town. Works both ways.
As well they should! If you "missionaries" were really missionaries, you would try to conver NON-Christians. The work you evangelicals do in Catholic countries is: (1) lazy; and (2) based on hatred of the Catholic religion, which you evangies willfully misunderstand.
Not to mention that these "fanatical" priests are nor preventing YOU from practicing your form of religion, but dutifully protecting their Catholic flock from the apostacy and heresy which you preach.
Evangelicals are supposed to evangelize - not poach other pastors' flocks.
And yet the EU is about to let Turkey into its crumbling bureacracy, which will open up even more doors to persecute Christians in Europe as Islam continues to grow exponentially there and militant, terror based Islam is exported.
Agreed. The reason, in my opinion, that there is a new Christian persecution is because of the division of Christians in the world today, the encroachment of irrelegion, and the spread of error-filled feel-good mumbo jumbo pentecostalism on the other. We have to get back to a muscular intellectual faith. This is the only way we can protect our Christian broghers.
Agreed. The reason, in my opinion, that there is a new Christian persecution is because of the division of Christians in the world today, the encroachment of irrelegion, and the spread of error-filled feel-good mumbo jumbo pentecostalism on the other. We have to get back to a muscular intellectual faith. This is the only way we can protect our Christian brothers.
I agree. Islam is an agressive,malignant,depraved socio/political system that seeks the destruction of all systems other than their own. Co-existence is not an option. The only options are to convert to Islam, slavery to Islam, death by Islam, or kill Islam. Pretty obvious choice.
The thing is, there are a lot of goats in every pastors flock. Poaching is permitted.
The ACLU has voiced support, "With these Christians, you've got to keep them from getting established. Next thing you know, your whole government would be overrun with them." < /sarcasm but not far off the mark >
I don't have a bit of problem with banning islam until islamic countries open up to Christians.
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