Posted on 05/28/2006 3:28:36 PM PDT by Dark Skies
Persecution of Christians in Islamic countries makes the news almost daily, and the Vatican is concerned. On May 17 Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for relations with states in the Vatican's Secretariat of State, spoke to participants in the plenary session of Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers. The May 15-17 meeting focused on the theme of migration and Islamic countries.
After dealing with issues related to migration, Archbishop Lajolo, the equivalent of the Holy See's foreign minister, turned to Islam. The faith factor, he noted, is becoming more and more important in the debate over migration.
He first addressed the issue of migration from Islamic countries. The Holy See, he noted, has often defended the need for migrants to be able to freely follow their religious beliefs. This freedom includes the possibility to practice their religion, or even to change their faith. For their part, migrants should respect the laws and values of the society in which they now live, including the local religious values.
Turning to the conduct of Islamic countries themselves, Archbishop Lajolo warned that we are not faced with a homogeneous situation, but with a religion composed of many different facets. There is, nevertheless, a recent tendency for these governments to promote radical Islamic norms and lifestyles in other nations. He named, in particular, pressures from groups in Saudi Arabia and Iran.
In Asia, until recently, Muslims and non-Muslims lived largely in peace. In the last few years, however, extremist groups have grown and religious minorities are the target of violence. The archbishop also expressed concern over Islamic expansion in Africa, and, to a lesser extent, in Europe.
The problems posed by the radicalization of Islam range from Christians being unjustly subjected to trials by Islamic tribunals, to a lack of freedom in constructing places of worship and obstacles for the practice of faith.
The Vatican representative criticized Islamic countries for ignoring the concept of reciprocity, common in relations among states, when it comes to matters of faith. Islamic countries, he noted, demand religious rights for their citizens who migrate to other countries, but ignore this principle for non-Muslim immigrants present in their own lands.
Strategy detailed
What should the Church do in the face of these difficulties? Archbishop Lajolo outlined recommendations:
-- Faced with Islam the Church is called to live its own identity to the full, without backing down and by taking clear and courageous positions to affirm Christian identity. Radical Islamists, the prelate warned, take advantage of every sign they interpret as weakness.-- We should also be open to dialogue, whether with individual nations or within the United Nations or other organizations.
-- An underlying problem in dealing with Islamic nations is the lack of separation between religion and the state. Part of the dialogue with Islamic religious and political authorities should be aimed at helping to develop a separation between these two spheres.
-- A particularly sensitive point is that of respect for minorities and for human rights, especially religious rights. The Holy See will continue to speak out at international meetings for the human rights of migrants. For its part the international community should ensure that humanitarian organizations do not unduly pressure recipients of aid to change religion.
-- The Holy See will continue to declare its firm opposition to all attempts to exploit religion by using it to justify terrorism and violence.
-- The protection of Christians in Islamic countries is particularly difficult in the area ranging from Turkey to the Middle East. Solutions must be found for the many Christians who flee their country of residence in search of safety.
-- Muslims who live in predominantly Christian countries should be integrated into the nation.
-- The Catholic media can play an important role in educating Christians, including those living in Islamic countries.
-- The Roman Curia together with bishops' conferences and local churches need to work closely together in these matters, including looking at the way to spread the Gospel in the Islamic world. This is our duty and our right, concluded Archbishop Lajolo.
British view
Muslim-Catholic relations were also examined recently by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. In a speech May 16 at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies, the archbishop of Westminster said: "Our mutual understanding is crucial for world peace and human progress, not least in this era when globalization and mass migration have placed Christians and Muslims ever closer to each others, as neighbors in the same European towns and cities."
Dialogue between the two religions must combine both an awareness of what they have in common -- and what profoundly distinguishes them. "Catholics, in order to be good dialogue-partners, must first be firmly rooted in their understanding and love of Catholicism," the cardinal stated, "and I suspect that this is true for Muslims too."
But the main obstacle to this dialogue "is the failure, in a number of Muslim countries, to uphold the principle of religious freedom," he added. "It is essential that Muslims can freely worship in Oxford or London, just as it is essential that Christians can freely worship in Riyadh or Kabul."
