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48 Responses to “UK bishops demand Muslim prayer rooms in Catholic schools”
  1. wagonburner on December 2nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    If we had waited a while, we could have left the UK without having a war. They’re busy giving their own culture (as it were) and country away.

    Rome ought to smack these knuckleheads down with great vigor.

  2. dcgirl on December 2nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    Ok, dumb question. Why are Muslims going to a Catholic school in the first place?

  3. trl3 on December 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    I am pretty sure I have heard of a dumber idea than this one, but at the moment nothing comes to mind.

  4. houstondem on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    Hey Bramanti I have an idea for you - Don’t send your kids to a Roman Catholic school in the UK…

    Se how easy that was?

  5. Big45Iron on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    I presume in fairness they will demand that mosques allow the same to Catholics and other Christian denominations?

  6. Shannon on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    And here I thought the Anglican Bishops in the UK had the market cornered on sheer stupidity.

  7. Dov on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    And what about us Jews ?

    This is getting out of hand and needs to be stopped. The Islamics need not demand it if the Pope does it for them

  8. slash on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    Smacks of a pay-off.

    I know from experience, kids from different faiths end up in Catholic Schools for a variety of reasons. The most often is the parent’s desire to provide a superior education to their children. There are often others.

    I think this is INSANE. Appeasement does not work, and smacks of weakness. I’m sure next they’ll be demanding that Catholic schools stop teaching the Catholic religion, but allow different faiths to proclaim their beliefs because it’s a tenant of their faith to do so.

    I like the way the Aussies handled it.

  9. Matt Bramanti on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    Hey Bramanti I have an idea for you - Don’t send your kids to a Roman Catholic school in the UK…

    Se how easy that was?

    What an unserious comment.

    If the Democratic party changed its platform to something you abhorred, would you work to change it, or just change your name to HoustonRep?

  10. Big45Iron on December 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    Dov, if they demand access to the washing facility at temple, just refer them to the urinal.

  11. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm

    For pete’s sake. The RC schools compete with other schools for pupils, if this is a selling point more power to them. I imagine the same thing may happen in the US if competition for pupils gets high enough. 30% of the UK students are non-Catholic.

    As I recall from childhood, the non-Catholics are not required to attend a religion class.

  12. BigJolly on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:22 pm

    ShaWiki says

    For pete’s sake.

    Shouldn’t that be “For muhammed’s sake”?

  13. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    LOL. When the madrasa’s start accomodating Catholics it would be for Pete’s sake. ;)

    Actually I don’t think that RCs have any special needs, maybe fish on Fridays but Vat II put a stop to that. Although I hear Benedict XVI may desire to revisit some things.

  14. RickG on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    4. HD

    Bernard Goldberg, the former lefty reporter turned right (though he savages both sides equally for their stupidity and cowardice) is willing to say the politically unthinkable: radical Islam is not like other religions, and it cannot be treated like other religions. Otherwise, you get your head lopped off.

  15. RickG on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    1. wagonburner

    Rome ought to smack these knuckleheads down with great vigor.

    Actually, wouldn’t it be cool if the Pope said something like:

    “We should make every accomodation to our Muslim brothers, because it is our goal and purpose to bring enlightenment to those still struggling in the dark.”

  16. Matt Bramanti on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    “As I recall from childhood”

    Is that what we’re calling uncorroborated internet sources now?

  17. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    No, the Catholic school was 4 blocks from school and my family couldn’t afford to send me there. Jimmy next door was Catholic and I would attend movie showings with him, it’s where I saw the Yearling. Anyway, I was told I could attend and I wouldn’t have to go to a religion class, oh and I had to wear a uniform. Sorry best I can do.

    if you have different information, please share it.

  18. BigJolly on December 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Is that what we’re calling uncorroborated internet sources now?

    Heh. Good one.

  19. RobotPirateNinja on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    This one’s pretty easy. On one side you have the fastest growing religion on the planet, on the other you have a church run by a guy in a funny hat.

    Seems if some of these schools want a real future, adaptation is the name of the game.

    Also, if you want to quote Churchill on Muslims, why not just pick something he said about Muslims?

    How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

    C’mon, if you think they are lesser people, have the courage to say so. Churchill did.

