This is a beautiful, generous gesture. The bishop explains: “Well, not all the Muslims are Boko Haram (members), not all of them (Muslims) are evil.”
And of course that is true. It is odd, however, for a Christian entity to spend money on building a structure in which the following things will be taught:
Jesus is not the Son of God and belief in the Trinity is “excess”: “O People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter anything concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and his word which he conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and do not say ‘Three.’ Cease! It is better for you! Allah is only One Allah. It is far removed from his transcendent majesty that he should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.” — Qur’an 4:171
And: “It is not befitting to Allah that he should beget a son. Glory be to him! When He determines a matter, he only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” — Qur’an 19:35
Jesus was not crucified: “And because of their saying: We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah’s messenger – they did not kill him or crucify him, but it appeared so to them; and those who disagree concerning it are in doubt about it; they have no knowledge of it except pursuit of a conjecture; they did not kill him for certain.” — Qur’an 4:157
Those who believe in the divinity of Christ are unbelievers: “They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allah is Christ, the son of Mary.” — Qur’an 5:17 (cf. 5:72)
Christians have forgotten part of the divine revelations they received: “From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done.” — Qur’an 5:14
Those who believe that Jesus is God’s Son are accursed: “The Jews call Ezra a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; they but imitate what the unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth! ” — Qur’an 9:30
Christians who do not accept Muhammad and the Qur’an are the most vile of created beings: “Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until after there had come to them clear evidence. And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the most vile of created beings.” — Qur’an 98:6
Muslims must fight against and subjugate Christians: “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden what has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” — Qur’an 9:29
Also, a hadith has Muhammad predicting that Jesus will return at the end of the world and break the cross, as it is an insult to Allah’s power to say that he would have allowed one of his prophets to be crucified: “Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, ‘By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Mary [Jesus] will shortly descend amongst you people [Muslims] as a just ruler and will break the Cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya [a tax taken from the non-Muslims, who are in the protection, of the Muslim government]. Then there will be abundance of money and nobody will accept charitable gifts.’” — Bukhari 3.34.425
Also, if the situation were reversed, would the Muslims build a church? Of course not. There is no chance of that whatsoever. Now, that may not be probative for Bishop Mamza, as he is a Christian cleric, and Christians are taught to “love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35). Very well. Still, in building a house where essential doctrines of Christianity will be denied, and the congregation will be exhorted to fight against Christians, subjugate them under Sharia, and make them pay the jizya (Qur’an 9:29), is Bishop Mamza being loving to his Christian flock by building this mosque? Does he have any obligation of charity to the Christians, or only to the Muslims?
“Why Yola Catholic church built mosque for Muslim IDPs – Bishop Mamza,” by Hindi Livinus, Punch, April 11, 2021 (thanks to Henry):
…You would be inaugurating an 86-unit housing estate built for the victims of insurgency to commemorate your 25th anniversary as a priest. Why is this important to you?
As you know, since 2014 the Catholic Diocese of Yola, has been involved in taking care of displaced victims of insurgency – those displaced from southern Borno and also northern Adamawa, who ran into Yola for refuge. So, the church opened its doors so that these people can put up. At a certain stage we had over 3,000 people living on our church premises. Most of them returned to their original homes after the military reclaimed their homes. But again, there are those who still face threat of insurgency, especially those living at the border of Sambisa forest and cannot go back to their homes because of the activities of Boko Haram since 2014. These people have been at the camp that we set up for IDPs at St. Theresa Cathedral. So, we thought of what we could do to improve their living standards. Because we were becoming weary of taking care of them and even for our donors fatigue was setting in. And the IDP themselves were getting tired of staying in the camp – it is not easy for anyone to live for seven years in a small tent in a camp with children. So, I thought of building a place where the IDPs could be resettled. And thanks be to God, through the support of Mesio in Germany, we started last year in January the construction of 86 units of houses to be built for the 86 families still in our camp. On the housing estate, we built a church and a mosque and a school for the IDPs, which will soon be inaugurated. Already some of the IDPs have been moved into the estate.
You have faced criticism from your fellow Christians for building a mosque for Muslim IDPs. How did you handle the opposition?
