From the Archbishop of Mosul:
"Our
sufferings today are a prelude of those that you, Europeans and Western
Christians, will also suffer in the near future," said the Archbishop of Mosul in an interview
with Corriere della Sera. "I lost my diocese. The
physical setting of my apostolate has been occupied by Islamic radicals who
want us converted or dead. But my community is still alive.
"Please try to
understand us. Your liberal and democratic principles are worth nothing
here. You must consider again our reality in the Middle East, because you
are welcoming in your countries an ever growing number of Muslims.
He warns us, "Also you are in
danger. You must take strong an courageous decisions, even at the cost of
contradicting your principles.
The archbishop continues:
"You think all men are equal, but that is not true: Islam does
not say that all men are equal. Your values are not their values.
If you do not understand this soon enough, you will become the victims of
the enemy you have welcomed in your home."
From Pope Francis:
252. Our relationship
with the followers of Islam has
taken on great importance, since they are now significantly present in many
traditionally Christian countries, where they can freely worship and become
fully a part of society. We must never forget that they “profess to hold the
faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, who
will judge humanity on the last day”.198 The
sacred writings of Islam have retained some Christian teachings; Jesus and Mary
receive profound veneration and it is admirable to see how Muslims both young
and old, men and women, make time for daily prayer and faithfully take part in
religious services. Many of them also have a deep conviction that their life,
in its entirety, is from God and for God. They also acknowledge the need to
respond to God with an ethical commitment and with mercy to- wards those most in need.
253.
In order to sustain dialogue with Islam, suitable training is essential for all
involved, not only so that they can be solidly and joyfully grounded in their
own identity, but so that they can also acknowledge the values of others, appreciate
the concerns underlying their demands and shed light on shared beliefs. We
Christians should embrace with affection and respect Muslim immigrants to our
countries in the same way that we hope and ask to be received and respected in
countries of Islamic tradition. I ask and I humbly entreat those countries to
grant Christians freedom to
worship and to practice their faith, in light of the freedom which followers
of Islam enjoy in Western countries! Faced with disconcerting episodes of
violent fundamentalism, our respect for true followers of Islam should lead us
to avoid hateful generalisations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of
the Koran are opposed to every form of violence.
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