[NYer]

Catholic Ping
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[MEGoody]

. . .is the embarrassment in Christian quarters. . .

Uh, WHAT embarrassment?

[marron]

Excellent, compelling piece.

[longtermmemmory]

the only embarrased “christians” are those who are the atheist christians. Priests et al who have the collar as an easy job. (and perhaps the dating scene)

[livius]

Instead I say: you cannot be Christian and Muslim at the same time, because there are irreconcilable points which divide them, at a level of dogma (be that Christ is the last revelation of God, or that Muhammad is the “Seal of the Prophets” who brought the last message to humanity); at an ethical level (be that the duty to forgive and love your enemy: or the non duty to do so etc.); at a historic level (be that Christ died on the cross; or that he did not die and is still alive). Muslims may have the ‘highest regard for Christ and the Virgin Mary” but the Christ of the Koran (however wonderful he may be) is not the Christ of the Gospel.

This is an important point. All the late "personal revelations," such as Islam and Mormonism, try to coopt Judaism and Christianity to give themselves historical authority. Just because they mention the figures of both religions does not mean they have anything approaching Christian belief in them. It's very important to make this clear and keep it clear, since people should be confident of being able to receive pure and truthful Christian doctrine from the Church.

One of the most distressing parts of this article is where he mentions that Christians, including priests, were discouraging conversions and refusing to baptize Muslim converts. Also horrible was the fact that these false teachers were telling them it was "all the same" because of Vatican II.

I think our former Pope was very weak in this area (as the kissing the Koran incident shows!) and perhaps did not have a very clear understanding of the doctrinal issues, or was so interested in making personal gestures that he didn't realize how much scandal this would give even to the Muslim world. I don't know, and it's water under the bridge anyway.

But I am just so glad to see that suddenly the Faith has emerged again and is being raised up for all to see. I think the baptism of Magdi Cristiano Allam is a pivotal event in modern history.

[informavoracious]

Magdi Allam, a non-practicing Muslim, converts to Christianity and is criticised and despised by the Islamic world. Barack Obama, a “non-practicing” Muslim, converts to “Christianity” and is praised and admired by the Islamic world. Discuss.

[BlueDragon]

A very good article. Well written and informative. Yet the introductory paragraph did contain a perplexing or troubling sentence;

"Added to this, is the embarrassment in Christian quarters, of those fearful of seeing a new crusade being launched by Benedict XVI and the Church."

What embarrassment? In what quarters? uh, what kind of 'crusade' are they thinking of here? I've not heard of such. Have you heard of anything like that, beyond the Pope's willingness to engage and speak towards, well, pretty much any of the largest issues facing humanity today?

Speaking about or towards issues, is certainly not a military crusade conducted by force or arms.
So no, that can't be it...

Since when did the world become so afraid of words & ideas?

Now if this Pope and those around him see it his and their duty to communicate the message of the Gospel, who can fault them, for that?
The Vatican surely cannot be seen as having attempted to silence Islamics in Europe.

The Pope's own speaking of God, and mankind's relationship to God, is not "launching a crusade" unless it be among the gentlest ones ever undertaken...none need fear it. It won't hurt a soul.

So, the Pope talks about Christ, and what the Christian version of who and what the Lord is, means to the world, even today...what ELSE would any expect him to do?

Start up a pizza parlor???

[BlessedBeGod]

Sheesh! Get a grip!

[TexanToTheCore]

“is the embarrassment in Christian quarters, of those fearful of seeing a new crusade being launched by Benedict XVI and the Church.”

Boy, are you reading this baptism incorrectly.