Posted on 03/14/2008 3:52:01 PM PDT by van_erwin
DOHA, Qatar — Qatar's first Christian church has no cross, no bell and no steeple.
And when 5,000 faithful flock to Our Lady of the Rosary to celebrate its historic consecration this weekend, they pray no one will notice.
Father Tom Veneracion, the parish priest, is worried about a backlash.
"The idea is to be discreet because we don't want to inflame any sensitivities," he says. "There isn't even a signboard outside the church. No signs at all."
Qatar's fledgling Catholic community considers its sprawling $15 million saucer-shaped facility a victory. A 15-minute drive into barren desert, it has been built with the blessing of the nation's emir.
But some people in this Muslim country have branded it an offense; one prominent politician has called for a national referendum to determine its fate.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I give it a year before this church meets a horrible fate at the hands of one of the practicioners of the religion of piece.
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I don't get this. Who built the church, and who is doing the fearing?
Doesn't look like a "fearful" cathedral to me.
Looks like it's got "the gates of Hell shall not prevail" written all over it.
Hmmm, did they say anything similar when the first mosque opened in Hamtramck?
This is a brave bunch of parishioners
They should call it St. Roswell's.
Agreed. These folks are very gutsy, considering what is happening or has already happened to Christian communities in other Muslim countries.
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