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Pope to Muslims: People should have “the freedom to choose the religion which one judges to be true”

Jun 7, 2014 12:45 pm By Robert Spencer

pope in jordanSince the Pope knows that “authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence,” he may also think that all Muslim countries need to do in order to safeguard religious freedom is start applying the true teachings of authentic Islam, instead of the twisted and hijacked version that is so prevalent today. I would venture to guess that he is unaware that Muhammad commanded: “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him” (Bukhari 9.84.57).

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the most renowned and prominent Muslim cleric in the world, has stated: “The Muslim jurists are unanimous that apostates must be punished, yet they differ as to determining the kind of punishment to be inflicted upon them. The majority of them, including the four main schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi`i, and Hanbali) as well as the other four schools of jurisprudence (the four Shiite schools of Az-Zaidiyyah, Al-Ithna-`ashriyyah, Al-Ja`fariyyah, and Az-Zaheriyyah) agree that apostates must be executed.” There is only disagreement over whether the law applies only to men, or to women also – some authorities hold that apostate women should not be killed, but only imprisoned in their houses until death.

“Pope to Muslims: People Have ‘Freedom to Choose the Religion One Judges to be True,'” CNS News, June 6, 2014:

(CNSNews.com) – During his first official visit to the Middle East, Pope Francis repeatedly told Muslim audiences that religious freedom is “a fundamental human right” and that governments must allow people to choose their own faith.

“Religious freedom is in fact a fundamental human right and I cannot fail to express my hope that it will be upheld throughout the Middle East and the entire world,” the pope said in a May 24th address to King Abdullah II, ruler of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Queen Rania at the Al Husseini Royal Palace in Amman.

The Hashemites are direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

Quoting from his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, which called religious freedom “the pinnacle of other freedoms,” Pope Francis continued: “The right to religious freedom ‘includes on the individual and collective levels the freedom to follow one’s conscience in religious matters and, at the same time, freedom of worship….[it also includes] the freedom to choose the religion which one judges to be true and to manifest one’s beliefs in public.’”

Pope Francis repeated the same message the next day in his meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials in Bethlehem.

While expressing his “profound hope” that “peace will be pursued with tireless determination and tenacity,” the pontiff once again stressed the need for religious freedom.

“Respect for this fundamental human right is, in fact, one of the essential conditions for peace, fraternity and harmony,” he said.

On May 26, the final day of his three-day pilgrimage, Pope Francis met with Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, the grand mufti of Jerusalem, and the president of the Islamic Supreme Council at the Dome of the Rock to mark the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s historic visit to the Holy Land.

The Temple Mount site is holy to both Muslims, who believe it is where the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven, and Jews, who believe it is where God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and where their First and Second Temples were built.

“Dear brothers, dear friends, from this holy place I make a heartfelt plea to all people and to all communities who look to Abraham: may we respect and love one another as brothers and sisters! May we learn to understand the sufferings of others!” the pope said.

“May no one abuse the name of God through violence!” Pope Francis told the Muslim religious leaders.

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Filed Under: Apostasy, Catholic Church Tagged With: featured


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Comments

  1. Jay Boo says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    “…governments must allow people to choose their own faith.”

    I suspect he should have been more specific and said ‘theocracies’

    • Ragnar says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 12:14 am

      Dear Pope Francis,

      Was it “inauthentic Islam” that Charles (Martel), Pippin, and Charles (Magne) had to defeat first at Tours and eventually drive back into Iberia commencing in 732 AD (only 100 years after the demise of the “prophet”.

      If so it would seem that “inauthentic Islam” as been a bad problem for a LONG time … Or maybe that WAS authentic Islam then and now.

    • Helmuth says

      Jun 9, 2014 at 12:30 am

      Authentic BS

  2. Jay Boo says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    Muslims claim to believe that the Temple Mount site is the place where Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven but this is obviously impossible for a number of reasons, not the least being that:
    Medina is clearly the place where Prophet Mohammed descended into hell.

  3. Charli Main says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    Muslims have never had any problem with people having the freedom to chose their religion——as long as they choose Islam.

  4. Rinzai says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    Islamic law has a death penalty for apostasy. The pope is praising the religion of satan. I loathe the modern day catholics…

    • Jay Boo says

      Jun 7, 2014 at 2:32 pm

      @Rinzai
      ” I loathe the modern day catholics…” (sic)
      ————–

      For you to stereotype Catholics with the such a statement suggests you are either a total idiot or are merely concerned with causing division.

