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yet Catholic Freepers more or less ignore this fact, because it's an ugly one.

Two things.

Let's not forget that plenty of Protestant "missions" exist to convert Catholics. I am from the buckle of the Bible Belt and can assure you that the question "Are you Catholic or Christian?" is not in the least unusual.
When it comes to "wiping out Christianity", it's possible that the greater peril come from within ... be it heretics who begin their own sects or faithless Catholics who -- in word or deed -- betray the tenets of their faith or the love of Christ to which, by all rights, they are to witness.
The Catholic Church is ancient, Pardek. It's the oldest human institution on the planet. She looks at Islam and sees heresy. She knows that Islam's success was due in large part not only to its militance and rigor but also to the fact Islam is in many respects a distillation of a selection of Christian truths. How to explain the fact that Islam too venerates Mary even if it will not bring itself to admit the Son of Man was also Son of God.

Refresh yourself with the Church's statement on men of other faiths as found in the Catechism.

The Catholic Church cannot simply demonize Islam ... in much the same way Islam or Protestants were quick to demonize and attack the Church. Instead, in her heart is always the hope of union in this life, in advance of the inevitable solidarity -- in peace and love -- of the human family.

839. "'Those who have not yet received the Gospel are related to the People of God in various ways.'[LG 16.]
The relationship of the Church with the Jewish People. When she delves into her own mystery, the Church, the People of God in the New Covenant, discovers her link with the Jewish People,[Cf. NA 4.] 'the first to hear the Word of God.'[Roman Missal, Good Friday 13: General Intercessions, VI.] The Jewish faith, unlike other non-Christian religions, is already a response to God's revelation in the Old Covenant. To the Jews 'belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ',[ .] 'for the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.'[ .]"

840. "And when one considers the future, God's People of the Old Covenant and the new People of God tend towards similar goals: expectation of the coming (or the return) of the Messiah. But one awaits the return of the Messiah who died and rose from the dead and is recognized as Lord and Son of God; the other awaits the coming of a Messiah, whose features remain hidden till the end of time; and the latter waiting is accompanied by the drama of not knowing or of misunderstanding Christ Jesus. "

841. "The Church's relationship with the Muslims. 'The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day.'[LG 16; cf. NA 3.]"

842. "The Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race:
All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city. . .[NA 1.] "

843. "The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as 'a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.'[LG 16; cf. NA 2; EN 53.]"

844. "In their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them:
Very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings, and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed to ultimate despair.[LG 16; cf. .] "

845. "To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son's Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is 'the world reconciled.' She is that bark which 'in the full sail of the Lord's cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world.' According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah's ark, which alone saves from the flood.[St. Augustine, Serm. 96, 7, 9: PL 38, 588; St. Ambrose, De virg. 18, 118: PL 16, 297B; cf. already .]"

To view the context, please visithttp://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/church3.html#CATHOLIC

I appreciate what you are saying, and I'm not at all addressing the basis for the exchange between you and Senator Pardek, but I have a question or two about the following -

First of all, if one studies a comparison, it is easily determined that the god of Islam and the God of the Bible are NOT both "the one, merciful God." Allah is vastly different from Jehovah. It truly baffles me how the RCC can say this in the catechism. And if doing so is done simply for the sake of peace and unity, one - it is dishonest, and two - how does acceptance of false faith further the gospel? If anything, it indicates to Muslims that "their way" is just fine, and they don't need the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Any thoughts? Thanks.