Posted on 11/19/2004 11:31:20 PM PST by abigail2
Dutch Cardinal: Moral Breakdown Has Left Holland Open to Islamic Takeover
UTRECHT, The Netherlands, November 18, 2004
(CWNews.com) - Cardinal Adrianis Simonis of Utrecht believes that the "spiritual vacuity" of Dutch society has left the Netherlands open to an Islamic cultural takeover.
"Today we have discovered that we are disarmed in the face of the Islamic danger," the cardinal told the Italian daily Avvenir. He pointed out that even some young people who were born and raised in the Netherlands have become militant Muslims. The rise of Islam, Cardinal Simonis said, is related to "the spectacle of extreme moral decadence and spiritual decline that we offer" to young people.
"Nowadays political leaders ask whether the Muslims will accept our values," the Dutch cardinal observed. "I ask, 'What values are those? Gay marriage? Euthanasia?'"
If those are the reigning moral principles on which today's society is built, Cardinal Simonis continued, he rejects them as emphatically as Islamic leaders.
The cardinal said that he did not intend to take an extreme position, insisting "fundamentalism is always a problem." But on the other hand, he said, a society must be based on a common understanding of public order and morality. "It isn't enough to learn our language," he said.
The problem for the Netherlands, the cardinal continued, is a "lack of identity." The time is long past, he observed, when Christians "would fight and die for their faith." Today Islamic radicals are prepared to fight, as was evident earlier this month when the noted screenwriter Theo van Gogh was assassinated by Muslim zealots. Cardinal Simonis added that he still holds out "hope that these tragic facts will force us to recover our identity."
Commenting on the Dutch tradition of tolerance, Cardinal Simonis observed that the notion of "tolerance" as it is understood there today is a recent development. "For three centuries, Catholics were barred from public office," he noted. The current penchant for "tolerance," he said, "came later, after a common loss of faith-- roughly 40 years ago."
Today Dutch society is known for its permissive attitude toward social issues, with laws that allow euthanasia, same-sex marriage, widespread use of recreational drugs, prostitution, and adoption by homosexual couples.
Cardinal Simonis said that the best prospect for recovery would come if the younger generation returned to Christian traditions. "That is my hope, and I do see signs that young people are rediscovering the faith," he said.
Excellent article. The Cardinal is spot on.
What grabbed my attention, was they are disarmed, and have now have a real enemy and are unable to protect themselves.
It will NEVER happen here.
I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor to that end.
Thank you Siamese Kitty, we need to hear these things. The public needs to read these things.
It will NEVER happen here.
I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor to that end.
Just as long as we keep the government from taking our weapons. An example is Iraq. The only people in Iraq with weapons are either the newly installed police or terrorists. Law abiders need to have weapons and the more the better.
My thoughts exactly - !
I say full speed ahead with the P.A. -
Considering all their churches in Iraq are used as a killing place and storage for weapons - might that also be going on in other nations -
Though there is a place in Wis. I believe that sounds above board - they are inviting people to an open house to get to know them. This group has been here a long time. I think the good ones are more than willing to have checks on them - it's the PC crowd that makes the noise over everything -
Maybe in the Netherlands.
But not here.
Boy, it looks like America is gonna have to rescue Europe again!!
Couldn't agree more!!
I truly believe the vocal troublemakers are not as numerous as we would believe, but look what has resulted
from the apathy of the ordinary people with common sense.
I admire your pledge, clee1. Thank you.
When Hell freezes over!
I'll die to protect MY country; Europe can take a flying freak at a rolling donut.
Thanks, risk.
Remember that "all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
The sheetheads may overrun the rest of the globe, but they'll not overrun me without a major fight; and I'll take a bunch out before I go.
America is safer for it. It's when most of us stop thinking the way you do that we will be truly vulnerable.
Right - but consider the role of the major media -
Until I got so upset I couldn't stand it - and got on the net - I was afraid everyone had gone nuts in this nation - Then I found sites, like this one, that told a different story.
Think about the election - I can't believe that 48% of the people of this nation would have supported Kerry - if they had known the truth - the whole truth -
The media is a big problem - in my opinion - on many issues that face this nation today -
If God is truely merciful, that won't happen.
I've come to really appreciate those of you whose faith compels you to pray for our country. Where would we be without your convictions?
Just after be rescue Mexifornia, New York, Massachucettes and Indiana.. Oh! and Seattle...
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