It is a mistake to compare Catholicism with Islam in the name of religious freedom

A recent article in Catholic News Service titled "New York mosque controversy echoes anti-Catholicism of another era"  (www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1003399.htm) compared the current public criticisms against Muslims surrounding the building of an Islamic mosque near Ground Zero with what Catholics once experienced in the United States.  The article's premise is that Islam is facing similar distrust of immigrant faith that Catholics faced 100 years ago, implying some equivalency between the two, and that some day Islam will  be as "accepted" in the same manner as Catholicism has today.

This is a dangerous comparison. There are two types of equivalency related to religions: the manner in which the US Government treats religion and religious organizations, and moral equivalency - the two are often wrongly related together, as such is the case in this Catholic News Service article.

The fact of the matter is that Americans have very good reason to distrust Islam (the religion). A deeper review of Islam reveals:




- A standing order to commit violence against non-believers in the name of Allah

- An important principle of Islamic interpretation known as "abrogation" - the principle whereby later-written verses supersede earlier written verses; this is important because many later written verses advocating violence in the name of Allah superseded older, more peaceful verses.

- Doctrine of Islamic supremacy - a doctrine that calls for the conversion of all peoples to Islam, else be subjected to "dhimmitude."

- "I knew Jesus. Jesus is a friend of mine.  Mohammad, you're no Jesus."

• Mohammad's last wife was six years old when he married her; nine when then consummated their marriage 
• Mohammad ordered the stoning of a man and a women who committed adultery
• Mohammad stating "Whoever changes his Islamic religion, then kill him."

- Sharia - a mandatory, legalistic codification of  societal behavior. Sharia is not in effect in the general manner in the United States.  It would have to replace the Constitution.  This not to say that sharia is not in effect in some Muslim communities in this country.  By definition, the Constitution and sharia law are mutually exclusive.

- Deception in the name of the protecting Islam - hearing "moderate" Muslims describe Islam as a religion of peace is a form of deception given these precepts.

- Dhimmitude - the prescribed treatment of non-believers in a Muslim society whereby non-believers are allowed to remain in a Muslim society under strict rules.

All of these tenets are found in the Quran.*  You are not going to find this information coming from the mainstream media (one must first believe that there is such a thing as "mainstream" media and that alternate media with opposing opinions exists and should be considered as a check and balance). Just as not all Catholics follow all Catholic teachings, neither do all Muslims follow all Islamic teachings, especially those Muslims in the United States. However, there is something to be said about the mere presence of these tenets in Islam that some Muslims choose not to follow.   

This is not to say that many terrible things have not been done in the name of Christianity.  However, there is a very distinct difference between Jesus Christ and Mohammad, hence a distinct difference between Catholicism and Islam.  Mohammad never claims to be divine. But neither does Jesus Christ plunder and pillage His way through Europe gathering converts or placing infidels under dhimmitude.   Catholicism cannot boast of such Islamic principles that prescribe a violent manner of conversion or the treatment of infidels.

This is also not to say that many, many Muslims in the United States are not peaceful people and harbor no ill against Americans.  However, many people do not completely understand their own faith and many act outside of its prescribed boundaries.*  Just as a majority of Catholics do not faithfully represent or practice all of Catholicism, so too many Muslims do not faithfully represent or practice all of Islam.

Religious freedom cannot mean nor ever imply morally equivalency. Theologically, Catholicism and Islam are far, far from being equal. Religious freedom can only refer to the manner in which the United States Constitution and its amendments prescribe its treatment as a religion - and it must end there. This makes the debate at Ground Zero less of one of religious freedom and more of one of prudence and safety given 9/11/2001 and a deeper, objective scrutiny of the mosque's purpose when Islam itself is studied more closely.

If Islam is "accepted" like Catholicism has been "accepted" and Islam becomes less fearful as an immigrant faith, we will be soon and very soon be overcome by this "religion of peace."

* Refer to the excerpt from Gregory M. Davis' book Religion of Peace? Islam's War Against the World posted at www.jihadwatch.org/islam-101.html.  Another excellent reference is two books by Robert Spencer: The Truth About Mohammad and Stealth Jihad.