Do Muslims Have the Freedom to Choose Conversion?

A kook Florida pastor's plan to burn qu'rans has stirred up a number of breast beaters among the Catholic bishops. They are quick to jump on the bandwagon to condemn the violence against the Muslims' holy book. You know who they are: usually the same bishops who can't bring themselves to discipline politicians who advocate burning and dismembering innocent babies in the womb.

One, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, recently participated in an ecumenical press conference to address "bigotry against Muslims" resulting from plans to build the mosque at Ground Zero in New York City. When asked whether Muslims have the right to convert to Christianity he responded with a bob and weave and never directly answered the question, unlike a Christian pastor who answered clearly and unequivocally:

CNSNews.com asked McCarrick, “Americans believe there is a God-given right to the free exercise of religion, which is enshrined in the First Amendment. Does a Muslim born and raised in Mecca have a God-given right to convert to the Roman Catholic faith, in your mind, and freely exercise his religion there?”

“As an American, I believe that we all have a right to practice what God tells us is his message to us, and if, therefore, if someone is--if someone sees the Gospel as the truth of God’s presence in our world, that person should embrace the Gospel,” McCarrick responded.

“If a person sees the Quran as proof of God’s presence in the world, then I cannot say, ‘Don’t embrace the Quran.’ So that I think we are, we should always be willing to talk to people and we should always be willing to love them and we should always be willing to allow them that freedom of conscience which comes from God.”

The press conference where Cardinal McCarrick delivered this wishy-washy answer was sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). There apparently was no discussion of anti-Christian violence by Muslims such as the recent murder of a man in Egypt because of a rumor that the Coptic Christian had a relationship with the Muslim murderer's sister. The killer doused the man with gasoline and set him on fire. When his father arrived at a rally later the Muslim crowd stabbed him to death. Have you heard about this? Not likely, but you've heard about plans to burn the qu'ran ad nauseum. One can only conclude that, to the media, burning a book is more serious than burning a man to death.

According to The Christian Post, "In Egypt recently, sectarian violence has been on the rise as Christian-Muslim relations have been strained by conversions to Christianity and government opposition to recognizing the conversions." Muslims are perfectly happy to accept converts from Christianity but woe betide the Muslim who accepts Christ!

Cardinal McCarrick needs to answer the question. Do Muslims have the right to convert to Christianity? And there are a few related questions as well. Do Christians have the right to wear the crucifix and cross and publicly practice their faith in Muslim countries? (In Saudi Arabia, for example, non-Islamic religions may only be practiced in private.) Do our soldiers have the right to freedom of religion when they serve in Islamic-ruled nations? As for the ISNA and McCarrick's participation with the group, it has radical roots and connections to the militant Muslim Brotherhood. Federal prosecutors named the group an unindicted conspirator in the 2008 Hamas terrorist financing trial. ISNA conferences also often feature radical speakers.

It's amazing to see how much hoopla has been generated by one crank pastor threatening to burn the qu'ran, and almost no media condemnation of Muslims burning people to death or issuing fatwas (legal rulings) calling for violence, such as those against Salman Rushdie for The Satanic Verses and Danish illustrator Kurt Westergaard for a dozen cartoons depicting Mohammed as well as others against journalists calling for women's emancipation.

One of the most offensive acts in this drama over the qu'ran burning occurred at the Catholic Cathedral in Sacramento where an ecumenical group came together to put "roses of love" on the qu'ran, a book that advocates killing infidels, i.e., Christians and others who don't embrace Islam. The service included releasing 18 "peace doves" and singing Let there be peace on earth. That a Catholic pastor (Fr. Anthony Garibaldi) would bless the qu'ran is a disgrace. One doesn't have to agree with the Florida pastor's actions to oppose blessing a book that portrays God as a maniacal tyrant who authorizes his "prophet" to convert by the sword, cheat and lie to non-Muslims, and kill those who blaspheme, commit adultery, or write unflattering books.

Cardinal McCarrick and others of his ilk have illustrated time and again how little they honor or accept the doctrines of the Catholic Church. His actions are no less offensive to believing Catholics than those of the book-burning pastor in Florida.

The Islamic Center at Ground Zero is a "Rabat"

Fr. Z has an excellent post today that everyone in the country who believes Islam is a "religion of peace" needs to read. In fact, the building at ground zero is not a mosque or "cultural center" (There is no such thing as a cultural center in Islam which a religion practiced by many clutures.) It is, in fact, a "rabat." A rabat is a "point of contact" (one can think of the point of a spear). After each raid, Mohammed ordered the building of a rabat in the heart of the territory which included a place to train future raiders for their next attack. Fr. Z quotes from an article by Amir Taheri:

In fact, the proposed structure is known in Islamic history as a rabat—literally a connector. The first rabat appeared at the time of the Prophet.

