Allam, who has been outspoken about the conflict in the Middle East, in 2006 organised a demonstration in Rome in support of Christians in the Muslim world.
Magdi Allam, right, Italy's most prominent Muslim commentator, receives holy communion after being baptized by Pope Benedict XVI, at left, during the Easter vigil mass in St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, Saturday, March 22, 2008. In an Easter Mass Sunday celebrated on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica to mark Catholicism's most important day, he praised conversions to Christianity, only hours after he baptized a prominent Muslim. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Catholic Ping
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Both the Pope and Mr. Allam have shown extraordinary courage in a world that trembles at the mention of Islam.
God Bless Magdi Allam.
Linking religions to violence in public can only be done when one’s own religion has a spotless record of peace and love. Of course, the catholic church has an impeccable past of religious tolerance.
The death threats are only proving Magdi Allam is right about the nature of Islam. I once saw a German Neo-Nazi on 60 Minutes say that Islam was the only religion Hitler respected. He respected it because he saw it as an aggressive, warlike religion. He despised the humane, peaceful message of Christianity.
May the merciful Hand of God protect Magdi Allam. It takes a brave man to face down the death threats and attempts on his life that will surely come in the days to follow.
> ITALIAN editor and critic of Islamic extremism Magdi Allam, who converted to Catholicism from Islam and was baptised by Pope Benedict XVI, today branded his former faith as intrinsically violent.
My initial reaction to this was “well Duhhh what was your first clue?”
Then I thought about it quite a bit harder and realized the remarkable courage this man has demonstrated, and what a stinging blow it would be for our enemy. He is much more credible and articulate than any of the western turncoats and traitors that have taken up arms on behalf of the Taliban/al Qaeda.
And good on the Pope — another brave man — for allowing this to happen in such a public manner.
May God bless them both.
In your face!
On a serious note, this event once again makes me think of Ronald Reagan's greatest speech, "A Time for Choosing":
You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, "There is a price we will not pay." There is a point beyond which they must not advance.
Winston Churchill said that "the destiny of man is not measured by material computation. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we are spirits--not animals." And he said, "There is something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty."
The courage this man displays is just beyond belief. May God keep him safe.
Wonderful news! May God protect him from his former brethren!
I didn’t see any baptism taking place. I see a man in some kind of helmet or something on the left holding something on the head of a guy bent over a bowl or something.
The Game, as they say, is afoot.
Amen.
The death cult is mad that anyone would say that it is violent. It wants to kill him for saying that it is violent.
The article states he adopted the Christian name of Cristiano but I don't know of a saint my that name.
It would be interesting to know who he chose.