Pope Francis is not going to be happy about this. Here is an English version of an article from the Italian newspaper La Verità: an interview with a Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Mario Alexis Portella, who is apparently the only Roman Catholic priest in Italy who has the clearsightedness and/or courage to speak honestly about the jihad threat.
Those who do not dare speak about that threat are doubtless unaware of the bloody and unrelenting history of jihad, chronicled in detail here. That’s why they are so easily manipulated. Don’t be like them: arm yourself with The History of Jihad From Muhammad to ISIS.
Interview with Mario Alexis Portella printed by the Italian newspaper La Verità on November 22, 2018
“I Have Seen the Massacres in Iraq and I Say: Having a Dialogue with Islam is Impossible”
The American priest speaks after having published a book Islam: Religion of Peace? The Violation of Natural Rights and Western Cover-Up on the “falsity” of the “religion of peace.” He says: “The violence is to be found in the pages of the Quran. There is no single authority who speaks for them, this facilitates the extremists.”
Interviewer Marcello Mancini
What type of dialogue can one have with those who want a woman, such as Asia Bibi dead — her crime offering a cup of water to other Muslim women?
It is not a dialogue with the religion but with those who speak for the religion. Ever since Ataturk eliminated the caliphate in 1924 many Islamists have taking advantage of the political vacuum to represent Islam in their own manner. Here is speak about heads of state, and above all the imams. Since there is no central authority representing islam altogether, it is difficult to individualize an interlocutor.
Islam is not a religion of peace, as sustained by many Muslims. How can it be that they command ferocious “holy wars” of conquest and terrorism that upholds “holy martrydom?” And yet, there is a “Western cover-up,” which you speak of in our book?
The cover-ups are for financial reasons simply because be so-called petrodollars take priority. Here one must see the profits to be gained from natural resources, such as gas. The Western reasoning is according to the realpolitik; the governments limit their rapport to that between states by which human rights are sacrificed. For example, Donald Trump criticizes Islamic religion that has generated terrorism but at the same time he sells arms to Saudi Arabia and Nigeria; these are two countries that systematically violate human rights not only against Christians but against their own peoples.
Fr. Portella, you’re an American and have been to Iraq. You have seen how much Christians are persecuted and churches reduced to nothing. What expectations to Christians have of us in the West?
From their side there’s a great disillusion because after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the American invasion, the West has left them in political state of anarchy. In diverse villages and cities where Christians still live, the Shi‘te and Kurdish militias—many of them sustained by Iran—are officially in charge of security but in reality do not provide it. Hence, Christins live in fear because they are harassed by Muslims who now occupy the posts vacated after ISIS. In fact, many priests are unable to dedicate themselves to their pastoral ministry because they are in a continual struggle with local government officials to defend the Christians.
We have set that Islam is a religion engaged in a holy war against the infidels. We are all infidels and we are in danger. And yet many apologists continue to justify islam and provide false stories.
Only one has to look at the original Islamic texts that speak the truth; those texts however are ignored by scholars and activists who maintain that they are being misinterpreted by those who terrorism and the Islamization of the world. It is simply not true.
Father Portella, can you provide an example?
It suffices to read the content of along in the fifth verse of the named sura (the last fundamental chapter of the Quran) which indicates how Muslims are supposed to behave with Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslims: And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give alms, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
You have said that it has been the weakness of the West is to have essentially stripped our rights of freedom of speech end of religion, categorizing anyone who questions Islamists’ intentions as an Islamaphobe.
Here it is necessary to distinguish a Muslim from an Islamist.The former is he who submits to the religion of the prophet Muhammed, while the latter is an intellectual, such as an imam who takes upon himself to speak for Islam. In practical terms, Islamists have infiltrated government posts and lobbyists, such as the United Nations, and from that strategic position they have been able to convince the heads of state through the soft law, to criminalize any sort of criticism against Islam. In this manner they can embed themselves in society even more.
Pope Francis has been accused by his critics for having betrayed the Church with Islam? What are your thoughts on that?
The pope has done very well to bring the gospel of Christ to the Islamic world, as his predecessors Benedict XVI and John Paul II. Christianity, however, is based on the peace and love of God, while Islam justifies killing and war in its sacred texts. This makes it difficult individualize a constructive path with Muslims. It is more of a political problem than a religious one.
Francis, nevertheless, has invoked dialogue via a reciprocal understanding between Muslims and Christians. How can we then dialogue with those who do not speak the same language of peace?
