[Mrs. Don-o]

Oh. And I forgot to add: Clerics (deacons, priests, bishops, etc) are forbidden by Canon Law to bear arms. And anyone, clerical or lay, who dies while in possession of arms, is by that very fact excluded from consideration as a "martyr."

The Catholic idea of "martyr" is almost the diametrical opposite of the Islamic idea. You'll notice that none of the warriors of 2000 years of Christendom --- not Charlemagne, not Charles Martel, not Baldwin, not Raymond, not Tancred, not Don John of Austria, not Philip of Spain not Jan Sobieski of Poland--- not one of them is honored by the Catholic Church as either saint or martyr.

Only two warriors I can think of, offhand, who were canonized were St. Joan of Arc and St. Louis IX of France...and the latter was not lauded for his prowess or success at war, but for his justice and charity.

Hmm. Interesting.