The Christians should, of course, immediately comply. To do anything else would be disrespectful. It would be poking Muslims in the eye. It would harm the wonderful dialogue that Muslims and Christians are having in the West. Once Muslims have made it clear that their feelings would be hurt by Christians attending church, Christians must not attend church. It’s that simple. It’s just like cartoons of Muhammad: cartoons are just cartoons, good for a chuckle or a meaningful observation now and again, but once Muslims make it clear that they will kill Christians and other non-Muslims for drawing Muhammad, then the non-Muslims must stop drawing Muhammad. It’s simply respectful. Right?
Two years ago, after jihadis attacked our free speech Muhammad cartoon event in Garland, Texas, I was told exactly that by Christians and others: if drawing Muhammad offends Muslims, we must not draw Muhammad, and to draw him would be intentionally provocative. Pamela Geller, meanwhile, was excoriated by people such as Bill O’Reilly, Laura Ingraham and Donald Trump in much the same way. I responded that if we start changing our behavior to avoid offending Muslims, we end up encouraging them to make more demands, now that they have seen that they can compel us to change our behavior by doing so. What, I said, would these Christian leaders do if Muslims said it offended them for Christians to go to church? They responded that the idea that Muslims would ever do such a thing was absurd.
And now here we are.
“Mali Church leader voices alarm as Islamists attack parishes,” by Jonathan Luxmoore, Catholic Herald, October 6, 2017:
Militants told Christians they would be killed if they were seen in church
Catholic leaders in Mali have warned that parishes face a growing assault by Islamic militants despite attempts to enforce a peace deal in the north African country.
“Our churches and chapels are now being targeted by extremists, who’ve told Christians not to gather to pray,” said Mgr Edmond Dembele, secretary-general of the Malian bishops’ conference.
“The authorities are trying to reimpose control, and we may learn more about what kind of strategy is being followed,” he told Catholic News Service. “But we’re also alarmed the attacks are being mounted by isolated Islamist groups, acting in their own name.”
Tensions were running high in September and early October in Mali’s central Mopti region after several Catholic churches were ransacked and torched, forcing parishioners to flee.
Mgr Dembele said it was unclear which groups were involved and what their motives were.
“We have no security programme of our own and we rely on the authorities to provide protection and find solutions,” Mgr Dembele said.
“On previous occasions, the government has deployed military units in our parishes. But this still hasn’t been done against these new attacks.”…
Benedict says
“It’s just like cartoons of Muhammad: cartoons are just cartoons, good for a chuckle or a meaningful observation now and again, …” –
When Muslims see a Muhammad cartoon the honesty is too much and the result is an uncontrollably rage. The caricature is a mirror of the bearded caricatures of flesh and blood that walk around among us. Islam is the ultimate mockery of the human race: which other ideology turns to the same extent its adherents into caricatures in the form of mechanical puppets and reciting parrots?
Michael Copeland says
Muslims are INSTRUCTED in the mosques to react that way.
“The Ummah [muslim community] possesses no power except to acknowledge and obey”.
Ruling by Dr. Salah al Sawy
Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America
The obligingly publicised “cartoon riots” were INSTRUCTED in the mosques to take place. No disobedience is permitted, on pain of being beaten up. They were carefully orchestrated after a period of drumming up of support, complete with added fake cartoons, and took place FIVE MONTHS after the publication – not spontaneous in the slightest.
Guy Forester says
1. Isn’t Mali where our Green Berets were attacked?
2. The patrol that was attacked also had Nigerian troops. Were any of them killed or wounded?
3. Is anyone surprised by this news?
4. Above all, we must remember not to offend the followers of the “prophet” and “religion” that we dare not name.
Vic says
I believe the attacks were in Niger… Now 4th Green Beret has died from his wounds. Also 5 Nigerien soldiers were killed in the attack. Attack is being attributed to ISIS militants.
gravenimage says
Yes, the attack was in Niger. I am so sorry to hear that a 4th Green Beret has succumbed to his wounds.
Guy Forester says
Thank you for the update. It seems that the area involved was right in that area where Niger, Mali, and Nigeria borders lie. Yes, a terrible loss for us and our allies. I wonder what was done to get better info of the area prior to going in there. Or where they purposely led into an ambush by someone supposedly working with us.
gravenimage says
Yes–Muslims regularly pose as our allies so that they can get close enough to murder us.
Vic says
Any reaction from the Chief Shepherd/Pope on how his flock is being mistreated by the Religion of Peace? Any words of outrage or comfort? He should be there explaining to those thugs how they are misinterpreting the Quran.
No, there won’t be any response similar to the Shepherd of Psalm 23. Woe to the shepherds and the watchmen who don’t warn and defend their flocks. Their evil deeds will follow them to judgement day.
CogitoErgoSum says
The rules of Islam are simple: pay the jizya, become a Muslim or die. It’s per the Quran and Muslims gotta do what Muslims gotta do. Why so many people can’t understand that is beyond me.
