Carey (left) with O'Connor: the jihadis are coming from that-a-way (BBC)
A refreshing bit of courage and backbone from a source where there hasn't been much of either in evidence lately. English Catholic Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor has supported the controversial remarks on Islam made recently by Anglican Archbishop George Carey. From The Guardian, with thanks to Susan:
The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has joined criticism of Muslims for not doing enough to denounce terrorism.The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey sparked anger when he said not enough moderates condemned the radical activists who carried out attacks "in the name of Allah".
And Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor said he sympathised with Dr Carey's remarks.
"He had highlighted something that needed to be highlighted," he said.
The Cardinal said Lord Carey was "very bravely" criticising Muslim leaders for not saying more to combat those who might be attracted to terrorism.
He said the former Archbishop had contributed a lot of his life to building bridges between Christians and Muslims. "I think what he said was fundamentally true."
Lord Carey caused outrage with his lecture in Rome last month. He said people looked to Muslims to condemn suicide bombers and terrorists who used Islam as a weapon to destroy innocent lives. But apart from a few courageous examples very few Muslim leaders clearly condemned the evil of suicide bombers.
Lord Carey also accused Islamic societies of being authoritarian and committed to power and privilege - often led by people who rose to power "at the point of a gun".
He also criticised the Islamic faith, saying Muslim theological scholarship had declined over the last 500 years, "leading to strong resistance to modernity".
The cardinal used the interview to call on the west to tackle the gross poverty and inequality which was the root cause of terrorism.
Well, nothing is perfect, I suppose. About that last point, I might ask the Cardinal: why is it that many peoples throughout history have suffered from gross poverty and inequality, but few have turned to terrorism? Might that not point to another cause for terrorism? That whole jihad business might be worth another look, eh wot?
It matters less and less every day to me what does and doesn't offend Muslims. Especially Muslims that move into other countries and do nothing to better anything. Rather they sit around, throw on their picket signs, and protest that particular nation's tradition and culture.
Screw them......Who do they think they are? Coming into foreign lands, some saving their own hides by doing so, and protesting everything that isn't Islamic.
Muslims, either adapt to the culture of the nation you've encroached, or go back to whatever country they threw you out of.
DC,remember the fact that they are here to conquer,not to adapt.
They are here to subjugate ,not to integrate.
They are here to spread their venomous religion,not to better themselves.
They are here to kill us,or die in the process.
And die they should!
Not sure how large a portion of sodium chloride to take with this, but one moslem pointed out that many "moderates" are reluctant to speak because their mosques, schools, and other facilities were built with Wahabbi funding and they fear losing them...
"Moderate muslim"....hmmmmmm.... belongs in the same category as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and UFO's...people think they are real, but no proof is offered for their existence...
I would also like to point out something that became clear to me from reading "Islam Unveiled." Christianity and Islam are different. I think both of these Christian men are shy about saying that.
As a teenager my (Jewish) Sunday school class studied Nostra Aetate, the Catholic proclamation concerning other religions. The document was somewhat new at the time and we were quite pleased to have it in writing that Jews were not Christ-killers. One thing that stuck me then and now is Nostra Aetate's common sense understanding that if there is indeed a human nature which binds us together throughout time and culture, and if indeed the Lord is One, then all men will in some way search for and find the same God. Even so, the document was forthright about saying that Catholicism was the true yardstick against which all other should be measured. This is as it should be, for we think this about our core beliefs- Jewish, Buddhist, atheist, Muslim- even if we are too polite to say it.
“Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing "ways," comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.”
Reveling in what we have in common, playing I’m okay you’re okay with all religions, “making friends with every Sikh” and so on is nice, easy, and very feel-good. But only fruitful ground for dialogue is to look at our differences.