No cross, no bell, no steeple, no sign.
Why? Because that's Islamic law for churches:
Such non-Muslim subjects are obliged to comply with Islamic rules that pertain to the safety and indemnity of life, reputation, and property. In addition, they:[...]
(5) may not build higher than or as high as the Muslims' buildings...
There goes the steeple.
(6) are forbidden...to ring church bells or display crosses...
There goes the rest. That's from Umdat al-Salik, o11.5 -- a manual of Islamic law certified by Al-Azhar as a reliable guide to Sunni orthodoxy.
"First Catholic Church Opens in Qatar, Sparking Fear of Backlash Against Christians," by Sonia Verma for FoxNews (thanks to all who sent this in):
DOHA, Qatar — Qatar's first Christian church has no cross, no bell and no steeple.And when 5,000 faithful flock to Our Lady of the Rosary to celebrate its historic consecration this weekend, they pray no one will notice.
Father Tom Veneracion, the parish priest, is worried about a backlash.
"The idea is to be discreet because we don't want to inflame any sensitivities," he says. "There isn't even a signboard outside the church. No signs at all."
Qatar's fledgling Catholic community considers its sprawling $15 million saucer-shaped facility a victory. A 15-minute drive into barren desert, it has been built with the blessing of the nation's emir.
But some people in this Muslim country have branded it an offense; one prominent politician has called for a national referendum to determine its fate.
And as the church lookd forward to its first Easter service, the controversy is getting considerable attention among this gas-rich country's press.
"The cross should not be raised in the sky of Qatar, nor should bells toll in Doha," wrote Lahdan bin Issa al-Muhanada, a leading columnist in Doha's Al-Arab newspaper....
Read it all.
"Father Tom Veneracion..."
-- from the article above
A name akin in its fittingness to those of that American newspaperman Mr. Headline, and that celebrated British neurologist Lord Brain, and that Franco-Russian "father of ballet" so admired by Balanchine, Marius Petipa ("Petits Pas").
"But some people in this Muslim country have branded it an offense; one prominent politician has called for a national referendum to determine its fate."
Not to worry; one good sermon on a Friday in March and some half-wit searching for his virgins will firebomb the place, watch it burn to the ground, get his picture in the paper standing next to the mayor, get a parade in his honor and maybe even a little pink poodle and Qatar will again be safe for Democracy, uh, er Sharia.
"gas-rich country's press"
That should have been wrtten "country's gas rich press."
"The cross should not be raised in the sky of Qatar, nor should bells toll in Doha," wrote Lahdan bin Issa al-Muhanada, a leading columnist in Doha's Al-Arab newspaper....
No mosques or minarets in western countries, no muezzin wailing the adhan over our towns and cities........tit for tat.
But some people in this Muslim country have branded it an offense;
so what muslims seem to find everything that is not islamic offensive
Our Lady of the Rosary...Could they have chosen a worse name? Of course the homicidal maniacs who eventually destroy the church will feel themselves justified. Our Lady? Of the Rosary?
Well, let's see...first there's the "fact" that Our Lady isn't God, ergo, the congregation are at best polythiests, at worst "pagans" worshiping a "false" god/dess.
Then, we have The Rosary. Well, let's hope no one has a Rosary, over there. I don't think things would go well for someone who was caught with a Rosary in his or her possession. It would be seen as flagrant idolatry. Having attached the phrase to the church, these poor people have set themselves up to be wiped out.
What a horror, to be a Christian in a Muslim nation!
"....we don't want to inflame any sensitivities..."Ah yes, Muslim sensitivities are so easily enflamed, especially by anyone or anything non-Muslim.
What? You mean there are Muslims who oppose multi-culturalism in their own countries? Shocking!
Abscedere, I beg to differ. Catholics don't worship Mary, they honor her as the Mother of God, and because she said yes, I will serve (as in, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word, Luke 1:38) as opposed to Satan who said, no, I won't serve. Jesus also gave her to us to be our mother at the foot of the cross. Since one of the ten commandments is to honor our parents, why would we not honor Jesus' Blessed Mother whom he gave to us as our own?