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor also called upon Muslims living in Britain to speak out when Christians are denied their rights in Islamic countries. "Where religious rights of minorities are disrespected in the name of Islam, the face of Islam is tarnished elsewhere in the world," he argued.
The cardinal furthermore distinguished between a "twisted religion" that is used to justify hatred and violence, and true religion. True religion, he explained, points us to healing, honor and purity.
Another prominent cardinal also recently expressed some concerns over Islam. Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, spoke on the theme of "Islam and Western Democracies" at a meeting of the organization Legatus in Naples, Florida.
His speech was given on Feb. 2, but only recently posted on the Web site of the Sydney Archdiocese. On the positive side, Cardinal Pell noted the points in common between Christians and Muslims, and he noted the great diversity in how Muslim beliefs are interpreted and lived.
Reciprocity
On the negative side, he observed that the Koran contains many invocations to violence. Moreover, Muslims believe that the Koran comes directly from God, unmediated. This makes it difficult for the Koran to be subjected to the same sort of critical analysis and reflection that has taken place among Christians over the Bible, according to Cardinal Pell. What is needed, the archbishop of Sydney stressed, is dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
The Pope spoke May 15 to the participants gathered in Rome for the plenary session of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers. Regarding Islam, Benedict XVI observed that in these times Christians are called upon to practice dialogue, but without losing their identity.
This process, the Pontiff clarified, requires reciprocity. The Christian community, for its part, must live the commandment of love taught by Christ, embracing with charity all immigrants. In turn, it is hoped that Christians living in Islamic countries will also be received well, and with respect for their religious identity. Reciprocity, it seems, is increasingly on the Vatican's mind when it comes to relations with the Islamic world.
I'm with Anne Coulter on this one.
Then why did you say this?
"Invade their countries, kills their leaders, and convert the people to Christianity."
Anne Coulter makes these off the cuff remarks and people take them a serious idea.
Dear Valin,
As you point out, Ms. Coulter didn't mean the remark seriously. It was hyperbole, tongue-in-cheek.
I'm with Ms. Coulter on this.
However, although I don't think Ms. Coulter literally meant that we should just invade all Islamic countries, kill all their leaders, and forcibly convert all the people to Christianity, there is significant truth in her remarks.
The first truth is that underlies her remarks that Islam is the problem. The second truth underlying her remarks is that the civilization that arose from Christianity didn't turn out half-bad.
With all this, I agree.
sitetest
This is good news....finally, the big guns are starting to be concerned...
In Hoc Signo Vinces
Methinksthe cardinal is a bit naive about this.
"Religion," per se, has absolutely nothing to do with "healing, honor and purity."
"Re" = again, "ligo" = to bind. Ie, "to bind again."
We, in the West, have been conditioned under the consesus of Christianity, that anything "religious" is automatically good and useful towards polite and civil society.
Islam qualifies as "religion," but neither polite nor civil.
The Cross of St. George. What a glorious sight!
Notice how the muslimes hate the word `Crusader'?
Wear both as a holy badge of honor!
I caught the tail-end of an old interview with Ali Alitas (sp) last night...and he was saying, in no uncertain terms, that East Timor would NEVER GAIN INDEPENDANCE -
There has to be a price to pay for proving him wrong...the muslims were killing the East Timorese for 25 years and islam never forgets...they will never forgive the Aussies for driving them out of East Timor.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200601/s1550708.htm
Jose Luis Guterres says the allegations will not be surprising for East Timorese. (File photo) (Reuters)
East Timor withholds abuse report
The East Timorese Government has withheld publication of a report claiming as many as 180,000 civilians may have died as a result of Indonesia's quarter-century occupation of the former Portugese colony.
Leaked copies of the report by the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CRTR) point to alleged widespread abuses by the Indonesian military including rape, the use of napalm and the poisoning of food supplies.
But the new East Timorese Government has withheld publication of the report, titled Enough!, saying it wants to look forward to better relations with its neighbour.