In the first place, when we played host to these IDPs, we did not discriminate against any one of them. We didn’t ask what religion the IDPs belong to; we didn’t ask for their church denomination; we just treated them as human beings who are in need of help, irrespective of their religion, denomination or tribe. Majority of the IDPs who thronged our camp were Christians but there was also a large number of Muslims among them. And if we were able to build houses for all of them, and also built a church for the Christians among them, then it is only a matter of justice and fairness that we also provide a space of worship for the few Muslims among them. There are about 10 to 12 Muslim families in the camp. I just felt that since we didn’t leave out the Muslims while providing food for the Christians or leave the Muslims out while building houses for the Christians, it is only just that we also build a mosque for the Muslims as we built a church for Christians. It is not something that is commonly done; it is not something that we have heard of being done, especially in our country, Nigeria, where everybody is conscious about their own religion.
What do your parishioners think about it?
Even from within, people did not see it as a good gesture, at all. But it is normal; I can also understand them. Some of them even pointed out that the Boko Haram insurgents are Muslims and they have caused a lot of the havoc for us; they ask, “Why should we even go ahead and build a mosque for them?” But I say, “Well, not all the Muslims are Boko Haram (members), not all of them (Muslims) are evil. Those that I know, that we have been living together and taking care of them for the past seven years, I know them to be good. So, there should be no reason why I should discriminate against them. I think that is the reason we built the mosque. People even ask, “Why should you, a Christian, build a mosque?” And my response to them is that, “I am a Christian, a pastor, a bishop and a priest, I shouldn’t deny anybody their right to worship.” I think that is the clear message I actually want to pass across. Religion is a matter of choice. One can choose to practise this religion today, and can equally choose to practise another religion tomorrow. People should not be compelled into the practice of any particular religion against their will. If as a Christian you decide to change to Islam, that’s your own choice, you should be allowed to do so. Also, if as a Muslim you decide that Christianity is better for you, you should be allowed to practise the faith of your choice. Nobody should be threatened or forced. If a Christian chooses to become a Muslim, that Christian shouldn’t be threatened. Same way, if a Muslim decides to become a Christian, that Muslim shouldn’t be threatened. That is what freedom of worship guarantees under our constitution, since it is a secular state that allows and tolerates freedom of worship….
JOEYN says
This Bishop has learned vey well from his boss, Pope Francis (the Pope of Islam). A jackass of the highest order.
mortimer says
The burnt-out, fatherless, motherless, displaced Christians of north-east Nigeria should be the pastoral concern of this misguided bishop.
gravenimage says
+1
Mauricio says
Is that where the money collected from the alms bag goes to?
Like they say in my country: “you don’t have to study in order to become this dumb”.
Otis says
Insanity! Insanity! I can’t believe this is happening and a while ago, Islamic jihadists slaughtered hundreds in Palmas in northern Mozambique.Has the bishop been reading the news currently? I doubt.The catholic church in it’s current form is woke.Count me out of it.
Infidel says
There are some 100 sects in Christianity, so that’s a whole lot of them to choose from!
DavidR says
Since there are undoubtedly vast numbers of Muslims who practice Islam in a marginal way good deeds may have some beneficial effect. For others this will be seen as just more kafir gullibility. And for the most devout this will be seen as a slap in the face by pointing out just how much Muslims are dependent on Jews, Christians and atheists to provide a safe place to worship Muhammad.
born saturday says
the people worldwide including my self do not understand the stance of the clergy in the dealing with islam. they have put emphasis on loving our enemy, but what if that enemy is satan and his people… should we love satan according to them??? maybe even worship with lust??? the modern clergy seems to have lost its way between the pope symbolically washing the feet of muslim immigrants in italy, but is that not too humble for a pope, and between visiting a muslim country with islamic learship in which hundrends of thousants christians were just slaughtered brutaly a few years ago taken for slaves or displaced…. it is a trend following that of the globalist new world order politicians of the west towards immigration and islam in total… a suicidal attempt that is about to islamize europe completely and bring the end of the civilized world.. the introduction of the worship of satan, the begining of a new age in the west, that of barbarocity slavery and torture and killing….
Jim says
I think that the example of how the leftists reacted to Trump suggests how Islam reacts to Christian gestures of reconciliation or Israel turning over Gaza to the Palestinians. The other side simply rationalizes the good-will gesture or efforts to improve the situation of people in the country by Trump as evil gestures. Leftist social media seem to be full of attacks on Trump Any good he did is attributed to the Dems and Obama, and things like stopping the mass migration are treated as the cause of the current border crisis. So the left and Palestinians simply found clubs against Trump and Israel even though they tried to make things better for everyone.
Keith O says
Stupidity of the highest order.
Why doesn’t The Catholic church just convert to islam and be done with it?