The problem is with their representatives. When the Holy Father meets with certain individuals, such as Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Rector-Emeritus of al-Azhar University—the most prestigious university in the Sunni world—he cannot rely on what he says; he speaks of peace with him, but when el-Tayeb goes back to Egypt he says something else. President el-Sisi himself tried to convince el-Tayeb and the religious body of the Islamic world in 2014 to see and interpret the Quran in a historical context because Muslims cannot continue the path where they justify violence from the verses. But he was blocked by el-Tayeb.
Is there any type of credible outlook?
In order to have a reciprocal dialogue, it is necessary for the imams who sustain the words in the Quran in a fundamentalist manner to revise their book. Above all, they must correct the hadiths (the sayings and acts of the Prophet) which justify violence.
From what you have explained, I understand why the discourse of Pope Benedict XVI at Regensburg shook-up certain people. Ratzinger mentioned that Muhammad, early in his preaching of having allowed the freedom of choice. Once, however, he gained power, he used the sword to convert others. He was right.
The reaction to his discourse demonstrates that Islam does not tolerate any critical analysis.
Father Portella, what future do Christians have in Iraq?
The United States can still influence the political issues of the central government in such way that Christians can have the same rights as Muslims and Kurds. Having said this, even if Iraqi Christians do not trust the American government, they maintain great hope in their hearts. The decision of Trump to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal instituted by President Obama can be a way to constrain the Iranian regime. Pressure them even economically to the point that the militias they sustain lose their influence and stop persecuting Christians.
cyrus says
the title of the news is “I saw the massacres in Iraq and I understood that dialogue with Islam is impossible.” this priest is my hero.
the Pope is a demented old man who violates the commandment on lies and truth, because he continues to say that Islam is the religion of peace because it is afraid
boocat says
Absolutely true. Except that Frank isn’t actually the pope. I don’t care what kind of gobbledygook they all spew; as long as Benedict is still alive, he is the pope. This other guy is a socialist seat-warmer.
Salah says
You’re absolutely right. Jorge Bergolio is not and has never been the Pope. He’s an anti-pope. He has no authority whatsoever.
Benedict XVI is the ONLY living Pope.
More and more catholics are starting to realize it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXe76S2lkK8
Jean (old) says
Pope Benedict, the real Pope, speaks the truth about islam. He is wise and a great intellectual too in the classical German tradition.
Manny says
Absolutely! Heroic man.
mortimer says
MANY CLERGY ARE EXPERTS ON ISLAM (unlike DHIMMI Pope Francis):
QUOTE FROM FR HENRI BOULAD, SOCIETY OF JESUS:
“Islamism is not a caricature, nor a counterfeit, nor a heresy, nor a fringe or atypical phenomenon versus classical, orthodox, Sunnite Islam.
To the contrary, I think Islamism is naked Islam, Islam without a mask and without paint, Islam perfectly consistent and true to itself, an Islam that has the courage and lucidity to go all the way to its ultimate conclusions and final implications.
Islamism is Islam in all its logic and in all its rigour. Islamism is present in Islam as the chick is present in the egg, as the fruit is present in the flower and as the tree is present in the seed.
But what is Islamism?
Islamism is political Islam, the bearer of a project for a model society and whose aim is to establish a theocratic state based on Sharia, the only legitimate law—since it is divine—since it was revealed and enshrined in the Koran and Sunna—it’s a law that applies to everything.
Here is an all-inclusive and all-encompassing project, one that is total, totalizing and totalitarian.”
Jim Hane says
Pope Francis is a politician and is afraid of Islamic violence. He’s trying to appease Muslims! Foolish man.
J D S says
I love the words “WESTERN COVER UP” used in the priest book.
Oh for sure he will be raked over the coals for his book and the interview by the pope and dominions as well as state leaders, those who are part of the petro dollars cover up and other cover up situations.
I saw gas prices yesterday for just a few cents over $2.00 and with a discount credit card I bought it for less than $ 2.00.
Now I can’t speak for European and other western nations but it appears that we don’t need all that oil from Muslim countries. We need to cut the umbilical oil cord from Muslim countries and also stop giving them ANY of our freebie tax dollars. We and other non Muslim countries need to quit financing terrorism as we are doing by buying oil from them.
J D S says
Oh one other thing….the Koran needs to be revised…is a statement made by many which if course falls on deaf ears.
As stated by this priest there is no one Muslim leader just a bunch of wild cards doing their thing.