      • Jay Boo says

        Jun 7, 2014 at 2:35 pm

        Note: to Rinzai
        Your first two sentences were merely a ploy to lead up to the last.

        • Rinzai says

          Jun 7, 2014 at 2:53 pm

          A catholic is supposed to listen to the pope and take his stances on things. A catholic not following the pope is like a muslim not following mohammed. Yes, I hate the constant appeasment of islam done by the catholic church. It does nothing to stop the ISLAMIC PERSECUTION of christians. Nada. So, consequently I hate catholics because the pope is their spokeseman. Accuse me of whatever you want but the PC, muslim-loving catholic church is a thing to be despised…

        • Champ says

          Jun 7, 2014 at 4:40 pm

          Get lost, hater.

        • John C. Barile says

          Jun 8, 2014 at 10:00 am

          Do you really suppose that if the Pope declares that 2 + 2 = 5, that my conscience is bound to believe it, as I’m (genuinely) Catholic? No. If it isn’t a solemn, straightforward exposition of faith or morals, if it’s simply the Pope exercising his prudential judgment, then I only owe him a respectful hearing.

    • cheekturner says

      Jun 7, 2014 at 5:36 pm

      How would you describe a “modern day catholic”? I am a Roman Catholic and disagree with the Pope’s concept of Islam and disagree with his airing his view regarding reading of the Koran (which he patently has failed to do). The fact remains that I am still a Roman Catholic despite our differing opinions, and furthermore our opinions have nothing to do with Catholicism. But then as an obvious bigot you would fail to grasp this. Knob!

    • Nan says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 12:23 pm

      Rinzai,

      You clearly know nothing about Catholicism. A Catholic is supposed to follow church teaching, including what the pope says ex cathedra. That means that we must follow what is in the catechism, and if the pope adds anything to dogma we must follow it. The last time was Pope Pius XII defining the Assumption of Mary in 1950. Thus, as a Catholic, I must believe that the Host is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ, that Mary was assumed into heaven and don’t have to pay attention to anything the pope says, unless he defines dogma, just as I don’t have to pay attention to any private revelations.

    • Stevan says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 6:00 pm

      Rinzai,
      Why would you loath modern day Catholics?
      Pope Francis is doing a fine job of spreading the Word!
      Peace and love are the only answer! What would you do that would better the situation?

  5. Salah says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    ‘Pope Francis repeatedly told Muslim audiences that religious freedom is “a fundamental human right”’

    I’m no fan of Pope Francis, and as a catholic myself, I think he’s one of the worst Popes we’ve ever had.
    Having said that, I think that by stressing on the importance of religious freedom in Muslim countries he’s doing something good.
    He’s stupid, but not THAT stupid. He probably (and hopefully) knows what he’s doing.

  6. Louise from Canada says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 3:12 pm

    Jay Boo,
    …Medina is clearly the place where Prophet Mohammed descended into hell.

    mohammed never went to hell because he NEVER existed. The satanic
    guy that wrote the coran, he IS in hell.

    • Jay Boo says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 1:05 am

      @Louise from Canada
      I will have to read Robert Spencer’s book on that.
      I noticed that you spelled Quran as ‘coran’,
      Are you from a French speaking area of Canada?

  7. IQ al Rassooli says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the most renowned and prominent Muslim cleric in the world, has stated: Islam would NJOT exist had it not been for the command to slaughter anyone who leaves Islam

    If in doubt listen and watch him say this

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huMu8ihDlVA

    No further comments are needed except maybe this should be brought to the attention of the deluded pope

    IQ al Rassooli
    Kafir & Proud!

    • IQ al Rassooli says

      Jun 7, 2014 at 4:27 pm

      I forgot to add that what he said so publicly was the WORST mistake of his life since as one of the foremost authorities on Islam he admits that Islam can ONLY exist through COMPULSION, COERCION & TERROR!

      Thank you (for ever) Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi fgor pointing out what 99% of humanity refuses to accept as FACT!

      IQ al Rassooli
      Kafir & Proud!

  8. VLParker says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 9:10 pm

    Robert Spencer: I would venture to guess that he (the pope) is unaware that Muhammad commanded: “Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him.”

    I contend that he has no business being unaware. If he is going to speak about islam and the koran, then he has an obligation to know what he is talking about. Way too many people, from presidents, to prime ministers to religious leaders need to stop talking about things about which they are totally ignorant.