The report was handed to the East Timorese Government a few months ago and the Parliament there has been considering it ever since and President Xanana Gusmao will hand it to UN secretary-general Kofi Annan on Friday.
Detailing tactics allegedly used by the Indonesian military to kill off the resistance movement, the report says up to 180,000 East Timorese, or about a third of its pre-invasion population, died during the occupation from 1975 to 1999.
http://westpapuaaction.buz.org/newsletter/index.html
Arrival of West Papuan Asylum Seekers tests relations between Australian government and Indonesia Top
The Australian Government faces a potential new flashpoint in relations with Jakarta after 43 asylum seekers from West Papua landed by boat at Cape York.Australian Greens senator Kerry Nettle immediately called on the Government to "do the right thing" and grant the asylum seekers bridging visas. The 43 Papuans now kept on Christmas Island , who include independence activists, say they could be killed or persecuted if they are forced to return home -- a claim rejected by Jakarta . The President of Indonesia, Dr Susilo Yudhoyono, personally guaranteed to the Australia Prime Minister that the asylum-seekers would not be harmed if they returned to Indonesia .
A grant of asylum by Australia would confirm in the minds of some Indonesian policy-makers that Canberra was seeking to undermine Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua and encourage secessionist sentiment.
The Immigration office will make a final assessment on their applications by mid-April.
****
Susilo warns U.S. not to interfere in Papua Top
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned the U.S. not to interfere in Indonesia's domestic affairs. The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a bill on Papua, which if passed into law could increase international pressure for the Indonesian government to allow the people of the resource-rich Papua to vote whether to remain a part of Indonesia or become an independent nation.
Section 1115 of Bill No. 2061 especially questions the Act of Free Choice Indonesia held in 1969, when selected Papuan elders voted unanimously to join Indonesia "in circumstances that were subject to both overt and covert forms of manipulation", according to the bill. The bill asks the U.S. secretary of state to file a report analyzing the 1969 Act of Free Choice within 180 days after the enactment of the bill. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Shenzen, China, Yudhoyono said such intervention could affect relations between the two countries, which have begun to improve since his election last year and a visit to Washington in May. Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Yuri Thamrin said he was confident Indonesia had room to maneuver diplomatically to block any potential negative impacts from the bill.
religion, he explained, points us to healing, honor and purity."You are correct in that the operative work is not "religion"...it is Truth.
Islam is a false faith. Allah and his prophet Mohammed are "fallen." They are only interested in "ego."
"Ego" is the original sin...the eternal "I"...
Genocide in West Papua
Message from Moses Werror, Chairman OPMRC:
What they (Indonesians) have done to Papuans since 1962 - 19 October 2005
Genocide in West Papua - Report - Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies - Sydney University - August, 2005 (2.35mb pdf file)
10 December 2003 International Human Rights Programs
Our Evidence 2 July 2002
HIV- AIDS Used As a Genocidal Strategy in West Papua
1 April 2000
NABIRE SITUATIONAL REPORT - February/March 2000
Biak Massacre 1998
Some of the Recorded Mass Genocide in West Papua
http://www.wpngnc.org/genocide.htm
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GENOCIDE
Dr. Kees Lagerberg reported that an estimated 300,000 people had disappeared without trace. This is an awful lot of people in anybody's language, but it is more horrific if one considers that the estimated population of the territory was about 700,000 in the early 1960, and about one million in the 1980's, when Dr. Lagerberg made the claim. Thus 30% of the population has simply vanished from the face of this earth. A small portion of this could be explained, the aerial bombardment claimed 80,000 lives, exile and refugees at its highest [ 1984-1985] totaled 13,000, known massacres 13,000, that totals roughly 106,000. So, where did the remainder go? If one looks at the abysmal level of health care system for the rural population, the disease statistics meager though they are, one could not help but conclude that this population is rapidly declining directly or indirectly, as the result of Government policies, therefore man made policies. At the start of the accession to power in the territory, the [Indonesian] Government Policy was to eliminate all politically literate and educated West Papuan elite, because she feared that their presence will hamper the process of Indonisation. [see the "isolated" murders, and disappearances]. The Government's Family Planning Program which stresses the policy of smaller family size also spells disaster for this Melanesian race. Therefore there is an element of urgency to stem this decline lest this ethnic Melanesian race may not survive beyond the first two decades of next century.