Franklin P. Uroda says
Hey Catholic Bishop. You are aiding and abetting the worship of a false god: Commandment #1.
owensgate says
Christian Tithes given to further preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the World, used by the Church to further the dissemination of islamic lies and blasphemies of the Anti-Christ. Marvelous. Just marvelous.
tim gallagher says
Everyday, here at Jihad Watch, we have reports of Muslim scum slaughtering Christians in African countries, so this seems a very foolish move to me. I suppose this Christian leader is thinking that by behaving pleasantly, in a Christian way, towards Muslims, then some Muslims will behave well towards Christians. I’d say it is a naive and quite idiotic attitude. Muslims won’t change their vile, murderous ways. It just won’t work.
Aussie Infidel says
Tim. They won’t change their murderous ways because their Quran tells them not to. While there are some ‘moderate Muslims’, there is no such thing as moderate Islam. Muslims are people, with all the different physical and psychological characteristics found in any human population. But Islam is what’s written in the Quran, and it will remain unchanged ad infinitum – short of some worldwide burning of Qurans – to influence generation after generation of Muslim hotheads, to carry out the wishes of their psychopathic prophet.
tim gallagher says
I couldn’t agree more, Aussie Infidel. The Koran is full of so much hatred for the non-believer, obsessive hatred for the non-believer, that islam is always going to be a murderous, extremely violent ideology. My only solution to the problem Muslims always present is to shut them out of all non-Muslim countries, although so far only Hungary and the other Visegrad bloc countries seem to be carrying out this policy. Just yesterday, I did actually meet a very pleasant Muslim woman, (but, of course, I only met her on a very superficial basis,), but, my belief is that pleasant Muslims are somehow, almost miraculously, that way, in spite of islam’s hate-filled nature and teachings, so I would love to see all non-Muslim countries blanket ban Muslims. I would never trust a Muslim because of the indoctrination they must all receive which involves hatred for all non-Muslims. This Nigerian church leader seems like a naive fool. The Muslims will merely see him as a very weak person to be taken advantage of. I’m sure they see this current Pope in the same way.
Mike says
I have been to a Catholic church in Yola. I was in Yola as a consultant to undertake a study of their water supply system. There is not much to do there so myself and my Nigerian driver, both being Catholics decided to go to church one Sunday and maybe meet some people.
We entered a packed church and went left and stepped over the back of a bench. When we had settled in we realised we were surrounded by women. All of the men were sitting on the other side of the church! This was a complete anathema to both of us and at a suitable juncture we excused ourselves.
The sad thing about Nigeria is that there are many mixed religion families and as my first experience of a muslim region I found the general approach to be very ‘practical.’ I was in Kaduna for the sharia riots when thousands died and religion became the ultimate political tool. A sad state of affairs.
gravenimage says
Experiencing Jihad violence is not “practical”…
Wellington says
Will not be reciprocated to say the least.
somehistory says
“under our constitution, since it is a secular state that allows and tolerates freedom of worship”
In which century is this fool residing? Has he no brain?
The Apostles made it clear that Christians are to show love , first of all, to their “brothers in the Lord.”
The pope, idiot in charge, calls mozlums his “brothers,” but Christians see things differently.
If there was a town where the bad guys came riding in, would it be likely that the townspeople would open their doors and invite the gang in…give them money and any thing else they might “need,” knowing that murder and rape and kidnapping would be carried out by the gang members?
This using of the money given for the running of the church, by what must be a very poor people, is a betrayal of those giving. Building a war barracks is suicide…and he’s not just signing his own death certificate, but that of the people who look to him for spiritual guidance.
Not every mozlum has slaughtered a Christian, but they chant for it, they listen to others chant for it, ask their fake ‘god’ for help to murder Christians, don’t try to put an end to the murders, deny that it is happening; and how many are glad of the slaughter that their “brothers” are carrying out?
How many fools does it take before people stop seeing themselves as a “goody-two-shoes” who can make big changes, no one else has made?
It’s much like all those past presidents who have claimed that they can bring “peace” to the ME, bringing the mozlums and Israel to an agreement on a “solution.”
mozlums look for the weak spots. In this guy and his boss, the idiot in charge, they have found some.
Andrew Blackadder says
muslims around the World see our level of tolerance as our weakness while we see it as our strength.
I can understand this Bishop thinking he is practicing forgiveness, love of others, compassion,and all the other Christian tenets, however he obviously doesnt seem to understand the teaching in the Quran regarding him, and his faith.
He must be very close to the current Pope these days.
A friend told me that peace will come to Egypt as a Copic Church has invited an Iman into the Church to make the Azan, but I suggested when the Iman invites a Priest into a mosque for a Prayer then perhaps peace may become closer…
Mauricio says
Andrew Blackadder said:
“…Coptic Church has invited an Imam into the Church to make the Azan…” .
