Posted on 05/09/2007 6:35:16 AM PDT by NYer
Milan - Milan's leading obstetric hospital was replacing its crucifixes with images of the Virgin Mary to avoid offending a growing number of Muslim patients, reports said Wednesday.
'Our wards have become multiethnic. We want to respect all religions and avoid any form of discrimination. That is why we have decided to replace the crucifix with the image of the Madonna, which is also appreciated by Muslim women,' daily La Repubblica quoted Mangiagalli's medical director, Basilio Tiso, as saying Wednesday.
Some 7,000 women give birth at the Mangiagalli each year. Of these, about 30 per cent are foreign immigrants, many of whom are not Catholic.
The head of Milan's Viale Jenner Islamic centre, Abdelhamid Shaari, welcomed the move, saying Mary was a figure that was also revered by Muslims.
'This is certainly a sign of respect for our religion that we greatly appreciate. But a white wall would have been even better. Italy is a secular state and children are angels in any religion,' Shaari told La Repubblica.
The representation of the cross on which Jesus died has become the subject of a heated debate in Italy in recent years as Muslim groups and non-Christians seek its removal from the walls of public buildings.
Although church and state are officially separated in Italy, a 1923 regulation issued during Benito Mussolini's Fascist rule and never repealed states that a symbol of the crucifix should hang in every classroom and courtroom in the country.
Officials at the Mangiagalli hospital plan to replace all crucifixes within the next few months. However, patients will still be able to have a crucifix hanging in their room if they ask for one.
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
Neither am I in a bowing mood. Getting back to Mary, think that in a public place, Mary is wonderful because she is so widely revered.
I would not be offended by a religious symbol. I am offended that millions of people favor the death of Christians and Jews by some of their fellow death-cult members.
I totally agree. It ticks me off when we capitulate to them because they may be offended. Screw them! They should expect to see a crucifix when they’re in a Cahtolic hospital, church, university, etc. If they don’t like it they should go somewhere else. We need to quit giving in to them.
I’m not even Catholic, but this pisses me off royally. Muslims need to leave western countries and return to that toilet they call the Middle East.
I am pretty much over the appease the Muslims crap!
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Kissing the butts of Islam again. What’s next????
“Getting back to Mary, think that in a public place, Mary is wonderful because she is so widely revered.”
Yep...but the crucifix shouldn’t have been taken down.
We don’t count...heretics, you know.
Yes, it is.
Muslims also use the example of the Virgin Mary to encourage Christians to accept the hijab.
Egyptian Christians Defend Headscarf
The mother of Fayza Awad, a Christian student, asserted that herself and her daughter were modeling themselves after Virgin Marry. "I wear a headscarf because Virgin Mary covered her hair. This is all about respect and there is no compulsion."
Hey, you do learn something new everyday.
Thanks for posting that.
“Or how about a mirror so we each can be reminded of our real god.”
I like the mirror idea. And it really does reflect (pun intended) the culture’s current philosophy on who to worship.
Maybe the Muslims will not be offended, but I think The Blessed Mother will take offense at the insult to her Son.
OK, then who is the woman in Revelation 17?
Wow, I never knew that. Thanks for the info.
” I think The Blessed Mother will take offense at the insult to her Son.’
What will she do about it, though? Cancel her next appearance near the storm drain of Nuevo Laredo’s airport overpass?
The woman represents Israel. It’s a prophetic word.
OR if you’re an atheist, put nothing on the walls.
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