Very encouraging

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Jul 6, 2006 at 14:16

This is one of the most satisfying and encouraging pieces of information about the place of Islam in the contemporary world that I've read in a long time. Although I'm not a chronic admirer of the Vatican, I certainly applaud their clearmindedness and forthrightness in facing up to the reality of the position of Catholics and other Christians in Moslem countries. I deplore that this situation hasn't already been a major cover story in Time, Newsweek, the Economist, or some other well known publication, and hope it will be soon. As a detail, I remember no reportage on the Network or cable news shows that Catholic preists were killed in the mindless cartoon riots.

Perhaps also, at long last, there will be a irresponsibly overdue debate on whether Islam (to put it bluntly, but trying to avoid mere name-calling) is the worst major religion in the world. I'm still astonished and dismayed at the mass wimp-out that occurred over the cartoons about Mohammed. And i'm equally astonished and repulsed at the mass protests - protests, not riots - that have NOT occurred anywhere in the Moslem world over the barbaric sectarian slaughters in Iraq. If islam had any genuine claims to be a religion of Peace, it would seem inevitable that protests would occur SOMEWHERE in the Islamic world over this mindless slaughter. to my knowledge not a one has occurred.

The universal Moslem impulse, whenever any act of hyperviolence is perpetrated by Moslems, seems to be, "Oh, that's not the real Islam". How very, very convenient as an all-purpose Denial of any problems with Islam.

I applaud the Catholic hierarchy's courage and growing candor and will be on the outlook for more reports on their standing up to Moslem violence. One can only hope their example spreads to other sectors of opinion which have been too complacent or appeasement-minded. Ron Thompson

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