This is surprisingly disappointing. Are you sure? I still considered the Coptic Church as one of the few apostolic churches whose clerics were not bowing down to Islam.
gravenimage says
I’m afraid that there is dhimmitude among the Copts, as well.
observer says
As a Catholic I am shattered by this.
From now on I will stand as a Coptic Christian although I have no access to a Coptic Church.
God help us all.
Ecosse1314 says
Sadly and with deep regret….seconded
Mauricio says
Indeed, it is difficult to find a Coptic Church nearby: it is a poor Church with a small amount of followers. The Tewahedo Ethiopian Orthodox Church may be more accessible and they were one with the Coptic Church until they became independent in 1959.
I don’t like the tattooing a Cross in the arm tradition coptics have, though. But that’s a personal opinion.
gravenimage says
Mauricio, tattooing of the cross is standing up to Islam–that Copts will not deny that they are Christian, even under threat.
I am not usually a big fan of tattoos, but I respect this.
Mauricio says
Gravenimage, tattooing is not necessary to stand up to islam. Other religious communities have had to stand up to islam for centuries, under threat, without having to resort to a tattoo. Examples: Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Hindus, etc.
But again, what I said about the tattooing tradition was mostly a personal opinion.
gravenimage says
Mauricio, I did not say that getting tattoos is the only way to stand up to Islam.
But getting a cross tattoo in a place where being identified as Christian can mean death is indeed an act of extraordinary bravery.
I’m not sure why you seem to consider tattooing such a great moral evil. Personally, I consider the horrors of Islam to be much more serious.
Mauricio says
Deformedimage:
When are you going to learn how to read or to keep silent when you don’t understand something, so that we can have an interesting conversation?
You said: “I’m not sure why you seem to consider tattooing such a great moral evil.”
This the third time I write on this post: not liking Coptic tattoos is MY PERSONAL OPINION.
You said: “But getting a cross tattoo in a place where being identified as Christian can mean death is indeed an act of extraordinary bravery.”
It’s not as you think, actually those tattoos are small crosses in the wrist where they are not supposed to be seen by others.
You said: “Personally, I consider the horrors of Islam to be much more serious.” I agree with you on that, but does it mean that “the horrors of islam” is the only topic we can discuss about here?
Some of us are not as obsessed as you are with those “horrors”.
Yohannes says
Mohammedans secretly mocks christian tolerance…
Mauricio says
Indeed
gravenimage says
True, Yohannes and Mauricio.
Trevor Loughlin says
It is ridiculous to tar all Muslims as monsters. The majority are just trying to get on with their lives like everybody else, and in fact Muslims are the biggest victims of Islam. Not all Germans were committed Nazis, they were mostly sheep going along with the culture of the time- bearing in mind that even conscientious objection or dissent was punishable by death. Most were just keeping their heads down. There are many secret atheists in Pakistan but for “obvious” reasons they do not make this public.
Charitable acts to Muslims will help counter the contempt for other religions Muslims have been taught and make extremism less likely.
All religion needs to be banned. Some of the Nigerian fundamentalist Christian cults with their murderous child exorcisms are as primitive and insane as Islamic fundamentalism.
Mauricio says
I am surprised at your innocent ignorance. Please watch this:
https://youtu.be/EbQm4G_xAkw
I would appreciate if you share the source of those Christian murderous child exorcisms you are mentioning.
gravenimage says
Trevor, all Muslims adhere to the same vicious creed, even if they do not personally practice every aspect of it.
And your idea that kindness from Infidels is respected by Muslims–most of them just consider such acts of kindness to be weakness. Certainly, Christians charitably building a Mosque where they will be cursed and violence against them preached is madness.
Then, the claim that since Islam preaches violence that all religion needs to be banned is just bizarre.
OLD GUY says
No such thing as a moderate islamic follower. If you subscribe to the Islamic teachings and support the islamic mosques you are supporting the violence and terrorism around the world and you know it. Yes there are a lot of muslims/islamic followers who do not participate in the violent acts, but they fund them and support them through their silence against Islam’s violence to non-islamic people.
spiro says
Why didn’t he just turn his church over to the Moslem infidel
Maybe he could get the saudis to build a church in Saudi Arabia
I’m sure their a open minded as this dreamer
gravenimage says
Nigeria: Catholic Church builds mosque for displaced Muslims
…………….
I’m sure these Muslims will be grateful, and won’t preach the orthodox Islamic hatred and murder of Christians…uh…right? Or maybe not…