It's His universe. He can honor whomever He wants. And as Padre Pio said, the Rosary is THE weapon, I feel a lot better now knowing that the church was named after Mary and that she will be giving it special protection. That makes so much sense, because how would the Christians have gotten the thing built in that hellhole if there wasn't Christs divine intervention? And don't underestimate His mother asking Him to do this favor. He turned the water into wine at Mary's request at the wedding at Cana when it wasn't yet His time.
Is there anything we'd say no to our own mothers over? Why do we expect Christ to act any differently?
About 150 Moroccans, Lebanese & other Muslims are hauled up in 2 churches in Belgium, trying to extort asylum from the authorities with the help of the church-people useful idiots...
Links from the local media:
http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Belgi/article/detail/204988/2008/03/13/Honderdvijftig-sans-papiers-bezetten-kerk-in-Anderlecht.dhtml
http://www.brusselnieuws.be/site/rubrieken/1091053972/page.htm?newsID=1205395733
Hi Isa,
Thanks for that explanation. I've often wondered why Mary was so important to Catholics, as it makes a lot of sense because Jesus did honor his mother, although not much is said about his father, Joseph. I'm guessing that Joseph had passed away before Christ's death on the cross, otherwise Jesus would have made mention of him too. Jesus really only spoke of His Father in Heaven.
Believers should pray for the Qatar Christians daily (I know I will). A cousin of mine knows anevangelist of the immigrant workers in the Middle East, and the message of Jesus is drawing thousands of souls. To start a new church with 5,000 souls is tremendous.
Orthodox doctrine is that Mary is Mother of our Lord (the God-bearer, the Theotokos in the Greek). The Rosary is based on the Holy-Spirit inspired greeting of John the Baptist's mother Elizabeth, when Mary came to visit her after Mary learned she was pregnant with God's Son. (Read it in the Gospel.) The Rosary is not a prayer TO Mary, it asks her to pray for US - our prayer partner. Mary is venerated, not worshipped.
Blessed Mother of the Church, pray for us sinners (especially those in your church in Qatar), now and at the hour of our death. Blessed Archangel Michael, protect the flock of Father Veneracion.
Now the Muslims have one more thing to seethe over. Protect us, Good Lord!
...and they called the windbag Issa (Jesus)?
This little light of mine.
Not gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine.
Not gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Let the sheikhdom snuff it out.
Not gonna let it shine.
Let the sheikhdom snuff it out.
Not gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
I'll convert to Islam, then.
Not gonna lose my head.
I'll convert to Islam, then.
Not gonna lose my head, lose my head, lose my head.
Isabellathecrusader--Whaaaat? "Jesus also gave her to us to be our mother at the foot of the cross"? Where do you catholics come up with this crap? He told John to take care of her-thats it. Don't read anything more into it...Sheesh.
Mother of God--what balogne. She was the mother of Jesus-Son Of MAN. Jesus the HUMAN BEING. Sheeeesh.
I think that its sad that they let a catholic church happen in that country. That religion gives the wrong idea about what Christianity is all about. They need a good Assembly of God congregation to see Christianity for real.
el greco -
Jesus was more than a human being, Jesus is God in the flesh - Jesus is God Incarnate:
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/jesusgd2.htm
Internecine quarrels should not be conducted at this site. There are many other places to do that.
Some of the posters commented that a church in a country that is Mahometan is in a tenuous state. Though they spend thousands to the Muslim authorities in "protection" money, all it will take will be one Imam who is angry because some Christian parents will not sell their daughter to him and the next thing you know the church will be burnt to the ground and the parishoners will be lucky if they are not burnt to death along with it.
Forget about Muslims actually respecting their own sharia about accepting jizya as protection money, they will twist the humiliation clause to include such things as rape, murder and arson.
Apparently the Greek doesn't get it that God and Jesus are one and the same. Sheesh.
15 minutes out in the desert, would you feel safe there?
