Cornell Style Christianity

Although we rarely have anything interesting to report from the home front in our unceasing war on the Cornell Catholic Community, I thought our readers might be amused by the response to the Pope's big speech that ran in today's bulletin (Warning Word Document). The crucial part:

He quoted a documented conversation which took place in the late 14th century. The quote was outrageous in its limited characterization of Mohammed. (The entire paper is available at http://www.vatican.va.)

Having used such a volatile quote the Holy Father could have immediately conveyed his (and the Church’s) own disgust at such a polarizing comment. Perhaps it would have been more prudent had he used an example from our own Catholic history: perhaps an episode from the Crusades, or the events of the Inquisition, or our early missionary efforts in the Americas. To say that he was sorry for the reaction his comments seemed self-serving at best. As a man whose office carries the title Vicar of Christ - Christ who was the embodiment of forgiveness and reconciliation - the Pope not only missed an opportunity but, I feel, diminished his own (and our) credibility.

The official statement of the Church concerning Islam is expressed by the conciliar document Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relations of the Church to non-Christian Religions, 28 October 1965): 'The Church has also a high regard for the Muslims. They worship God, who is one, living and subsistent, merciful and almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has also spoken to men (sic). They strive to submit themselves without reserve to the hidden decrees of God, just as Abraham submitted himself to God’s plan, to whose faith Muslims eagerly link their own. Although not acknowledging him as God, they venerate Jesus as a prophet, his virgin Mother they also honor, and even at times devoutly invoke. Further, they await the day of judgment and the reward of God following the resurrection of the dead. For this reason they highly esteem an upright life and worship God, especially by way of prayer, alms-giving and fasting.’ The document goes on to acknowledge the “quarrels and dissension” that have arisen between Christians and Muslims and “urges a sincere effort be made to achieve mutual understanding. For the benefit of all, let (us) together preserve and promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values.”

One would assume that the Pope was aware of this document since he attended the Council and was one of the signatories of the conciliar document.

Now this really is too much. Could the man be much more submissive if he were officially a dhimmi already? It really does beggar the imagination that anyone could have such a pig-ignorant view of the history of Islam and of his own Catholic Church! Does the dear Father imagine that the sack, rape, and pillage of the great city of Constantinople were accomplished at the "hidden decree of God"? Or is he simply so afraid that the muslims will come after him, since he is a priest of the Catholic Church? If that is his concern, he need not be anxious: the only external sign that he is a priest is his slightly effeminate air; though if and when the muslims are in charge they'd be as happy to kill him for that as for his position in the Church.

And I know is scarcely needs to be said, but to say approvingly that Musliims honor our Lord "as a prophet" is really to have lost the Faith: for Father McMullin should know that Muslims accept Him in that role only by ignoring completely the testimony of the Gospels, which indeed they must, for to be held hostage by the satanic strains of muzzein's call the Muslim must ignore the saving Faith which came from Christ and which this Priest has here implicitly rejected. If he will not, or can no longer, insist upon Christ's true mission and divinity, then Father McMullin has abandoned what he was ordained to preach and is endangering his own soul, and all those souls in his care, thereby.

And, by the way, Fr. Ratzinger, Peritus to Josef Cardinal Frings, was not a signatory to that sad document.

Appalling.
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