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New York Catholics visit mosque, learn about Islam
CNS ^ | August 9, 2007 | Beth Griffin

Posted on 08/13/2007 4:37:16 PM PDT by NYer

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (CNS) -- In late July, carloads of curious Catholics caravanned north from their church to a mosque in the next county.

Three dozen Catholics who regularly attend Mass at the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement's Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison accepted a Muslim visitor's invitation to attend services at Masjid Al-Noor, his mosque in Wappingers Falls.

Entering the two-story white frame building, the visitors placed their shoes alongside their host's on wire racks lining one wall of the foyer.

The women, already modestly covered from chin to ankle, pulled on scarves to cover their hair. The men were directed through double doors to a large simple, rug-covered room on the first floor and the women were invited upstairs to a balcony overlooking the same prayer room.

The walls of the prayer room were sparsely decorated with metal plaques proclaiming God's greatness in Arabic, a large clock and several bookshelves with various editions of the Quran and devotional books. The front of the room had a small, raised carpeted platform for the imam, the religious scholar who led the service.

People greeted one another quietly and lined up, shoulder to shoulder, in rows that stretched across the room. Everyone faced east, the direction of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Islam's holy city. Folding chairs in the back of the two prayer areas were used by people who had difficulty sitting and kneeling on the floor, or accomplishing the deep bows that punctuated the prayers.

Muslims are required to pray five times a day and men are obliged to attend a communal service on Fridays. Women are not required to interrupt their routines to go to the mosque for Friday prayer. Three-quarters of the more than 200 people who attended one recent Friday service at Masjid Al-Noor were men.

The 45-minute service was conducted in spoken and intoned Arabic, with three portions in English: a short reflection on the reading from the Quran, intercessory prayers and communal announcements.

At one Friday service, Imam Mohammed Asil Khan chose to speak on a Scripture passage, or "sura," that described the "Miracles of Jesus and the Miracles of Mohammed." He later explained that Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet, but not divine.

The Catholic visitors told Catholic News Service they were grateful for the opportunity to attend the services and speak with members of the congregation.

"Our hosts were very welcoming and it was insightful to have casual conversation about being Muslim and learning about the diversity within their own community," said Ruth Ann McAndrews.

She was particularly interested in the discussion of the "challenge of instilling each religion's traditions and faith in the youth through Sunday school and after-school programs."

"The thing that struck me," said Dan Donnelly, "was the commonality that pervades. We have significant doctrinal differences. They don't believe in the Trinity or in the divinity of Jesus, but we have a common father who created us and we should all love one another."

He was also intrigued by the lack of a hierarchy and came to a better understanding of the role of the imam.

"I thought of the imams as the priesthood," he said, "but I learned that they are religious scholars who are chosen by the community to be teachers. If an imam is not available, the people can choose another person to lead the service."

Joyce Evans said, "I left there knowing for certain that our faiths could make us closer to each other. Praying with the Muslims can't take anything away from Catholicism. In fact, it enhances my Catholicism to honor them and work with them."

She continued, "You can read about Islam in a book, but to see the fervor of their devotion really touched me and I came away being a better Catholic."

Most of the worshippers at Masjid Al-Noor are Sunni Muslims, although Shiites are welcome and constitute a small percentage of the congregation, according to Imam Khan. There is no official membership roll, he said, so it is hard to estimate the size of the congregation.

The worship community represents 26 different countries and includes a small number of converts. Imam Khan is a Pakistani who holds master's degrees in Arabic and Islamic studies. He has a full-time association with the mosque.

Atonement Father James J. Gardiner, director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, organized the visits, which came out of a December 2006 event at the center.

"At our Advent vespers, we invited people from different traditions to speak. We had Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Christian Missionary Alliance and Muslim speakers," he said. "At the time, Umar H. Ahmad was the president of the Mid-Hudson Islamic Association, which worships at Masjid Al-Noor.

"Dr. Ahmad spoke 'In Praise of Mary' and at the end of his talk he invited the participants to visit his mosque, attend services and enjoy fellowship with the imam and other members of the congregation," the priest said. So two visits were scheduled in July.