Hi Champ! Hi Darcy!
Have we a new troll to contend with?
What you want to bet El Greco is El Muslimo? I believe Assembly of God followers know Jesus is God and man but hey, what would I know, I'm just a Catholic.
Hi Isa!
Probably - because Assembly of God believe in the Deity of Christ - or perhaps he's a wayward member unfamiliar with his own churches doctrine ...lol
He's either a troll or was truant for membership classes. Time will certainly tell :-)
sarcasm on/
I hope the good Christians of Qatar remember their islamic & civic responsiblities. They must wear special emblems on their clothes. They must wear special badges as required by the caliph. In public baths, they are required to wear medallions suspended from cords around their necks so no one would mistake them for muslims. Belts, headgear, shoes, armbands and/or cloth patches are also to be used. They better get a fatwa from a respected authority what exactly they are required to wear especially if bells on their garments is required. Otherwise, they will be subject to severe pranks such as acid in the face, stoning, assault or murder by justifiably indignant muslims.
...but it is "racist" to ban minarets in Europe!
The fact that no outward physical expressions of Churchianity are permitted in the Qatar church does not faze me. Unlike Islam where all those things are franchised as much as any McDonlds. Christians are taught that the temple they worship in is a temple made of clay.
Jesus said "destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days", the idolators of His day thought He was referring to Herods magnificent temple in Jerusalem, but He was referring to the temple of His body.
That is where true worship takes place, in fact the world could build a structure that was the tallest, the most awe inspiring, yet any worship that occurs there still happens in that little temple built of clay.
Hugh is right everyone! This is not the venue to be arguing over Christian doctrine. Let's please stay focused on the objective: Islam is fascist ideology cloaked in religion. I think it's good that churches in muslim countries are inconspicuous. How else are muslim converts to get to non-muslim places of worship if theses places are out in the open and under the watchful eye of the general public? Though I must admit that it's likely that most these churches will be under some kind of electronic surveillance, the general public will be largely unaware that Abdullah or Fatima might be visiting there some day with a question or two about a different faith; whether it be Catholic, Pentecostal, Hindu, or Buddhist. One does not win souls by force, but by example and faith.
Isabella,
No,no-- I know about Mary, and how she is seen by Catholics, and many Protestants, as well. I love the Rosary, myself. It's a very comforting prayer (or set of prayers). I also have a deep and heartfelt love for Mary.
I was only expressing how this would look through the eyes of a Muslim in Qatar, and how, eventually, an attack that destroys the church building will be justified, by them.
I meant no offense.
No mosques in the infidel world until churches and synagogues are allowed in Saudi Arabia.
How could they object?
"The cross should not be raised in the sky of Qatar, nor should bells toll in Doha," wrote Lahdan bin Issa al-Muhanada, a leading columnist in Doha's Al-Arab newspaper....
...................................
Only in the symbolic sense, since there is no exterior cross and no bells.
This next point is salient:
it has been built with the blessing of the nation's emir.
......................................
In most Islamic states there is no new church building allowed, even of the inconspicous kind. A pre-existing church may be repaired, but only with permission. Being granted that permission is often extraordinarily difficult--the Middle East is full of Christians worshipping in churches marred by earthquake and storm damage, as well as deferred general maintenance, because they can not get permits to make such needed repairs.
More:
But some people in this Muslim country have branded it an offense; one prominent politician has called for a national referendum to determine its fate.
............................................
It always astonishes me that many Muslims will put up with the most horrendous tyrrany, corruption, and human rights abuses from their unelected leaders, with very few signs of protest or even expressed disatissfaction.
Yet, if a ruler is perceived to act in a manner which is considered "un-Islamic"--such as granting the founding of a Christian church, no matter how low-key--the howls of protest are almost immediate.
Consider it a miracle that a Christian church has even been built in a Muslim nation such as Qatar. Also best wishes for a blessed Holy Week and St. Patrick's/St. Joseph Day.
Abscedere, my dear friend, I took no offense from you, just an opportunity to straighten out what Catholics believe.