By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK
In light of the recent shooting at a mosque in New Zealand, a senseless tragedy with the destruction of at least 49 human lives, public conversation turned again to Muslims and their beliefs and our relationship with them. I recalled my own experience of a conversation with a Muslim some years ago.
Many who do not share their beliefs now have opportunities to speak with Muslims which, though once rare, is more and more possible as a result of immigration and increased travel. It does not, however, change the facts about Islam. Although some adherents are peaceful people, the fact remains that the Koran does require violence for conversions. It is possible that some Muslims do not fully follow all the tenets of their religion, just as we know that Catholics who vote Democrat — that is, for abortion in all its forms up to and including infanticide — are not following their faith, no matter what they claim otherwise.
A recent story from the UK involved the rejection of a request for refugee status by an Iranian Christian woman because the Christianity she claims isn’t any more peaceful than the Islam she seeks to flee, since the Lord said He came “to bring a sword.”
Somebody reacted by suggesting the authorities be catechized on the fact that “the sword is the Word.” For the record, the only weapon that Christians have for faith, according to our teaching, is the Word of God. Christ Incarnate in Scripture and Sacrament is our sole means of defense and our salvation.
Fr. Jacques Hamel, martyr to Islamic jihadists, cried out with the words of Christ, fighting with the only true weapon of faith, “Begone, Satan!” — as the Lord Himself said, “Get behind me, Satan,” in an example of true Christian witness. His cause for canonization is now underway with the blessing of Pope Francis. His last will and testament to the Church is faithfulness to the Word, that is, to Christ, in accepting martyrdom rather than fighting the sword with the sword.
Back to my own conversation with Islam. Years ago, traveling with the Navy, on a stopover in Anchorage, Alaska, I met a Muslim from Yemen and spoke to him about his life there and his views of Christianity. We were both getting a meal at a restaurant and were seated next to each other at a bar.
We were comparing our outlooks on each other’s religions and one of the points he made was that he couldn’t understand why God would have only one Son. He showed me a photo of his wife and five children in Yemen. I shared his joy in the gift of a beautiful family and the thanks to God, which is the worthy response to such a blessing.
I was deeply impressed by his natural goodness. Would that more who claim to be Christian had this man’s sound natural understanding of the goodness of the gift of children, who should be accepted from God lovingly, not reduced to artificially low numbers through sinful, artificial means. Grace must build on nature, not a mutilated humanity unrepentant and sinful.
We parted company without agreement on religion, but certainly with a deeper affirmation of the human persons at the heart of any conversation between those who are separated by very different beliefs. This can serve to enable many to live side by side in peace, so sorely needed as an antidote to temptations to violence in reaction to deeply held differences and the desire to convert those beyond the church doors.
I also met Muslims in Iraq who confessed an attraction to the Catholic faith. “I need this,” one man said as he entered a chapel where I had just concluded the prayer of Holy Mass.
The lone misanthrope who resorts to weapons out of a choice to hate or in mental illness can be very hard to anticipate and to prevent. It can be next to impossible to diagnose a loner who rarely if ever talks to anyone else.
The ongoing societal conversation with Islam is not going entirely too well. We could catalogue the violence to include the slaughter of Muslims at prayer in New Zealand. The world is still processing this act of evil.
There are many solutions to overcoming violence, which is no respecter of religions. Christians, Jews and other religious persons are also targeted for violence and killed simply because of their beliefs, in significant numbers globally.
Bishop Richard Stika, Knoxville, Tenn., recently on Twitter decried the media blackout on anti-Christian violence:
“Why is it that the media does not report the constant slaughter of Christians around the world that occurs almost weekly? I guess it does not score any viewings or political points.”
After the New Zealand bombing, the German bishops proposed inviting Catholics and others to pray with Muslims in their mosques on Fridays. This from the same episcopal conference that says the moral teachings of the Church forbidding sexual acts outside of marriage between one man and one woman must change because they are outmoded. The idea seems to be that the faith no longer has any legitimacy on its own but now like every other mundane reality must change with the world.
Maike Hickson reported on Twitter: “After attacks in New Zealand, German Diocese of Limburg proposes that Catholics now go to visit Mosques on Fridays during prayers, out of solidarity with Muslims.”
@RobtheSnowlion on Twitter responded to the German bishops’ proposal for “communio in sacris” thus: “No. If I was there, I’d much rather go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. What is wrong with these bishops??? Loving your neighbor does NOT mean changing your religion. They seem determined to confuse people. Christianity and Islam are two completely different religions!”
Catholics cannot take part in celebrations of false religions. Solidarity may never involve the loss of our own souls by participating in erroneous acts. We cannot help others through our insincere sharing in something we don’t believe. Muslims need to go to Mass to save their souls. Loving them in true solidarity means telling them so. It also means attending Mass ourselves to pray for them. @RobtheSnowlion has it right.
The best solution remains faith in Jesus Christ and sharing our faith with those who do not yet believe. “Preach to all nations” is still in the Bible — it is a direct quote and order of the Lord Himself for all who claim faith in Him.
God does not want to have only five or ten or one hundred sons: He is content only to save the whole world. The Yemeni I met is no doubt a naturally good man, but he and all of us can and should have more than that in Jesus Christ. The only Son of God was born, died on the cross, and rose again to make of every soul a supernatural child of God forever in glory.
Thank you for reading and praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever.
@MCITLFrAphorism
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