Does this look Catholic to you?
At first I thought it was a satire; but no, The Catholic Herald doesn’t do satire. As outer-limits as it seems, the story appears to be true.
The Diocese of Bergamo, in northern Italy, acting to what they say is according to the Pope’s direction, is urging Catholic priests and laity to join Muslims in celebrating the Islamic festival of Ramadan (https://catholicherald.co.uk/italian-diocese-urges-catholics-to-join-muslims-for-prayers-and-meals-in-ramadan/).
So much for “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), eh? Seems like any ol’ way will do! It’s “interreligious dialogue,” kimosabe! Guaranteed to bring about World Peace! Here, look, we’ll give you a little boost: the top guy in the diocese uses the Islamic calendar now. Therefor Islam and Christianity must both be true–right? Even if they totally contradict each other.
I hardly know what to say about this. Where’s Dante when you need him? What kind of business is this for anybody’s Christian church?
It is stark heresy. It will not get approval from the Almighty God. Things like that never did and never will. It is downright dangerous; to say nothing about evil, which it also is.
It is definitely not Catholic! I think Bergoglio is ushering in the global religion of the New World Order.
When Yahweh brought Israel into the Promised land, he took great pains to separate them from the worship of the nations around them. I believe in freedom of religion. My worship is given as a matter of free choice, and that gives meaning to my choice. But … in order for me to have free choice in matters of worship, I have to support that freedom for all others, even if their choice is far different from my own.
But mixing forms of worship is quite another matter. Islam is said to worship the God of Abraham, but they do not recognize Jesus as God’s Son. For me, that’s not negotiable. I see Christ as my Redeemer, and while I support the right of others to worship as they see fit, I will not place my trust in a form of worship that rejects Jesus of Nazareth as the Anointed Messiah, the very Son of the One True God.
So while I appreciate that we should respect the choices of others, I cannot, and will not, mix forms of worship. If someone wants to practice a different set of beliefs, I will respect their choice (in fact, I have a very positive, friendly relationship with a co-worker who is Muslim), but I will not mix my form of worship with any other.
My worship is between myself and God, through Christ as mediator. No religious authority, of any faith, has any impact upon my relationship with God. But if some religious leader should see fit to include symbology of non-Christian religions in what is ostensibly Christian worship, you can bet your bottom dollar that will be the last that religious leader will ever see of me.
What fellowship does light have with darkness? A very bad move. I hope the laity revolts.
Hasn’t the Pope and his coterie read in Romans about the two covenants, one of Hagar and the other of Isaac?