Posted on 06/15/2007 8:51:44 AM PDT by Blogger
The premiere of a work by the leading composer Sir John Taverner in Westminster Cathedral next week has provoked discord because it glorifies the Muslim deity Allah.
Traditionalist Roman Catholics are planning to converge on the cathedral on Tuesday evening to protest over the work, which includes the singing of the 99 names of Allah.
A number have written to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, expressing concern that the Church will be seen to be endorsing the Islamic idea of God.
advertisementBut having failed to halt the concert, dozens are now threatening to picket the cathedral with placards and banners quoting Biblical passages that affirm the divinity of Christ.
Sir John's music featured in the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and his new work, The Beautiful Names, was commissioned by his friend the Prince of Wales.
Mgr Mark Langham, the administrator of the cathedral, defended the concert.
He said that it was a musical performance rather than a "liturgical act of worship".
Yeah, as soon as this is done you’ll have muzzies proclaiming “It’s ours now for all eternity.” Dar es’Salaam. Like if they catch you reciting the shehada you’re supposedly automatically muslim and can never leave upon pain of death.
Ecumenism is bunk. Ecumenism with musslemen is BLASPHEMY.
I don’t think ERII is just “hanging on.” I believe The Queen Mum lived to be 98. I pray Liz has the same longetivity. She may out live Wales, as far as that goes.
Oh, he’s a good composer, that’s not the problem. He may be a flake (and now a Muslim flake) in his personal life, but his music is beautiful. Normally, in fact, one might expect composers, artists, etc. to be a little on the unpredictable side, and doctrinal orthodoxy has never been demanded of the creator of works.
The fault lies with the Cathedral, which should not be permitting a piece that is perceived as being an Islamic work to be performed in the Cathedral. Judging from things that I have seen discussing this matter, even the Muslims (who of course have virtually no music, regard it as demonic and regard the Sufis as heretics) are thrilled by this because they regard it as Christianity somehow “bowing” to Islam. Incidentally, once Islamic prayers are said in a building, the Muslims regard it as their own. So I think this was an extremely foolish thing to do.
101, actually. Reports were that she also enjoyed a jolly story and a wee dram now and then. Wish she’d lived to set her imbecile grandson straight.
I know you folks are more educated on Catholicism than I but this doesn’t pass the smell test to me...
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