People making the “revise the Koran statement” are correct
but without God’s intervention…notice I said GOD…not their allah, there probably will be no change to the Koran ever at least not till the return of Jesus then woe to all those Muslims and others destined for that awful Lake of FIre. Jesus and his mighty army will vanquish all who oppose Him…But there is still time for those who oppose Him to repent.
lisalles says
I hope the priest has body guards. This poor man will be on the jihad hit list. Or perhaps the popes hit list.
gravenimage says
I am *no* fan of the dhimmified Pope Francis–but when has there ever been suspicion that he is assassinating his critics?
Salah says
BBC.com
“A former Vatican diplomat who accused the Pope of covering up reports of clerical sex abuse is lying low over fears for his safety, it is claimed.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45332850
Halal Bacon says
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uKp_-_A8w1g/TW2TY2AZMJI/AAAAAAAAC40/th661GtphcQ/s1600/borg+islam.jpg
Mark A says
Good article.
Thanks for putting me onto this priest’s book. I just ordered a copy.
gravenimage says
+1
Lydia Church says
A dialogue with those evil creatures is like trying to have a dialogue with the devil. It is pointless and will only result in the fool engaging in it to lose ground through compromise. In the end, he will be ‘all tied up.’
Frank Anderson says
L.C. From 1960’s military high school- Soviet style negotiation, “What’s mine is mine. What’s yours is negotiable.” Islam has nothing to give up. Compromise demands that “we” give up or don’t make a deal. BUT they teach a deal is only good until a better opportunity comes along: That any promise to an infidel is good only as long as it is convenient to the goal of conquest. Sooner or later, as has been the case for 1400 years, all compromises lead to slavery or death. I hope you see that I agree with your statement and am merely expanding and supporting it.
gravenimage says
*So* true, Frank. This has been Muslim policy ever since the “Prophet” himself.
Michael F Poulin says
Cardinal Vigano is in hiding because he called out the popes involvement in the pervert MacCarrick cover up, so I think this priest should pack some heat to protect himself
Rubiconcrest says
We have the very reasonable 1948 Declaration of Human Rights. The non-Muslim world accepts that clear language. The fact that the Muslim world cannot accept it should demonstrate that they are up to no good. All we have to do is keep asking why not?
Frank Anderson says
R., Please tell me why we should keep asking when we already know? The time for indecision and doubt should have ended 1400 years ago when total war was declared on the entire world. We know why not–BECAUSE ISLAM teaches, practices and requires war, death and slavery. Please help me understand what you see that is left to ask?
Ray Jarman says
While reading this article, I remembered one of the saddest days during my two years in Iraq from 2006 through 2008. A local man who worked at the US Embassy in Baghdad had started attending our church services on Sundays. No one actively attempted to proselyte him but he wanted to become a member of our church. In the summer of 2007 we were told by our leadership in the US that we had to cease all interactions with this brave man. It was not because we did not wish for him to become a member of our church but because of the danger to him and his family. Our group leader was a tough and sometimes grumpy colonel but on this day he, like the rest of us, cried like a small child. I could be mistaken but I am personally unaware of any other religion (cult in this case) where one is killed just for changing one’s faith.
Wellington says
Shades is this laudable priest of Pope Urban II who called for the First Crusade in 1095. In alliance too is he with what the previous Pope, Benedict XVI, said about Islam.
Damn shame that such a harmful man as Francis is now the pontifex maximus (and yes, I am aware of the arguments that he is an illegitimate Pope but Pope right now he is at least de facto, if not de jure). He is doing so much damage and, as I have stated before, the multitude of injuries he has inflicted on the Church and on all of Western Civilization, on all of mankind for that matter, will live long past him because of the many bishops and cardinals he has appointed during his tenure as head of the Catholic Church and who think like he does.
Francis is one of the greatest disasters in the two thousand year history of the papacy, I believe the oldest institution anywhere on the planet. He is the wrong man at the wrong time in the wrong place. It is a trinity of great misfortune, not just for the Church but, as I previously noted, for all mankind. Yes, he’s this awful. And every devout and knowledgeable Catholic must confront their conscience respecting what the hell God is up to in allowing such a man to become Pope in the first place.
eduardo odraude says
Do Catholics attribute evil to God? (“…what the hell God is up to in allowing…”)
I suppose Catholics attribute evil not to God but to humanity’s misuse of freedom.