Imam Khan expressed interest in making a reciprocal visit to Graymoor. "Quran tells us that how you deal with your neighbors is very important," he said.


TOPICS: Catholic; Islam; Ministry/Outreach; Worship
KEYWORDS: apostacy; franciscan; heresy; islam; mosque; ny; sellouts; sheeruttermadness
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To: Pyro7480

Wonder what they’ll come up with next week?


161 posted on 08/17/2007 11:53:19 AM PDT by RabidBartender (Al-Qaeda doesn't need an intelligence network. They have the U.S. media.)
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To: Pyro7480
wow, this thread epitomizes everything that is wrong with the Religion forum. For those who are interested, the town of Fatima is named after a princess who converted to Catholic Christianity from islam in the 1100's. The event of Mary's appearance at the town of Fatima in 1917 was witnessed by around 80,000 people. Some of those attending were atheists and communists who went there for the sole purpose of mocking Christianity. But after what they saw, even the atheistic communist newpaper reporters were stunned and had to admit that something astounding happened, just like the little ones said would happen.

Now as to the ridiculous notion that Our Lady of Fatima (actually Our Lady of the Rosary) is Mohammed's daughter, I end with the prayer Our Lady told the little children to pray:

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy Mercy."

162 posted on 08/17/2007 11:56:44 AM PDT by Nihil Obstat (Count your blessings)
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To: Nihil Obstat

Good post. Though I should clarify that 80,000 people didn’t see Our Lady, but they did see the sun dance.


163 posted on 08/17/2007 11:59:34 AM PDT by Pyro7480 ("Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, esto mihi Jesus" -St. Ralph Sherwin's last words at Tyburn)
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To: Nihil Obstat

Amen.


164 posted on 08/17/2007 12:00:00 PM PDT by MarkBsnr (V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae. R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.)
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To: Invincibly Ignorant
You've been accused of worshipping a female, big whoop. In the protocols Jews are accused of murdering chilren. You're going to equate the two?

So you're saying that tolerating a little lie today doesn't lead to tolerating a big lie tomorrow?

Get a clue.

165 posted on 08/17/2007 12:01:19 PM PDT by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Invincibly Ignorant
In the protocols Jews are accused of murdering chilren.

BTW, you're confusing the Protocols with the "Passover blood libel". The Protocols alleged a secret Jewish conspiracy to take over the world.

Of course, Jack Chick says the same thing about the Vatican.

166 posted on 08/17/2007 12:15:54 PM PDT by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Dominick

They forgot the part where the imam invited them to join him in saying a traditional muslim prayer for peace: “There is no god but allah and mohammed is his messenger.”


167 posted on 08/17/2007 12:19:37 PM PDT by ichabod1 ("Liberals read Karl Marx. Conservatives UNDERSTAND Karl Marx." Ronald Reagan)
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To: Religion Moderator; fatima

Do you happento have an FR link on this?

“The claim that Catholics worship Mohammad’s daughter, Fatima has been debunked and should not be repeated again on this forum. It would be considered as inflammatory as the false Jesuit Oath which is also not allowed here.”


168 posted on 08/17/2007 12:25:41 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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To: sitetest; nmh; Pyro7480; ArrogantBustard
However, Iranian TV is hardly considered a reliable part of the Magisterium of the Holy Catholic Church. Thus, it hardly substantiates the claim that CATHOLICS worship Fatima. Rather, it substantiates the claim that SOME MUSLIMS believe that Mary at Fatima was actually Fatima at Fatima.

Precisely the point I was trying to make. I was trying to substantiate that the belief had been articulated before (via a Catholic news source). I do not assert that the Catholic Church actually believes and teaches it (they don't).

