Posted on 05/14/2004 4:44:10 PM PDT by ambrose
Vatican calls for openness to Muslim immigrants
By VICTOR L. SIMPSON
Associated Press
VATICAN CITY ? Catholics should welcome Muslim immigrants without prejudice, and Muslims must also respect the values of a democracy - including equality between men and women, the Vatican said Friday.
The issue of Christian-Muslim relations was raised in a document on worldwide migration, which the Vatican called "the vastest movement people of all times" involving some 200 million.
The document urged Catholics to be cautious about considering the idea of marrying a Muslim - repeating a long-standing Roman Catholic policy toward mixed marriages - as Muslims represent a new wave of immigrants to predominantly Christian countries.
It expressed hope for a "growing awareness" among Muslims that "fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered."
It also denounced racism and xenophobia, saying that immigration should provoke solidarity and not fear.
"Today, especially in certain countries, there is a high or growing percentage of Muslim immigrants, for whom this Pontifical Council also expresses its solicitude."
It noted the Vatican has previously called for a "purification of memory regarding past misunderstandings, to cultivate common values and to clarify and respect diversity, but without renouncing Christian principles."
"It is a question of distinguishing between what can be and cannot be shared in the religious doctrines and practices and in the moral laws of Islam."
Besides points of agreements on belief in God, daily prayer and the fighting against injustice and oppression, the document said there were differences - "some of which have to do with legitimate acquisitions of modern life and thought."
The 75-page document by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People did not single out specific countries, but Western Europe has been grappling with the integration of a growing number of Muslim immigrants in recent years.
Regarding relations with other faiths, the document said churches should not be made available to non-Christians and that Catholic schools must not renounce their "Christian-orientated" programs.
At the same time, the document, which included instructions for dioceses dealing with immigrants, stressed the need for reciprocity between Christians and people of other faiths.
"In this respect we should also recall the numerous Christian migrants in lands where the majority of the population is not Christian and where the right to religious freedom is severely restricted or repressed," it said.
Stinking savages.
My apologies to Bigg Redd. I am new to the forum and when I clicked reply the name Big Redd appeared in the 'To:' text field. My reply should have been addressed to ambrose. I'm sorry if that caused you any undue grief and/or confusion.
There is no one quoted in this article. Who said it and how do we know they really did?
And why are Catholics falling for secular media stories that are so over the top. THis sounds like a paper that should be read thoroughly, not sound bited. Half the time the forest is lost for the trees.
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the Vatican was involved in the Oil for Food program. I'm serious.
You said "I don't recall the Vatican saying anything about the extremist muslims (Palis) pissing in the Church of the Nativity, either."
While I don't claim to know what was in the hearts and minds of the men involved on either side of this issue (and you don't either because the news in America is too censored), I must say that Church or Mosque, if nature calls during a gun fight I wouldn't risk my life just so that I could make it to the bathroom. But maybe that's just me.
And perhaps the Vatican said nothing about it because they're just savvy enough to figure that out for themselves?
from your post, "According to released governement documents, the new laws requre all businesses in the state to shut down during the five daily Muslim prayers."
They close down for all five prayers which means about 25 minutes per day.
Sounds kind of like the U.S. around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Easter, did I miss any? I think that I did. My last place of employment had 9 paid holidays. However our businesses in the U.S. are closed the entire day and for some holidays the schools are closed down for a week or more. But the gas stations and convenience stores are open (operated by American Muslims and other non-Christians-and there are exceptions to every rule of which I'm already aware.)
In case some of you may have forgotten, America is not a Christian nation. [Would a Christian Nation remove the words "under God" from the pledge of allegiance? or pass laws that say gay marriages are the same as heterosexual marriages?]
What do you think Muslims, Jews and those of other religions do on Christian holidays? We don't all work in gas stations. If we're "lucky" we get a paid holiday and have the "freedom" to go home and spend some time with our families. And if we're not "lucky" we lose our ability to work for the day, chalked up as a total loss. Then on our holidays we work-on ALL of our religious celebrations. Tell me how you felt the last time you worked on a holiday? If you're not religious I guess it doesn't matter to you and maybe you get holiday pay and maybe you don't. Now imagine working on every single holiday for the rest of your life? F-U-N, fun!
And non-Christian religious families that cannot afford to send their children to private school? Well most public schools are "kind enough" to let our kids stay home for the holiday and have the "opportunity" to challenge themselves to catch up.
And to those that are truly hard-core close-minded anti-Muslim: if you're going to do the calculation, 25 minutes a day 365 days a year, don't forget to add in Sundays, the Christian holiday and for Muslims it's Friday. That's 24 hours a week for 52 weeks. Just like Christians we are supposed to go to our place of worship, worship together and socialize afterward. So most of us don't get the chance to go the mosque on Friday. To try to comply with this, many Muslims opt for jobs with flexibility (you have NO IDEA how many gas station attendants that speak broken English are actually doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers and the like) or struggle to rush to the mosque on our lunch breaks and run back to work hungry.
