US al-Qaida Official Called Catholics 'Fertile Ground' for Conversion

Catholic News Service ^ | 5/3/12 | Michael Kelly

[marshmallow]

DUBLIN (CNS) -- A U.S. al-Qaida official concluded that Catholics were "fertile ground" for conversion, "particularly after the rage expanding against the mother church (Vatican) as a result of its scandals and policies refused by many of its public."

American al-Qaida spokesman Adam Gadahn wrote Osama bin Laden in January 2011 and laid out reasons for reaching out to Catholics, particularly the Irish. He urged bin Laden to use public anger at the church's mishandling of clerical abuse to encourage Irish people to convert to Islam, according to newly declassified documents.

The letter was contained in files allegedly found at bin Laden's Pakistan hideout after he was killed by U.S. special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, last May.

The Combating Terrorism Center, a privately funded research base at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, posted a number of declassified documents belonging to bin Laden on its website May 3.

They were taken in the raid on his house.

The letter from Gadahn particularly highlighted the reason for approaching the Irish, noting Ireland was not a participant in "Bush's Crusade wars."

It noted "the increasing anger in Ireland towards the Catholic Church after exposing a number of sex scandals and others" and speaks of the hunger of youths because of the economic downturn in Ireland.

Gadahn wrote that Irish people, "who were the most religious of atheist Europe," were moving toward secularism.

"Why do not we face them with Islam?" he asked.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I’d hate to think he’s right, but look how many lapsed Catholics get drawn into stupid and/or evil things.

As for me, once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior I can’t see any situation which would cause me to want to backtrack on that.

[crosshairs]

Catholics who don’t believe in or practice Catholic doctrine are not actually Catholic, and therefore still have a chance for salvation according to God's promise in scripture.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

You’re going to burn in Hell for that.

[Campion]

according to God's promise in scripture.

Seems to me that God promised to keep his church free from error through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Seems he also prayed for his disciples to remain in unity, and another Scripture seems to say that "the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," therefore, we know that that prayer was heard.

So by deserting those promises, Catholics who apostasize demonstrate their faithfulness to God's other promises?

I don't think it works that way, sorry.

[MarkBsnr]

Catholics who don’t believe in or practice Catholic doctrine are not actually Catholic, and therefore still have a chance for salvation according to God's promise in scripture.

John 14: 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it, that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father's who sent me.

We must keep the Faith given to us from the Apostles who received it from Jesus Himself. Is it possible to be saved by God outside of the Faith? Could be - if God were to decide that. But we have no assurance that He will. Rejecting the Faith is not the surest way to one's salvation.