Posted on 05/14/2004 10:11:07 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican warned Catholic women on Friday to think hard before marrying a Muslim and urged Muslims to show more respect for human rights, gender equality and democracy.
Calling women "the least protected member of the Muslim family," it spoke of the "bitter experience" western Catholics had with Muslim husbands, especially if they married outside the Islamic world and later moved to his country of origin.
The comments in a document about migrants around the world were preceded by remarks about points of agreement between Christians and Muslims but they seemed likely to fuel mistrust between the world's two largest religions.
The document said the Church discouraged marriages between believers in traditionally Catholic countries and non-Christian migrants.
It hoped Muslims would show "a growing awareness 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."
When a Catholic woman and Muslim man wanted to marry, it said, "bitter experience teaches us that a particularly careful and in-depth preparation is called for."
It said one possible problem was with Muslim in-laws and advised future mothers that they must insist on Church policy that children born of a mixed marriage be baptized and brought up as Catholics.
If the marriage is registered in the consulate of a Muslim country, the document said, the Catholic must be careful not to sign a document or swear an oath including the shahada, the Islamic profession of faith, which would amount to converting.
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
The document highlighted the contrasting approaches the Vatican has taken in recent years toward Islam, which has emerged as a strong rival for souls, especially in Africa.
Pope John Paul has broken ground in dialogue with Muslims and even prayed in a mosque in Damascus. He won plaudits in the Muslim world for his strong opposition to the Iraq war.
But Vatican officials and leading Catholic prelates have expressed increasingly critical views about the spread of Islam and the challenge this poses for Catholicism.
The Vatican's top theologian, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, said earlier this week the West "no longer loves itself" and so was unable to respond to the challenge of Islam, which was growing because it expressed "greater spiritual energy."
The migration document also discouraged churches from letting non-Christians use their places of worship.
This issue arose last month when Muslims in Spain asked to be able to pray in Cordoba cathedral, which was once a mosque. A senior Vatican official said this would be "problematic."
Stop lying.
Well finally, the Vatican actually speaks up! There is hope :-)
My oldest daughter is married to a man who's family is from India. Technically they're Hindu. His parents built their own shrine in their home because of all the chatter going on at temple services. Sound familiar? This guy is the best son in law any mother could ask for. When I was sick last year, he came over and cleaned my kitchen. My son has severe hayfever, so my SIL comes over and mows the grass.
He treats my daughter wonderfully. She goes to church, and I think he goes with her. There are benign Hindu customs that they practice on occasion. It makes his mom happy ;-)
My friend is Jewish. We share the same political beliefs, and plan on going over the old testament together. Actually he's reform, but goes to an evangelical Christian church. Religious differences are a big problem when young people marry, mainly because of the kids. We're in our 40's so that isn't a problem. I don't see a problem for my daughter and son in law regarding this, either.
Now that I've covered secular Jews and Hindus, Islam is a completely different kettle of fish. Several people have remarked that Islam is a Satanic cult. I'm starting to think there is some truth to that. Islam is dangerous for any woman, not just Catholic women. The problem for some of us is that we're optimistic and credulous when we fall in "love". The last few years hopefully will wake up the younger generation of women to the dangers of such a marriage.
Ping
The Vatican is taking its cues from Gene Simmons. The world is turned upside down.
If there's any group that has a horror of mixed marriages it's Jews themselves.
I'm Catholic and I read scripture. Daily. At least 2-3 HOURS a day, one in the morning, two at night.
I hope you don't blame the magisterium for the general ignorance of Catholic people. A marvellous encyclical by Pope Paul VI - Dei Verbum - lays out the modern thinking on the revelation.
Some surprising pronouncements are in that encyclical: (1) the teaching office of the Catholic Church is NOT above the Word of God;
rather, it is the Church that is the servant of scripture, not vice versa. (2) individuals are admonished to read scripture thoroughly, daily, and to fully submit to the revealed truth in it. (3) the Bible is the infallible, inerrant Word of God; the entire revelation is contained in it.
You might have had bad experiences with Catholics in the past, but again I hope you know that there are many of us who believe in the supremacy of the Bible, who believe that one must repent of his sins, accept the redemption of Christ, and be born again of the Holy Spirit. None of this is inconsistent with the teaching of the Church.
I just wanted to show you that there are some good old fashioned Christians in the Catholic Church. And I might add, not all evangelical protestants I meet have their ducks in a row with regard to what is required for eternal salvation. Many so-called evangelicals have no room for the Cross, for repentence, submission to Christ, and trust in His Word. They think they serve the King if they say a brief prayer "accepting Jesus into their hearts." I have no idea where in scripture this act is noted as sufficient for salvation. I've never seen "altar call" referenced in scripture either.
Give us Catholics a break. You'd be surprised how solid the magesterium of the church is, how right it is on salvation. It's the PEOPLE who are too lazy to follow.
No!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's 100% American. (Family background is some Irish, English, and Mormon.)
Thanks! I think my whole church has him on their prayer list, and I always like more prayers for him.
No doubt about it. Islam is today in a state of fervor and Christianity is not. Muslims BELIEVE their ideals, are willing to die for them and want to impose them on others for the betterment of mankind. You can disagree with their ideas, but not with the fact they are strongly believed and expressed. Particularly strong is the Muslim sense of grievance and the feeling that their culture is ethically superior to ours.
The Vatican is right that the "West does not love itself." So many in the West, especially Europe, constantly denigrate our religious heritage, political systems, artistic achievements, scientific advances and technology. It's as though the denigrators are saying "The West's accomplishments are worthless when compared to the injustices inflicted on other cultures."
Combine this self-hating attitude with Islam's profound sense of injury, it's no wonder many in the West do not even want to defend themselves.
Islam is on the move, "expressing greater spiritual energy."
Talk about hypocrisy!
In general, Hindus tend to be very tolerant of other religions. They expect the same in return and get a little touchy when it is not reciprocated.
The Muslims are in Italy and poised to strike when the time is right. There is a mosque near the Vatican. The highest point was specifically built to be taller than the highest vertical point in the Vatican, a psychological message if there ever was one.
I couldn't agree more with your post in #50.
Let their highest point be taller than the Vatican. Their House of the pagan Moon god cannot hold a candle to the House of the One Living God. Let them wallow in their self-satisfaction at having a taller structure. Satan will oblige them since they seem so intent on preaching his word.
Oh, and if they should strike against the Vatican, they'll find me getting on a plane for Italy intent on serving up a little reckoning.
Sounds like a management problem!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.