Posted on 05/26/2007 1:20:45 PM PDT by Chi-townChief
A packed house welcomed Minister Louis Farrakhan to St. Sabina Catholic Church on Friday night with a standing ovation and cheers for his health.
The 74-year-old provocative Nation of Islam leader, who has endured a series of health setbacks, didn't speak from the Quran but from the Bible.
"Even though I am a Muslim -- I don't apologize for that -- I'm also a Christian," he told the crowd at 1210 W. 78th Pl. "Islam considers the Bible a sacred book."
"A good Muslim is a Christian, and a good Christian is a Muslim," he added later, stressing the common aspects of the faiths. "Whenever Christ's name is mentioned, I feel at home."
Farrakhan flashed a wide smile as he entered the sanctuary alongside his friend, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of the church.
A few months ago, Pfleger was at Farrakhan's bedside as he recovered from surgery. Farrakhan promised to speak at the church, as he has done many times before.
"Tonight, we're celebrating a healed man," said Pfleger, who called Farrakhan "one of the most prophetic voices of our times."
Farrakhan only occasionally looked at his notes. As usual, he peppered his talk with humor and frankness on topics such as women, sex and race.
"I feel very honored that the media is struck by my being in a Catholic church with a white pastor," he said. "But in truth, we would not have to talk about color if color were not made something to talk about."
Farrakhan last spoke publically on Mother's Day at his headquarters, Mosque Maryam, 7351 S. Stony Island Ave. He thanked Allah for "giving me life beyond my wrestling with death."
shogan@suntimes.com
I think all these flakes end up with the Moonies sooner or later.
Which, of course, makes him an observant Jew, as well.
I accept the books of the Torah, the Old Testament, as well as the revelations of the New Testament, as the revealed word of God.
I do NOT accept the Koran as anything but the ravings of a madman or the "revealed word" of Lucifer and his prophet, Mohammed. I am entitled to that belief just as they are entitled to their belief that the Bible lies when it speaks of Christ's divinity and his ressurection. If any call my belief a "hate crime" then they have just called ALL of the Koran a hate crime.
You will know them by their works.
But God still loves and forgives people like Farrakhan. I believe that with all my heart. All that is required is for them to believe it too.
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