Please try to think about these pieces of "news" that you read before you jump to conclusions and/or fly off the handle at Muslims in general.
you said: "Should I also be open to the Muslim immigrant family across the hall from me, who let their miserable brats run wild and scream constantly at the top of their lungs? Wait a minute-haven't been a Catholic since 1991. Guess I can open a can of whoop-ass on them."
I find it hard to believe that you have only encountered such children in Muslim families. Have you honestly tried approaching them in a non-agressive manner and told them that you find their behavior annoying?
You said, "Catholics should welcome Muslim immigrants without prejudice,
Ummm...no. That's like welcoming a pit viper into the childrens' nursery."
This is completely false, a flat out malicious lie. Tell me about the Muslims that you know and interact with in your every day life. What have they done to you? Or are you just parroting the corrupt mainstream media?
"and Muslims must also respect the values of a democracy - including equality between men and women".
For that to happen, the Koran, its exegesis, and shariah law will have to be extensively rewritten. Historically, similar changes were always coming from a bloodbath (like 16-17th centuries wars to establish Protestantism in Europe, as a small example) - not a particularly pleasant prospect.
You should have said, "I hope the Pope enjoys himself when St. Peters is a giant mosque, like St Sophias in Istanbul."
You can be sure they'll change the art work.
folks in okc and nyc were very open.
Of course they do, but they don't claim to be doing it in Gods name, like Muslim fanatics who are simply following your holy book do.
I'm in a hurry now, but I'll see if I can dig up the picture of the Kosovo muslims pissing on the church they destroyed a few weeks ago. They thought it great sport!
My, my. Methinks thou dost protest too much!
Tell me about the Muslims that you know and interact with in your every day life.
(Chuckle) Surely you jest!
What have they done to you?
I see no reason to answer that question, or, for that matter, any of your questions.
Or are you just parroting the corrupt mainstream media?
Nicholas Berg.
By the way, you mention corruption. Here's a little something I found on the web. You might find it amusing. I know I did.
Comment: When Muhammed was about 50 years old he had dreams of marrying a child, Aisha, who was only about 4-5 years old. How do we know this? Muhammed lived about 570 A.D. to 632 A.D., he became 62 years old. Hadith tells us that when he first slept with Aisha she was only nine years old, and that she then remained with him for the last nine years of his life. 62-9=53, so Muhammed was 53 years old when he first slept with the 9-year old child Aisha, who played with dolls... When he dreamed of marrying her she was six years old, or younger, so Muhammed was about 50 years old then. Why would a 50-year old man want a young child?
"...[T]he Prophet (Muhammed) said to her (Aisha), 'You have been shown to me twice in my dream. I saw you pictured on a piece of silk and someone said (to me). 'This is your wife.' When I uncovered the picture, I saw that it was yours. I said, 'If this is from Allah, it will be done.'"
(Hadith, Sahih Bukhari 5:58:235)
"[T]he Prophet (Muhammed) married her (Aisha) when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death)."
(Hadith, Sahih Bukhari 7:62:64)
"Narrated 'Aisha: 'I used to wash the traces of Janaba (semen) from the clothes of the Prophet (Muhammed) and he used to go for prayers while traces of water were still on it (water spots were still visible).'"
(Hadith, Sahih Bukhari 1:4:229)
Wishful thinking?
What do you think Muslims, Jews and those of other religions do on Christian holidays? We don't all work in gas stations. If we're "lucky" we get a paid holiday and have the "freedom" to go home and spend some time with our families. And if we're not "lucky" we lose our ability to work for the day, chalked up as a total loss. Then on our holidays we work-on ALL of our religious celebrations. Tell me how you felt the last time you worked on a holiday? If you're not religious I guess it doesn't matter to you and maybe you get holiday pay and maybe you don't. Now imagine working on every single holiday for the rest of your life? F-U-N, fun!
Oh, Boo Hoo!
Welcome to FR. I noticed you signed up today. What is it you hope to achieve on this forum? You are not the only muslim here on FR, but your strident opinions straight out of the gate may have people thinking you're a troll. By all means, post a little about yourself. With a nic like 'muslim woman' people can assume all kinds of things.
But true enough to their religion that they would slaughter over 2 million non-Muslims in the Sudan. I've heard Nigerian students discuss the horrors taking place in their own country --- churches being attacked, lots of killings. Let the Vatican take in all the Muslims it wants --- into the Vatican but they better remember who tried to kill the Pope.
Muslim woman? Get back under your burka, get to your harem-duties --- there are men on this board, you're not allowed an opinion being just a woman and all that.
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