The Prophet imposed his rule on parts of Arabia through a series of ghazvas, or razzias (the origin of the English word "raid"). The ghazva was designed to terrorize the infidels, convince them that their civilization was doomed and force them to submit to Islamic rule. Those who participated in the ghazva were known as the ghazis, or raiders.

After each ghazva, the Prophet ordered the creation of a rabat—or a point of contact at the heart of the infidel territory raided. The rabat consisted of an area for prayer, a section for the raiders to eat and rest and facilities to train and prepare for future razzias. [The "athletic" component I alluded to earlier.] Later Muslim rulers used the tactic of ghazva to conquer territory in the Persian and Byzantine empires. After each raid, they built a rabat to prepare for the next razzia.

Fr. Z. ends his post by quoting again from Amir Taheri. who describes the increasing in-you-face activities of Islam including closing down city streets during rush hour for "prayer."

This thirst for visibility is translated into increasingly provocative forms of hijab, notably the niqab (mask) and the burqa. The same quest mobilized hundreds of Muslims in Paris the other day to close a whole street so that they could have a Ramadan prayer in the middle of the rush hour. [These open demonstrations are escalating.]

One of those taking part in the demonstration told French radio that the aim was to "show we are here." "You used to be in our capitals for centuries," he said. "Now, it is our turn to be in the heart of your cities."

Before deciding whether to support or oppose the "Cordoba" project, New Yorkers should consider what it is that they would be buying.

The video below shows the prayer blockade being conducted in Paris every Friday. For an accompanying article go here. There's also an email making the rounds that ostensibly shows such a demonstration every Friday in Manhattan. It shows pictures that actually come from an annual Islamic parade that includes a prayer event.  Can it happen here, however? Absolutely! Islam maintains a low profile until it has the power to make demands. What is happening in Paris and in Great Britain is a warning. So is the reality in Islamic lands. Examine the persecution of Christians in the Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait. We ignore the truth at our own peril.

The real purpose of the Ground Zero Mosque: Promoting Sharia Law

Ground Zero Mosque: The Real Issue

More on the Ground Zero Mosque

 Based on Muslim history, building a mosque is a sign of Islamic victory. One cannot judge this action from an American point of view; it needs to be seen from the Islamic viewpoint. Islam builds mosques where they have conquered. If the mosque is built at Ground Zero, the Muslim world will see it as a victory sign celebrating the terrorist actions of 9/11 and a forerunner of planting Sharia Law here on American soil. It must be stopped for the sake of our Constitutional Republic. Fifty-four percent of Americans oppose the mosque at Ground Zero. If more Americans understood what is happening the opposition would be much higher.



Read the background of the man who leads the initiative to build the mosque, Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf. And for more information see 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America.

More on the Mosque at Ground Zero

Understand the doublespeak of the Muslim leadership. What they say in English is not the same as what they say on Arabic websites. Listen to the full 17 minutes of this video to get a chilling view of what is coming. Lying and "outward show" is permitted when Muslims deal with "infidels."

Kill the Ground Zero Mosque

The Islamization of the United States is on the fast track. Historically, Muslims build a mosque on conquered territory. That's a fact of Islam. While our politicians spout platitudes about the religion of peace, building a mosque at ground zero sends a victory message to the Muslim world saying, "We committed an act of war here and our stupid adversaries will let us build a victory shrine celebrating their defeat." The fact that the mosque is scheduled to be dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the attack is especially significant and an atrocity to the memories of those who died that day.

Study the history of Islam. It's a violent religion with world conquest as its goal. Look at what the Ottoman Empire did to the Armenian Christians after World War I. Hitler used their example to justify his genocide against the Jews saying, "Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?" Look at the communities in this country where free speech is being suppressed in favor of Sharia Law. The danger is real and imminent.

Just Say No to the Mosque at Ground Zero in New York

Pat Condell makes a lot of sense and points out the danger of politicians enabling Islamic violence. He also points out that the name Cordoba, which is that selected for the planned mosque, comes from the large mosque built by Muslims as they began the mass conquest of Spain. Islam has always built mosques on conquered ground. It is a "permanent affront" to all Americans. Selecting this spot is very deliberate as is the plan to open the mosque on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

"Public opinion can put an end to this disgraceful plan."

Let them build their offensive mosque somewhere else, Condell says,  -- like the Arizona desert or Death Valley. Amen to that!