Wellington says
But, eduardo, and following Catholic doctrine, when the College of Cardinals meet to elect a new pontiff after a pope’s death, the theory is that God directs the Cardinals to elect a proper successor, although “only” a two-thirds majority is required and I have often wondered, proceeding on the assumption that the Catholic faith is the true faith, what God is up to inspiring up to one third of the Cardinals to NOT vote for the “winner”—it’s a theological puzzlement to be sure, wrapped up with free will versus God’s omnipotence and related metaphysical stuff. Just wonderin’.
Joe says
Catholics have found in their history that they could never reach unanimous votes, so they went with consensus or 2/3rds. It was practicality, not Jesus, that led them to this conclusion.
The cardinals were obviously misled with the resignation of Benedict who actually only resigned in part and has had private communication exposed that he was forced to resign. If the cardinals knew about this, they would not have reached a consensus for a new pope.
Popes are more like family members than politicians. No one elects a new Mom or Dad when the current one is still living.
mortimer says
Bill Warner : SACRED HATRED IN ISLAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ZJKusgH_A
Jaladhi says
Islam/Muslims won’t know peace even if it stared in their eyes!! Islam has everything but peace!!
Jack Cade says
The problem is this priest is a heretic. From the Catholic Catechism point
841 –The Church’s relationship with the Muslims. “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.”
Roman Catholicism is ill-equipped to defeat Islam because it does not understand that Islam is the doctrine of Satan.
Bud says
This good priest would not be considered a heretic at all, under Canon Law. That quote from the catechism is not official ‘Dogma’ of the Church. It reflects the points that were made in one of the documents that came from Vatican II, on the Church’s relationship with non-Christian religions. That document was heavily influenced by the work of a French Islamologist, Louis Massignon (d.1962). I was first introduced to Massignon’s work in 1979. He was a man of the French colonial era. He and Lawrence of Arabia were military attaches for their respective governments at the Sykes-Picot agreement in 1916, which laid out spheres of influence to be established after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in WWI. Both of them were very displeased, to say the least, with their governments’ decisions.As much as I respect Louis Massignon and his body of work, I have arrived at differing opinions from his.
All of that aside, heresy happens only when something is promulgated that is contrary to Catholic dogma. There is much room for holding differing positions regarding many issues. A common example, those who want to see women ordained as priests have every right to lobby for that change. It could happen, theoretically, but it won’t. Those who lobby for it, however, are not considered heretics.
“Roman Catholicism is ill-equipped to defeat Islam….” I’m sorry, but could you rephrase that to suggest that the present day Catholic hierarchy, at the highest levels, have blinders on when they call Islam a religion of peace. You know history, I’m sure. If it weren’t for the Catholic Church, Europe long ago would have been Islamicized, e.g., the Battle of Lepanto, the Siege of Vienna, to name just a few. Queen Elizabeth and the Church of England sat out the Battle of Lepanto, even though their help was requested. However, Queen Elizabeth did call for a day of rejoicing when the battle was won. The Crusades were mounted by the Catholic Church, etc. I’m sure you must’ve meant to refer to our present Catholic hierarchy, which I agree is the source of much angst among the rank and file faithful.
Also, many popes have spoken of Islam in words such as yours.
Indiana Tom says
Catholic Church could have done a better job of supporting Charles Martel.
Indiana Tom says
“The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham,
Never heard that one in any of the churches I ever attended. Although lately the United Methodist church with the socialist gospel has some funky theology about all heathens were saved by Jesus.
I would love to know where the funky bunch comes up with this groovy and astonishing gospel.
Never came across this in the NASB bible.
Jayell says
Having a dialogue with islam is tantamount to having a dialogue with the fraudulant criminal ‘prophet’ who cobbled the whole specious sham together, which would have been the equivalent of a dialogue with Al Capone in Chicago or the Kray twins in London, or even Adolf Hitler, bearing mind that Mohammed’s ‘Qur’an’ and Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ have striking similarities. But the idiotic lack of integrity and deliberate self-indulgent cock-eyed ignorance manifested by Pope Francis is sadly not unique when excuses for ‘national leaders’ like the utterly pathetic Theresa May see it as acceptable to sit down with the crude criminal leader of Saudi Arabia, a true (and utterly disgusting) ‘Son of Mohammed’, if ever there was one!
duh swami says
Tales from the darkest side…Allah led me into the Valley of Islam, and only Robert Spencer can lead me out…Islam is not a valley , it is a box canyon, with one way in and one way out…It’s easy to get in, all you have to do is sing a song called ‘shahada’, and the gates open like magic…but the way out is locked, and Spencer has the key…It’s called, ‘kuffar’, ‘disbelief…Spencer tells the truth about one of he worlds grates hoaxes, and dirty trick to play on humanity…ISLAM…
Allah got me into that mess but ‘disbelief’ got me out…Thanks Robert…
Danijel Maljur says
There are some of us in Croatia also. I made a 17 minute video about islam but was ordered to delete it from youtube, and never to speak of that topic again. Received a lot of death treats On top of than i ended up in court and was found guilty for promoting hate speech. Its tough for all us priests who wants to tell the truth. Pray for us! God bless you!