    You might want to note the rest of his quote, oh ye of little science (global warm-what?).

    http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/read_churchill_islam.html

  20. RickG on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    19.

    Wow, a real, live, basement dwelling, video game playing troll!

  21. BigJolly on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    Call me gabberflasted. Robo linking to Chuck Schmuck is something I wouldn’t have bet on.

  22. Matt Bramanti on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    if you have different information, please share it.

    I had twelve years of Catholic education in this archdiocese, and religion/theology classes were mandatory for all students. Ditto at Notre Dame.

  23. Matt Bramanti on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 pm

    Also, if you want to quote Churchill on Muslims, why not just pick something he said about Muslims?

    Because I didn’t want to quote Churchill on Muslims. I wanted to quote Churchill on the broader issue of appeasement and its inevitably fatal results.

  24. Matt Bramanti on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    This one’s pretty easy. On one side you have the fastest growing religion on the planet, on the other you have a church run by a guy in a funny hat.

    Seriously? Do you honestly think fertility rates, of all things, should dictate religious practice?

  25. Dov on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    #22 Matt

    My last exe, and one of my favorites was from Jo’Berg. She and all of the children in her family were very observant Jews who went to Catholic schools. She stated that this was due to Catholic schools being able to teach discipline. With her (Lee) if the school had taught and required religion or theology I think I would have heard it

    However if they had it probably would have made the 6:00 News. As an agnostic she was 64 befor she finally decided there might be a G-d.

    I stand to be corrected however……..

  26. wagonburner on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    #15 rick

    “We should make every accomodation to our Muslim brothers, because it is our goal and purpose to bring enlightenment to those still struggling in the dark.”

    Nope. It would be cool if he said:

    “We understand that our Muslim brothers are seeking to be closer to God. They have chosen to attend Church-sponsored schools in order to achieve that lofty goal. We should help them in their quest by showing them the one true path to everlasting life. Empty rituals such as “purification” before prayer have been shown to be of no meaning by the one holy and living sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ. We want our Muslim brothers, indeed everyone to follow our Lord to everlasting life. As such, we will teach them the one true way.”

  27. wagonburner on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm

    #19 roboboy

    This one’s pretty easy. On one side you have the fastest growing religion on the planet, on the other you have a church run by a guy in a funny hat.

    Man, is that ever a devastating argument! Almost as good as “Oh, yeah?” and “Sez you.”

    Seems if some of these schools want a real future, adaptation is the name of the game.

    And you would be dead wrong. The fastest growing churches are those that actually stand for something. Our Pentecostal and Fundamentalist Christian brethren are good examples of this. Good examples of accommodation leading to shrinking membership are the Presbyterians and Anglicans (in the UK; those in Nigeria are exploding in membership).

  28. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    #22

    I had twelve years of Catholic education in this archdiocese, and religion/theology classes were mandatory for all students. Ditto at Notre Dame.

    Clearly it was a Papist plot to pull me into their web. The Priests always seemed nice, never had any interactions with nuns. I’ve never seen the Yearling since. As the Lutheran church we attended was several miles away, I spent more time playing at the Catholic school playground.

  29. vlou on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    Relgion is such a personal thing. It is great to know that the Catholics are looking out for others, but watch the Muslims very carefully, most of them don’t believe in longevity.

  30. Big45Iron on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    The Holy See could also have advised them that hygenic bathing should be done at home every day in addition to the ritual bathing, and, that soap and shampoo wouldn’t hurt either. It would vastly improve the viewpoint of those who do not adhere to Islam.

  31. Big45Iron on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Dov #25, at the wake after the death of my father in law, one of his brothers there was a prominent NASA engineer who was an avowed agnostic. We got into a discussion, where he asked me to show him there was evidence of God, much less to prove it.

    I asked him to show the the scientific evidence, measurable, that love and hate, sadness and joy, or any other emotion exists. We can see squiggles on a machine, but that just proves there are electronic impulses being emitted, not that there is advanced consciousness. Yet we base many of our laws on these emotions which we know to exist, yet can not scientifically prove.

  32. RobotPirateNinja on December 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    Aaah, good time, good times. Where to start…here we go.

