Has there ever been a public anathema against the beliefs and practicioners of Islam from the Catholic Church? We Reformers got one, so why not the Muslims? I guess Muslims and Catholics have so many beliefs in common, that theirs don't rise to the level of categorical, public, "no tolerance" condemnations of Islam, such as Protestants received at the Councils of Trent.
I think that a Catholic would respond that the Protestants were in possession of truth but rejected it. They would argue that Muslims have “invincible ignorance” of the Gospel.
As a Christian who is not of the Roman Catholic faith, I don’t hold to that first interpretation, by the way. Of course, I think that the Catholic Church now recognizes Protestants as separated brethren, not as condemned heretics.
A “public anathema” would be an excommunication. In so far as Muslims weren’t part of the Christian or Catholic communion, there would be no excommunication or anathema of Muslims, though a Christian who espoused such views could be excommunicated or anathematized.
I suspect you're also interested in (if not entirely pleased with) "Dominus Iesus" ("Jesus is Lord"), issued by the CDF with Pope John Paul II's approbation in 2000, over the signture of Joseph Ratzinger, principal author.
It was particularly nifty because it offended everyone: polytheists (because it said there is only one God), Jews and Muslims (because it said Jesus is Lord), Protestants (because it said there is only one Church), and Catholic theologians (because it said there is only one Pope--- whoops, no, that was only strongly implied!)
It kicked over the whole Can 'o' WormsTM (not to be confused with Diet of WormsTM) concerning ecumenism, won't you be my buddy, the long-leash-short-whip policy which had led to a shrinkage of evangelization and a logorrhea of dialog.
The tugging and pulling is still in progress.
Don't be expecting any anathema or excommunication of Muslims, since they are not baptized persons and thus are not in any way ecclesiastical subjects of the Pope. You can't divorce somebody you were never married to; you can't excommunicate someone you were never in communion with.
(This is so galling to lesbians, who, being denied the right to marry, now demand the right to divorce!! --- but I digress.)
The question being volleyed about concerning the Muslims is, what is the best way to carry out the Great Commission? Do you have to be on speaking terms with people to evangelize them? Etc.etc.
We don't know how far Francis wishes to emulate hois namesake, but he may have his mission to the Muslims in mind, as the following (Source) illustrates:
Want to come along for the ride?
Francis saw the crusade first of all as a chance for martyrdom: and in martyrdom the highest and purest form of Christian witness. In June 1219 Francis embarked for the East and reached Damietta, where he had a peaceful meeting with Sultan Malek Kemel. After returning home he summarised his missionary experience :
"The Lord says: 'I send you as sheep among wolves. Be prudent as serpents and simple as doves'. Therefore friars who are divinely inspired to go among the Saracens and other infidels, may go with the permission of their minister and servant ...
"Friars who go among the infidels may behave spiritually in their midst in two manners.
"One manner is that they shall avoid any argument or dispute and be subject to every human creature for love of God and they shall confess they are Christians.
"The other manner is, when they see it is pleasing to the Lord, they shall announce the word of God that they (infidels) may believe in God the almighty Father and Son and Holy Spirit, creator of all things, and in the Son redeemer and saviour, and that they may be baptised and become Christians, because unless a man is born again of water and the Holy Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
I’ve noticed that. Muslims not only get a pass that other non-Catholics don’t get, but they are warmly welcomed by Catholic hierarchy.
Pretty telling, isn’t it?