Indiana Tom says
Gee…you must be one of the few that are actually worthwhile.
Mother in law is Croatian.
God bless you!
Always On Watch says
FINALLY! A Christian cleric tells the truth about Islam!
Indiana Tom says
“Islam is not a religion of peace.
In other news, it has been reported that the sky is blue.
The pope has done very well to bring the gospel of Christ to the Islamic world, as his predecessors Benedict XVI and John Paul II.
He did? They did? Really?
Indiana Tom says
Ratzinger mentioned that Muhammad, early in his preaching of having allowed the freedom of choice. Once, however, he gained power, he used the sword to convert others. He was right.
The reaction to his discourse demonstrates that Islam does not tolerate any critical analysis.
Sanity at last! Hallelujah!
Savvy Kafir says
The statement should be simply: “Dialogue is useless.”
The Qur’an will never be changed, and Islam will never be reformed. It is pointless and stupid to waste time and energy on “dialogue” with an enemy who despises you and wants to subjugate you or kill you … and who has a divine license to lie to us in order to advance his barbaric religion.
Nona says
To be Truthful, Asia Bibi didn’t “just offer moslems a cup of water.” She did more, in the camp of the Horde. Just saying. Maybe, it was the stress, of having pent up all her resentment and emotion all her life.
I would have left, like many a smart Hindu, while the going was good.
And it’s not that: “Here it is necessary to distinguish a Muslim from an Islamist.The former is he who submits to the religion of the prophet Muhammed, while the latter is an intellectual, such as an imam who takes upon himself to speak for Islam. ”
A moslem and islamic and islamist (made up term, as such terms are made up in the spur of the moment, for convenience) ARE THE SAME. And yes, a “peaceful” moslem will turn on a dime, to KILL anyone, when they’re islamic button is switched on. A “peaceful” moslem walking by in the street, will easily kill their womenfolk at home.
infidel says
The funniest part is how after each and every despicable terror attack, Muslims make it a point to tell non Muslims that Islam is a religion of peace, while not bothering to give their Jehaadi brothers the same advise..
Peggy says
Yep, don’t believe your lying eyes but believe in the words that come out of their filthy mouths.
How stupid does one have to be to believe that cr@p?
WPM says
A violent Moslem cuts your throat with a knife, a peaceful one provide the knife, or pays for the knife, or provides cover for the throat cutting Moslem.
b.a. freeman says
… it is necessary to distinguish a Muslim from an Islamist.
—
OK, this guy *almost* gets it, but he *still* thinks that there is a difference between “moderate” and “radical” muslims, apparently not understanding that “radicals” are simply pious, and “moderates” are what baptists call backsliders and muhammed called hypocrites. he mentions the verse of the sword, but then urges the ulema to change the quran (the unchanging word of allah) and rewrite the ahadith – as if *ANY* muslim anywhere would ever accept that. he apparently does not understand that allah can no more be changed than can the Perfect Man and Model of Conduct, profit muhammed. if the quran and the sunnah are made less violent, perhaps by removing the perfect pervert, then yes, islam can be reformed. let me propose, however, that i fart, and U catch it and paint it green; U will have as good a chance of achieving that as U would have attempting to reform islam. remove muhammed, and islam falls apart; change the quran or its interpretation, and its multiple claim of perfect clarity fall apart, as does islam; change the sunnah, and U’re taking muhammed out of the cult.
father mario is a long way down the road to understanding islam, but he has a *lot* further to go to actually grasp its depraved evil.
Peggy says
Good on this priest. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him to come out and say all this but he did it.
This makes him a real hero and people should flock to him church to show their support for him.
I have a feeling this Pope would punish him if he could. When asked what he thought of the Pope he was very diplomatic. I can imagine how hard it must’ve been for him to hold his tongue and not come out with “he’s a traitor to Christianity”.
One man risks it all to tell the truth. Let’s hope he has opened the gate for the rest.