  9. Kurt Louis Hanson says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 11:31 pm

    How pathetic the mindset of the pope and bishops ignorantly admonishing leading Muslims about their behavior.

    • Jay Boo says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 12:02 am

      You call that admonishing leading Muslims!

      Leading Muslim leaders should be tarred and feathered and forced to draw Muhammad cartoons.

  10. Joseph says

    Jun 7, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Somebody needs to just say it, so let it be me: Pope Francis is [obviously] utterly ignorant of the true nature of Islam. He is a useless piece of sh#% who would be better off sitting at home touching himself than pontificating [literally] on things about which he is utterly ignorant.

    I’m sorry. I’m just fed up with this ignoramus talking about Islam. He knows nothing about it and he should just keep his fu#king mouth shut , rather than muddying the waters for those of us who actually know something.

    And I am a devout Catholic. Frank: shut the f#@k up. You’re an embarrassment to the Church. Shut up already.

    • Nan says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 12:31 pm

      You don’t have to agree with him or like him but to use such language is inappropriate and should be confessed. You have no way of knowing what’s in his heart or his head; he has a different approach than either Benedict or St JP and gets to the heart of the matter which is freedom of religion. Note also that he promotes peace.

  11. gravenimage says

    Jun 8, 2014 at 1:57 am

    Pope to Muslims: People should have “the freedom to choose the religion which one judges to be true”
    ……………………………….

    I’m actually glad to see the Pope addressing the issue of apostasy in Islam—I wish he’d been more explicit, but his bringing it up at all is heartening in these days of general willful ignorance.

    More:

    On May 26, the final day of his three-day pilgrimage, Pope Francis met with Sheikh Mohammed Hussein, the grand mufti of Jerusalem
    ……………………………….

    Unfortunately, this fine Mufti—rather like “Hitler’s Mufti”, has preached the murder of Jews.

    Somehow I rather doubt he’ll be very open to the Pope’s message of tolerance…

  12. Naija says

    Jun 8, 2014 at 6:04 am

    Please can someone give me brief and unbias history about that temple?

    • John C. Barile says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 10:29 am

      Yours is a very pertinent question, Naija. You will probably need to seek out a number of sources. The First Century book by Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities would be the first source I’d think to consult. Why not direct your question to Robert Spencer himself, at director@jihadwatch.org ?

      • Naija says

        Jun 8, 2014 at 10:52 am

        Thaks very much,im gonna do that right NOW!

  13. John C. Barile says

    Jun 8, 2014 at 10:17 am

    Yes, of course, Mr Swaggart. But naturally I’m too busy kissing the Pope’s ring to have read and ponder Scripture. But then, I suppose we Catholics are like that. /sarc

    In my opinion, sir, you have a deficient understanding of the church, “the pillar and foundation of the truth”; and of the Source of legitimate authority within her.

    • John C. Barile says

      Jun 8, 2014 at 10:19 am

      Correction: pondered, that is.

  14. John C. Barile says

    Jun 8, 2014 at 10:46 am

    It may be of some comfort to know that Francis shall be judged more sternly by Our Lord than you or I shall be, Bill C.

  15. Wisteria says

    Jun 8, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    RE: The “Decay” of the West:
    Isn’t it strange that it’s non-Western countries with high rates of poverty, illiteracy, and tyranny? This is a very short list.

  16. Smart Guy says

    Jun 8, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    The Cardinal said to the Monk “The Pope is above scripture and above counsels”
    the Monk’s name was Martin Luther. The difference between a Protestant and a Catholic is that a Catholic believes in the ordination of the Priesthood of the Catholic Church whereas the Protestant believes in scripture and that the
    Catholic Church has wandered away from God’s word. In the begining God chose to communicate his philosophy by means of the written word he wrote them on stone tablets, the Catholic Church in the Douay Bible choose to edit the second commandment and added a tenth by repeating the tenth.
    The Catholic church would burn people at the stake for translating the Bible into a common language because it exposed the corruption of the priesthood. The Mayflower people came over here with the Geneva Bible which predates the King James. It opposes the idea that kings rule by “Divine Right” whereas as Catholics, (back in the old days) supported the ordination of Kings. The Bishops Bible and the King James Bible were written in an attempt to restore the idea that kings rule by “Divine Right” the idea of “Govenment by the people for the people” comes from Protestantism.
    If you no longer believe that the Pope speaks for the God who wrote the Bible
    and that he has wandered away from the truth then it is time for you to become a Protestant just like the monk Martin Luther or Wycliffe.

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