Pope Benedict and Magdi Allam Uphold Freedom of Conscience in Italy!

AndrewBostomBlog ^ | March 23, 2008 | Andrew Bostom

[NYer]

Pope Benedict and Magdi Allam Uphold Freedom of Conscience in Italy!

March 23rd, 2008 (13 hours ago) by Andrew Bostom |
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An Easter Celebration of Freedom of Conscience

Magdi Allam, a Muslim intellectual living in Italy, who is the assistant editor of Corriere della Sera, recently published, Viva Israele : dall’ideologia della morte alla civiltà della vita : la mia storia [“Long Live Israel - From the Ideology of Death to the Civilization of Life: My Story.”] The book’s title alone is enough to endanger Allam’s life—a life already threatened by the jihad terrorist organization Hamas which condemned  him to death in 2003, following his denunciation of Hamas’ murderous attacks on Israeli civilians.  

Explaining his decision to write the book, Allam stated,   

“Having been condemned to death, I have reflected a long time on the value of life. And I discovered that behind the origin of the ideology of hatred, violence and death is the discrimination against Israel. Everyone has the right to exist except for the Jewish state and its inhabitants…Today, Israel is the paradigm of the right to life.”  

Due to death threats against Allam, like those by Hamas, the Italian government already provides him with round-the-clock bodyguards. But Allam in a January, 2008 Haaretz interview despite having to “…live an armored life,”  insisted  “I’m willing to pay the price in order to continue to be who I am, to write and speak freely.” And as revealed in this same interview, “Those who cut out tongues and slit throats will not subdue him, he writes in the book.”  

Well, on Easter Sunday, in perhaps the ultimate act of courageous defiance against those Muslims inclined to “cut out tongues and slit throats,” Magi Allam, will convert to Catholicism, and undergo a public baptism by Pope Benedict XVI at an Easter vigil, the Vatican announced today.

[NYer]

Magdi Allam, Italy's most prominent Muslim commentator, is baptized ..."

[NYer]

Ultimate Baptism Ping!

[NYer]

I believe Allam chose “Christian” as his Confirmation name.

[the invisib1e hand]

"...Today, Israel is the paradigm of the right to life.”

This incredible remark has implications for governments and individuals everywhere.

[NYer]

This incredible remark has implications for governments and individuals everywhere.

Indeed! Israel is nearly surrounded by Muslim countries. The sole Christian country on its border is Lebanon. Hezbollah, funded by Syria, is trying to make Lebanon a Muslim country. The President of Lebanon, by law, must be a Maronite Catholic. Hezbollah has assassinated several of Lebanon's presidents + one candidate. When last year's elections were scheduled, Hezbollah interfered. It has now been 4 months and no new elections have been scheduled. The longer this situation continues, the longer Lebanon will be run by a Muslim Prime Minister. Soon people will begin to think they no longer need a President.

Israel needs Lebanon just as Lebanon needs Israel.

[the invisib1e hand]

The President of Lebanon, by law, must be a Maronite Catholic.

I had no idea that this was the case.

I think I just got more relevant knowledge of mid-east current events in that one post than I have in years of parsing headlines.

[Tax-chick]

Kewl! God bless Mr. Allam and all Moslem converts to Christianity.

[FatherofFive]

on Easter Sunday, in perhaps the ultimate act of courageous defiance against those Muslims inclined to “cut out tongues and slit throats,” Magi Allam, will convert to Catholicism, and undergo a public baptism by Pope Benedict XVI at an Easter vigil

The difference between Islam and Christianity is clear. Christians will forgive. Muslims will kill.

Killing is the nature of their religion. Prayers up for this brave convert.

The example of Mohamed on forgivness Sahih Muslim, Book 17: 4206

There came to him (the Holy Prophet) a woman from Ghamid and said: Allah's Messenger, I have committed adultery, so purify me. He (the Holy Prophet) turned her away. On the following day she said: Allah's Messenger, Why do you turn me away? Perhaps, you turn me away as you turned away Ma'iz. By Allah, I have become pregnant. He said: Well, if you insist upon it, then go away until you give birth to (the child). When she was delivered she came with the child (wrapped) in a rag and said: Here is the child whom I have given birth to. He said: Go away and suckle him until you wean him. When she had weaned him, she came to him (the Holy Prophet) with the child who was holding a piece of bread in his hand. She said: Allah's Apostle, here is he as I have weaned him and he eats food. He (the Holy Prophet) entrusted the child to one of the Muslims and then pronounced punishment. And she was put in a ditch up to her chest and he commanded people and they stoned her. Khalid b Walid came forward with a stone which he flung at her head and there spurted blood on the face of Khalid and so he abused her. Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) heard his (Khalid's) curse that he had huried upon her. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Khalid, be gentle. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, she has made such a repentance that even if a wrongful tax-collector were to repent, he would have been forgiven. Then giving command regarding her, he prayed over her and she was buried.

The example of Jesus on forgivness (John 8:1-11)

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."

[NYer]

The only way Islam can keep its members is through threat of death. This is also the only way they can make converts. If Muslims were given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Bible, they would probably abandon the Muslim faith. Magdi Allam's defiance is a good example of this.

I believe there is much more to this man's story than meets the eye. Consider the large numbers of converts received into the Catholic Church last night. Consider too, the outspoken nature of Pope Benedict XVI against those Muslim leaders who continue to foster hatred and revenge. The timing and selection of this one convert and in such a visual way (worldwide television coverage), as the Holy Father prepares to meet with 142 Muslim imams, demands intense reflection. This was not showmanship. And surely Pope Benedict XVI would not have agreed to Allam's selection as representative of Europe were the intentions of the outspoken journalist even remotely political. Given what we have seen of Benedict's challenge to the Muslim community, there must have been an intense examination of this young man's intentions, for they also reflect on the Holy Father. I suspect that his homily last night contains the message he will carry to the meeting with the Muslims. Ratzinger is a profund theologian and the ONLY person on the face of this earth today, to address the intensifying situation of Muslims who demand their rights to worship in free countries while forbiding Christians from practicing their faith in Muslim lands. It should be interesting to see how these meetings play out.