Posted on 11/08/2007 6:37:49 AM PST by Alex Murphy
DEARBORN, Mich. -- Concluding a three-day gathering at the nation's largest mosque, a collection of Muslim and Roman Catholic leaders emerged with a 114-word blueprint for greater understanding between the two faiths. The Midwest Dialogue of Catholics and Muslims, an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Islamic Society of North America, was staged at the Islamic Center of America, a Shiite mosque.
Several dozen participants weighed tough questions -- including ideas for guidelines governing attempts to convert Muslims to Catholicism and Catholics to Islam -- and approved a mission statement to guide future dialogue.
"Our common belief in the one God of mercy and love calls us into relationship with one another," the statement reads. "Therefore we see our dialogue as a spiritual journey. Common ethical concerns compel us to take responsibility for our relationship within U.S. society."
Bishop Francis Reiss, an auxiliary bishop of Detroit, said the goal is not theological compromise but spiritual growth.
Sayyid Syeed, secretary-general of the Islamic Society of North America, said: "Catholics are 60 million in the U.S. We are hardly 8 (million) to 10 million, and we are still exploring ways of establishing our community and gaining the recognition and respect that we deserve as American Muslims. And so, we truly appreciate this big brother relationship."
as reported by Pope Benedict XVI 9-12-2006:
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Byzantine Emperor -Manuel II Paleologus 1391 .....
This headline really deserves a “Barf From Above” alert
Respect is earned, not deserved.
ML/NJ
Stupendous waste of time on the Catholics part.... One of my local Catholic churches here let’s the muslims use the basement for worship on Fridays... Think the muslims would reciprocate that arrangement if there were no church available?
They will take all we give and give back nothing meaningful in return.
“Please kill us last” is common ground?
What common ground? If Muslims want respect, then treat non-Muslims with respect and you will get respect. Respect is a two-way street.
Christians and Muslims do not believe in the same God.
Okay, is the Catholic church united or not?
I keep getting the “Catholic Church is unchanging bastion of Christianity for 2000 years” from those from this forum, then the picture of the Pope kissing the Koran pops up.
It don’t seem like those on this forum are part of the same church as John Paul II and his attitude toward the Muslims, or Mother Theresa and her little hindu idols, or the St. Death churches in Mexico, or those that accept Kerry, Kennedy, Pelosi, Guiliani et al into their parishes for Mass.
Is it truly one church in communion, or is that just a facade?
Catholics, by definition, are infidels. At the same time, the Catholic church claims to be the only interface between God and man. 
Leaving aside the nebulous use of words like "Catholic Church" and "united" (about what?) the short answer is "No, far from it". That is, if you're asking "do all those who claim to be Catholic hold the same beliefs?"
I keep getting the “Catholic Church is unchanging bastion of Christianity for 2000 years” from those from this forum, then the picture of the Pope kissing the Koran pops up.
Don't confuse the deposit of faith with prudential judgments on how best to engage those of other faiths. Catholic teaching handed down from the apostles has been preserved intact.That teaching does not include how best to deal with Moslems. That is a matter of private judgment.
It don’t seem like those on this forum are part of the same church as John Paul II and his attitude toward the Muslims, or Mother Theresa and her little hindu idols, or the St. Death churches in Mexico, or those that accept Kerry, Kennedy, Pelosi, Guiliani et al into their parishes for Mass. Is it truly one church in communion, or is that just a facade?
The only serious noises concerning the looming Islamic threat are coming from the Pope and the Catholic Church. That makes for a fun time for those in the peanut gallery whose principal object of derision is not Islam but the Catholic Church, but it doesn't advance a resolution of the problematic issue one iota.
Your question about "is it a Church in communion or not" is silly. Regarding the best way to deal with Muslims, no "communion" (whatever that means) is required, as explained above. There are certain tenets of faith which are required to be held as true in order to properly claim to be Catholic, but that's another issue.
Ping us when anyone from your neck of the spiritual woods says anything of any gravitas on this difficult issue.
LOL -- those smacking sounds from JPII's famous kiss of the Koran excepted, of course.
I read some material more than 15 years ago where the author stated the False Prophet would be a Catholic pope and the Anti-Christ would be a Syrian Jew connected with Moab...
The author pulled out some interesting scripture to validate his position but I wasn't convinced...After all, the Catholics and Muzlims were miles apart religiously...
Interesting times we live in...Jesus is on his way...
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