Relics are important because Christianity is a very physical religion (because of the Incarnation). Islam rejects physicality and regards the created world as evil and a rival to their strange god.
Christians need to take a serious look at things before praising Islam for any of its attitudes. Orthodox Jews also theoretically reject abortion, and indeed their numerous families attest to this. But like Muslims (Mohammed based his cult on Jewish ritual law) they also really only reject it for people within their group, and many Jews either run or participate in abortion “clinics” in areas such as NYC.
Only Christianity - and really, I think only Catholic Christianity - understands that the essential issue is “human,” and not necessarily of our religion or ethnic group.
I hope Bp Zubik holds firm, because he’ll get a lot of support from the pews if he does.
1. I really don't buy into your definition of the importance of relics. But, that's me. And, trust me, I know all about the physicality of Christianity. I've been one all my life and have had the indoctrination and believe in all of it.
I lived in a Muslim country for five years and I found that they all weren't evil devils. My Muslim boss was one of the kindest men I ever met.
We had a daily Mass in our little Muslim town with ARAMCO. I wanted to go the the 9:00 A.M. Mass. It was a 2-minute walk, lasted 20 minutes and I ALWAYS made up the time at my lunch hour. My Indian Catholic co-worker REALLY resented me doing this. He told me to stop or he would tell on me to my Muslim Arab boss.
I called his bluff. I'll never forget that confrontation. My boss heard out my co-worker and then said to both of us (not their real names): "John, God is number one. There is always time for God. Mary can go pray anytime she wants to."
I don't know whose mouth dropped open farther or faster, mine or John's, but I DID go to Mass every day because I could and because it was comforting to me. It was a habit I started and continue to this day.
I found my faith in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
God REALLY works in mysterious but efficacious ways!
2. I didn't know that. That is not good. I thought that the Jewish "chosen people" idea was dead and buried.
3. I don't think that the rest of the other faiths are that callous, but then, you have your own ideas and that's fine with me.
4. I hope he does too.