In this account we will list as many accounts of killings and massacres as known to us. This list is by no means complete. It is constructed from many and varied sources: published works [Books, Newspapers, Journals], verbal and written accounts and reports from relatives and friends of the victims and general observers living on the spot or itinerant travelers through the territory, during the past 30 years.
http://www.wpngnc.org/genocide4.htm
I haven't spoken with you for a while...but what are your thoughts lately about dealing with radical islam.
They destroy the altars, after having defiled them with their uncleanness.
They circumcise the Christians, and the blood of the circumcision they either spread upon the altars or pour into the vases of the baptismal font.
When they wish to torture people by a base death, they perforate their navels, and dragging forth the extremity of the intestines, bind it to a stake; then with flogging they lead the victim around until the viscera having gushed forth the victim falls prostrate upon the ground.
Others they bind to a post and pierce with arrows. Others they compel to extend their necks and then, attacking them with naked swords, attempt to cut through the neck with a single blow. What shall I say of the abominable rape of the women? To speak of it is worse than to be silent.
The kingdom of the Greeks is now dismembered by them and deprived of territory so vast in extent that it can not be traversed in a march of two months. On whom therefore is the labor of avenging these wrongs and of recovering this territory incumbent, if not upon you? You, upon whom above other nations God has conferred remarkable glory in arms, great courage, bodily activity, and strength to humble the hairy scalp of those who resist you."
After we've run out of cheeks to turn (considering we all have a face and a buttocks), I suggest we turn to sidewinders, heat-seekers, lead and/or brass projectiles, with an occasional cruise launch mixed in.
The soft touch has never gotten Western powers any concessions amongst Muslim leaders.
The realization that they, the Muslim leaders and the Muslim radical clerics, will be in instant and mortal danger if they fail to correct anti Christian atrocities, should change the dynamics somewhat.
If not, then blood must be shed. Their agressive blood would be preferrable to innocent blood, dare I say.
And lest I (or anyone agreeing with me) be called a maniac psycho, I would ask for another plausible suggestion on how to stop the ever increasing violence against Westerners in general and Christians and Jews specifically.
Not quite sure what to make of that one.
Benedict has been quietly reminding Muslims that the Christian world can also bring up a substantial litany of aggressions against it by the Ummah, should it desire to do so, and that they should take care lest their depredations provoke a certain form of Christian revival they would find most uncomfortable.
As I said to a friend preparing to join a Catholic religious order after a terrorist incident quite a few years back, it's been far too long since these scum have felt the bite of Christian steel.
"...strength to humble the hairy scalp of those who resist you."
Maybe in the original the word was latin for face?
Christians shaved where-as mohammad instructed his followers to grow beards...
I like the sound of 'strength to humble the hairy face of those who resist you.'
Don't you?
I would say there's a lot in common between the looks of your average Islamofascist and a Barbary ape, but that's an insult to the apes.
BTTT
Agreed. The only thing the muslims understand is applied raw power, unmercifully. Read history. Nothing changes. The probe for weakness, find it and press, like bullies. They have no respect for any non-muslim, they're religion, in the end, disallows it. The infidels are either to be converted, killed or made second-class citizens. So it says in their holy book. The West needs to be educated on this matter again, and place rifle barrels squarely in the muslims face, ready to pull the trigger.Period.
It's simply too unkind to compare an animal of any species to a follower of the ROP.
Crocodiles? Make wonderful mothers, they are superb survivors, can live in a dried up clay pan for six months and kick-start their metabolism as soon as it rains...and they eat very little and not very often.
Pigs? Have a high IQ. Learn fast, can do tricks, and are clean, very clean, if not penned up.
Vultures are the sanitation squad. Not pretty, but efficient and also very intelligent...
Hyena? Now there's an idea...
Lampreys. Like lampreys, almost every element of 'Islamic' culture is parasitic upon the technologies and concepts stolen from other peoples.
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