KateM says
I’m not surprised about this happening in Mali. I am currently reading the book, “The Bad ASS Librarians of Timbuktu” about the saving of ancient Islamic manuscripts from radical fundamentalist Muslims. It is by Joshua Hammer
Part of the book talks about how some men became radicals, which is both fascinating and scary. AND the weak responses by most of the governments involved.
(I chose to modify the book’s name, just in case of comment censorship issues.)
Lydia says
We’re going to church.
They can kiss my feet or whatever if they don’t like it.
Can you imagine Christians screaming at muslims:
“Don’t go to the mosque, if you do; we will kill you!!!”
And there it is… the obvious elephant in the room again… !
mortimer says
THIS IS GENOCIDE.
gravenimage says
Yes, it is–as is happening over so much of the Muslim world.
mortimer says
POPE FRANCIS, WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR YOUR WORDS IN DEFENSE OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ROMAN CATHOLICS IN MALI.
“Our churches and chapels are now being targeted by extremists, who’ve told Christians not to gather to pray,” said Mgr Edmond Dembele, secretary-general of the Malian bishops’ conference.
Crystal says
Just remember, “all religions want peace.” After they kill all Catholic polytheistic (Trinity) crusaders there will be peace.
mortimer says
At the coming Christmas and Easter services, Muslim will attack throughout the West and Leftards will say nothing in the defense of persecuted Christians.
There is a formal and informal conspiracy and collusion between Islam and Marxists.
Crystal says
Mgr Dembele doesn’t know what groups are doing this.
Pro tip: It’s Islamist jihadis. Islam. The Koran, etc. The actual name they call themselves is a diversion. They all have one thing in common – a belief in what is clearly stated in the Koran and haddiths. Kill the infidels, kill the polytheists. You believe in the Trinity, then to their way of thinking you are a polytheist.
Manny says
The religion of peace! It shows it’s true face once again.
gravenimage says
Mali: Muslims tell Christians they’ll kill them if they go to church
………………………
These poor Christians.
This is how pious Muslims treat all Infidels.
Winith says
It’s is not Muslims who are threatening Christians that Christians would be killed if they goto church.
It is terrorists who may be less than 100 in number , who are threatening Christians that Christians would be killed if they goto church.
Mali govt will eventually eradicate those 100 terrorists and following that Muslims and Christians will live side by side each respecting each other’s religion as one family, happily ever after in Mali wonderland.
gravenimage says
Winith wrote:
It’s (sic) is not Muslims who are threatening Christians that Christians would be killed if they goto (sic) church…
…………………..
Difficult to know if Winith here is being sarcastic or not.
Certainly, the idea that there are just a handful of Muslims threatening Christians is ridiculous. Muslims threaten Christians and other Infidels *all over the world*–there is no Muslim country that allows for equal religious rights for non-Muslims.
John Forbes says
All of Christendom is being assaulted from many angles including CHILD RAPE in the UK to Killings all over Africa & the Middle East & the Churches are COWED & the WEST is virtually SILENT ?
FEW even seem to care or understand ! The level of IGNORANCE be it deliberate or real is ASTOUNDING !
Winith says
Muslims in America are so confident that if not now within next 500 years entire world will be under Islam, either by population jihad or other kinds of jihad.
I don’t believe they have to wait 500 years.
By 2050,
Europe is going to be in civil war with it’s aging population and 30-40% muslim population. Canada/aus will be 15% Muslims afraid to act against Muslims. India will be 20-21% Muslims afraid to act against Muslims .
USA could be 5% Muslims
South America, China, USA, isarel , Japan will be able to act against Muslims.
Should I go on the winning side and Convert to Islam at some point in time?
Europe wants to believe it or not, but entire world including pak, Malaysia, China, Indonesia barring few countries like Saudi are following common English law/European law.
All countries in the world are following European business principles
So may be strongest civilization mentally and physically string will win. That could be Islam.
May be we need to agree and understand the cycle of life.
How many think European civilization will attain is glory again
gravenimage says
Should I go on the winning side and Convert to Islam at some point in time?
……………………..
You can cave in to evil if you want.
Jacqueleen says
The Muslim demands offend me and all the other Christians in the world. So, we expect that the Muslims will respect our sensitivities and stop making dreadful demands on the Christians.
AND IF THE MUSLIMS DON’T GET THE IDEA…..JUST DON’T LISTEN TO THEM ANYMORE NOR CARE ABOUT THEIR IMAGINED OFFENSES. We have to stand up to what is right….If the Muslims want to live in peace, but refuse to accept freedom of speech, they should go back to the Middle East and live in peaceful harmony with each other. EVICT AND BAN THE MUSLIMS….THERE IS NOT SUCH THING AS A PEACEFUL MUSLIM…EVERY MUSLIM FOLLOWS THE KORAN…REMEMBER THIS!