169 posted on 08/17/2007 12:31:27 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (As heard on the Amish Radio Network! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1675029/posts)
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To: Alex Murphy
Dear Alex Murphy,

No one here has disputed that this or that group of Muslims may have odd views about Catholic beliefs and teachings. In that Islam arose as an Arian heresy out of Catholicism, Islamic distortions of Catholic teaching kinda go with the territory. My elder son often says this is one time that we really should have burned the heretics at the stake. Oh well, live and learn.

However, a poster here FALSELY libeled the Catholic Church, Catholic teaching, and Catholic believers by saying:

“Yes, Muslims and Catholics share the worship of Mary and the false prophetess, Fatima.”

That’s an ugly, bigoted, anti-Catholic, Jack Chick-like falsehood.

If you’d like to further defend it, have at it.


sitetest

170 posted on 08/17/2007 12:37:58 PM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: nmh; Religion Moderator
Do you happento have an FR link on this?

You could start with the links I posted in my #151. While that discussion focused more on the fallacious or deceptive nature of a Zenit quote re Mary being Fatima, the thread does discuss - and debunk thoroughly, IMO - the claim itself (from an official Catholic view, of course).

171 posted on 08/17/2007 12:40:42 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (As heard on the Amish Radio Network! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1675029/posts)
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To: sitetest
If you’d like to further defend it, have at it.

Are there any other false, libelous statements that you'd like to make before we move on?

172 posted on 08/17/2007 12:52:41 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (As heard on the Amish Radio Network! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1675029/posts)
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To: Alex Murphy
Dear Alex Murphy,

I’m not saying anything false or libelous. Here’s what you said about the poster:

“It doesn’t prove the allegation, but it does prove that nmh isn’t making it up.”

Here is what we have been claiming the poster has been making up:

“Yes, Muslims and Catholics share the worship of Mary and the false prophetess, Fatima.”

This is the false charge. But you said, “nmh isn’t making it up.”

Sounds like a defense to me.


sitetest

173 posted on 08/17/2007 1:05:10 PM PDT by sitetest (If Roe is not overturned, no unborn child will ever be protected in law.)
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To: NYer

I’m sorry, but I would have to question the intentions of any who demanded arabic in a Christian service in America. Aramaic would be great but... is there much arabic in it already? Is it licit to use a language other than the vernacular or latin? Or is arabic now the vernacular in parts of Detroit?


174 posted on 08/17/2007 1:05:23 PM PDT by ichabod1 ("Liberals read Karl Marx. Conservatives UNDERSTAND Karl Marx." Ronald Reagan)
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To: Campion
So you're saying that tolerating a little lie today doesn't lead to tolerating a big lie tomorrow?

So ya'll "alledgedly" worship a woman? Whether true or false that shouldn't add anymore fuel to the fire. Get over the wa wa wa, poor me, I'm a victim stuff. I'm tired of ya'll crying wolf.

175 posted on 08/17/2007 1:29:43 PM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: Campion
BTW, you're confusing the Protocols with the "Passover blood libel". The Protocols alleged a secret Jewish conspiracy to take over the world.

Yes I am. Thank you for bringing that mistake to my attention. Still doesn't detract from the "wa wa wa wa" point.

Of course, Jack Chick says the same thing about the Vatican.

Wa wa wa. Call Bill Donahue.

176 posted on 08/17/2007 1:32:15 PM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: Invincibly Ignorant
I'm tired of ya'll crying wolf.

Yeah, you'd rather we'd just quietly slink to the back of the bus and shut up.

177 posted on 08/17/2007 1:33:56 PM PDT by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Campion
Yeah, you'd rather we'd just quietly slink to the back of the bus and shut up.

"back of the bus"? lol. Just can't help yourself. wa wa wa wa.

178 posted on 08/17/2007 1:37:57 PM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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To: Invincibly Ignorant
Call Bill Donahue.

I'll send him a check. I wish there were 10,000 Bill Donahues.

179 posted on 08/17/2007 1:43:38 PM PDT by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Campion
I'll send him a check. I wish there were 10,000 Bill Donahues.

Of course there's no way I could know but he seems gay to me. :-)

180 posted on 08/17/2007 1:56:51 PM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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