I guess the Pope forgot to discuss the issue with you before the ceremony. Next time I'm sure he'll give you call and ask for your opinion first, / sarcasm.
Well, this man is a prominent journalist in Italy. Part of our Catholic tradition is to welcome adult converts during Easter (or Palm Sunday) Masses. This one just also happened to involve the Pope. It’s the islamic world that has problems with it and their problems shouldn’t change our traditions. This decision was made to do it in the usual way in spite of the risk of reprisal.
Speaking only for myself, I want islam mocked, defied and crushed out of existence.
Ah, TCats ... the past 100 generations of people mindful of the Judeo-Christian ethic is what has created this place where it is no longer an "athletic contest."
Realty TV aside, a state of war as in physical "athletic" war is a state of much of the globe's population, and as it happens, those are areas that have not found or followed the Judeo-Christian ethic that is the founding of Western civilization. It's taken for granted by ... a whole lotta people, probably because the Judeo-Christian ethic doesn't kill you or tax you or punish you if you don't profess yourself a submissive Christian. You don't have to believe, you just have to adopt the ethic. Do unto others, etc. The teachings of Christ, the very wise Old Testament. It works. People do pretty well, living in freedom and carrying on with free will, creating prosperity and advancement. It's a pretty good model for human behavior, and it guided the men who wrote the Constitution.
This is a Judeo-Christian nation. It respects human dignity and free will and rejects slavery and marrying 9-year-old-girls and such. I'd say converts were pretty important. And I remember at all times that what sets us apart is that we're Judeo-Christian because it works. Islam would have us submit. There is a war, it is religious, and we should all be ready to grab our religious warrior gear.
Wrong - ONLY converting from Islam to Christianity can get you killed.