Re: Isis And Current Violence, Should Vatican Condemn Islam?

[Nihil Obstat]

I think radicals will use any ammo they can get to rally up illiterate and desperately poor kids to join their cause. A pope's blasphemy against their false prophet seems like deliciously perfect fodder.

 

Islam is already implicitly condemned by Catholicism I don't see the need to be inflammatory and risk the lives of Christians who live under an actual threat. One thing to stick your own neck out, another thing to put their heads on the chopping block.

I would say it is already explicitly condemned, though some people want to sweep that under the rug these days.

I can certainly see a new condemnation leading to increased violence. Pope Pius XII was often worried about the same thing during WWII. But I think it is at least worth thinking about, whether there would be spiritual benefit to offset it.

[StMichael]

Where are the Knights Templar when you need them?

[Ice_nine]

I would say it is already explicitly condemned, though some people want to sweep that under the rug these days.

 

 

I guess when I said "implicit" I meant that if you only know the basic tenets of the Catholic faith then it's pretty obvious that Islam is at odds with Christianity even without knowing the specific encylicals  or other documents that wuite plainly say "Islam is baaaaaaaad"

[Benedictus]

It should condemn fundamentalism and violence by all people, the religion or the sub context isn't relevant. But I'd imagine such people would respond with more violence, rather than taking whatthe Pope may say. So it's a hard call. It may make more sense for the Pope to simply support the people on the ground and work with Muslims who aren't orientated towards violence. He could call up countries and apply pressure to provide ground defense I guess, or keep working through the UN.

[Socrates]

I'd be all in favor of such a condemnation, if for no other reason than to help put a rest to all the "Religion of Peace" and "Islam is just another path to Jesus" nonsense common in certain Catholic circles.

 

Of course, Muslims will not care much what the Pope says about their religions; nor will "liberal Catholics" for that matter.

[Socrates]

okay. take your time. I am all for condemning violence and calling for prayer. I don't know what would be gained by combining that with a condemnation of Islam as false religion. Which, and I don't know if this was your point, but it makes me uncomfortable whenever we draw comparisons between an ancient religious tradition and Nazism.  

 

I'd say some ancient religious traditions (including many much older than the medieval religion of Islam) were downright satanic.  (The religion of the Aztecs and the worship of Moloch are just a few of the more extreme examples).