Posted on 06/05/2006 1:58:26 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Cardinal George Pell has declared yet again Islam is more warlike than Christianity, this time to a US Catholic newspaper.
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney told the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) Australia hadn't been affected much by Islamic threat following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, but this could change depending "on how many terrorist attacks" Muslim fundamentalists could "bring off successfully", Fairfax newspapers report.
In the interview conducted in Rome with well-known NCR reporter John L Allen, Dr Pell said "the million-dollar question" was whether intolerance was a modern distortion of Islam or arose out of internal logic.
"It's difficult to find periods of tolerance in Islam," Australia's top Catholic was quoted as saying.
"I'm not saying that they're not there, but a good deal of what is asserted is mythical."
It is the second time in a month that Dr Pell has made controversial remarks about Islam.
In early April, the religious leader commented that the Koran contained "invocations to violence" and that Islam was an intolerant faith.
The newspapers quoted Islamic Friendship Association spokesman Keysar Trad as saying Dr Pell had displayed his misunderstanding of Islam.
Dr Pell was in Rome last week for meetings of the Vox Clara Commission, a body of English-speaking bishops advising the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on liturgical translation issues.
"Dr Pell had displayed his misunderstanding of Islam." - REALLY?
Saudi Arabia - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death. Bibles are illegal. Churches are illegal.
Yemen - Bans proselytizing by non-Muslims and forbids conversions. The Government does not allow the building of new non-Muslim places of worship.
Kuwait - Registration and licensing of religious groups. Members of religions not sanctioned in the Koran may not build places of worship. Prohibits organized religious education for religions other than Islam.
Egypt - Islam is the official state religion and primary source of legislation. Accordingly, religious practices that conflict with Islamic law are prohibited. Muslims may face legal problems if they convert to another faith. Requires non-Muslims to obtain what is now a presidential decree to build a place of worship.
Algeria - The law prohibits public assembly for purposes of practicing a faith other than Islam. Non-Islamic proselytizing is illegal, and the Government restricts the importation of non-Islamic literature for distribution.
Jordan - Has the death penalty for any Muslim selling land to a Jew.
Sudan - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death.
Pakistan - Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is punishable by death. Bans proselytizing by non-Muslims. Christians regularly put in prison for charges of blasphemy.
Qatar - Islamic instruction is compulsory in public schools. The government regulates the publication, importation, and distribution of non-Islamic religious literature. The government continues to prohibit proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims.
Malaysia - Under Malaysian law, any convert to Christianity must apply to a shariah (Muslim law) court to legally renounce Islam. Many Christians prefer to remain silent converts rather than take their battle to the shariah courts, where apostasy or conversion out of Islam is punishable by whipping, fines, imprisonment and--in the most extreme application--death.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/
If the American Catholic church had more clerics like Cardinal Pell I'd still be Catholic.
Amen!! I am glad that at least some people are willing to speak out and tell the truth. Islam, muslim, whatever you want to call it, is nothing but another ideology of hate and evil.
Just because muslim insurgencies make up 110 of the worlds 117 wars, doesnt mean they are more warlike. CAIR says it's just a big misunderstanding..s/
LOL!! Yes, just a big, huge, misunderstanding....LOL!
What's controversial? The man speaks the truth!
If they had more clerics like him, I'd convert!
Amen, find a church like that I'd convert to that tomorrow.
Dr. Pell is as slick as a TV lawyer. "Never ask a question unless you already know the answer."
And on top of that, this is one of those "have you stopped beating your wife" kind of questions.
It should be noted that during periods of Islamic tolerance, that regime was often brought down, not from outside, but from more radical Muslim elements from within. The Moors are an excellent example. The Turks might be one, too.
Hello, GW. Listen to this guy rather than your administration. I ain't a religion of peace.
God Bless Dr Pell for telling it like it is. The Catholic church needs more leaders like him.
"In early April, the religious leader commented that the Koran contained 'invocations to violence' and that Islam was an intolerant faith."
Ya, and the good Cardinal is only talking about Islams intolerants to ALL other faiths. How about their intolerants within their own faith? How various Muslim sects kill each other?
The Sunnis in Iraq who are executing Shiite students and blwoing up Shiite shrines?
Could Pell someday be our first pope from down under? From what I've heard about him I'd be happy with that.
I think we understand.
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.