    Because I didn’t want to quote Churchill on Muslims. I wanted to quote Churchill on the broader issue of appeasement and its inevitably fatal results.

    O.k. So you are drawing a direct and exact comparison between an army invading and taking over another country and offering wash-basins to students. Is that correct?

    Seriously? Do you honestly think fertility rates, of all things, should dictate religious practice?

    and

    Man, is that ever a devastating argument! Almost as good as “Oh, yeah?” and “Sez you.”

    Both in response to my statement of fact that Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion…by far.

    Yes, there are many reasons for this fact, but that doesn’t change that it is a fact.

    And no, I honesty don’t think that fertility rates should dictate religious practice. Sadly, they do, which is why Catholicism and Mormonism are two of the fastest growing religions in the U.S. But really though, as a good Catholic, shouldn’t one be all for more people and all against birth control?

    And finally a bit of history for the wagonburner..

    Empty rituals such as “purification” before prayer have been shown to be of no meaning by the one holy and living sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ.

    I know *you* don’t believe it, but at the core of the Muslim faith is that Muhammed was a peer to Jesus (both prophets), came after him, and updated the rituals.

    And does “baptism” count as an empty ritual of “purification”? Because it’s pretty much done for the exact same reason.

    There’s also a number of hygiene and health bonuses that come from being clean and “pure,” so there ya go.

    Oh, and one more…

    We got into a discussion, where he asked me to show him there was evidence of God, much less to prove it.

    I asked him to show the the scientific evidence, measurable, that love and hate, sadness and joy, or any other emotion exists. We can see squiggles on a machine, but that just proves there are electronic impulses being emitted, not that there is advanced consciousness.

    I would recommend reading some more updated sources. [ http://www.amazon.com/Looking-Spinoza-Sorrow-Feeling-Brain/dp/0151005575 ] We’re well beyond “squiggly” lines nowadays when it comes to brain research.

  33. Adee on December 2nd, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    Matt, the Chruchill quote on appeasement is simple, direct, and devastating.
    Sir Winston has lots of good things to say and cautions to give to those with the wit to listen/read.

    I attended a private Catholic school in Madison, WI for eight years. During that time several non-Catholic students attended and were not required to take religion class but instead could opt for another academic class or an extra study period.

    My 50th high school reunion is this July, so is spouse’s high school reunion in Madison, both on the same weekend. Haven’t decided if we’re going to either yet.

    Lookin’ for Pope Benedict to come up with a zinger to snap the British bishops out of their fog.

  34. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    I attended a private Catholic school in Madison, WI for eight years. During that time several non-Catholic students attended and were not required to take religion class but instead could opt for another academic class or an extra study period

    That explains it, it was a Wisconsin Roman Catholic dispensation :)

    I grew up in Racine

  35. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm

    #30 BI4

    We used to joke that the only way we could get our Royal Saudi Air Force trainees to bathe was to start a fire and turn on the fire sprinklers.

    There’s more to hygiene than clean feet and hands.

  36. fat albert on December 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    32. Robo..whatever:

    Both in response to my statement of fact that Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion…by far.

    I suppose it may be… but I tend to look a bit suspiciously at any religion who forces conversion at the point of a gun and punishes those who leave with a death sentence.

    Catholicism and Mormonism are two of the fastest growing religions in the U.S.

    Really? Supporting data please. (And DON’T quote wikipedia - that’s Shamaal’s job.)

    I know *you* don’t believe it, but at the core of the Muslim faith is that Muhammed was a peer to Jesus (both prophets), came after him, and updated the rituals.

    You obviously haven’t read either the Bible or the Koran. They have incompatible world views.

    And does “baptism” count as an empty ritual of “purification”? Because it’s pretty much done for the exact same reason.

    See above, I don’t want to start a theological argument but honestly… you don’t have a clue.

    Oh, and one more… Read Demasio again. He indicates that he has evidence of feelings, not emotions. And, he is at pains to try to define them both. Even if you’re right, all that electrical activity does is show the result of brain activity and not what it is.

  37. Adee on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    #34, Actually that non-Catholics students were not required to attend religion class was the decision of the Dominican Order of nuns who ran the school.

  38. fat albert on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    Look, here it is in a nutshell…..

    There are a bunch of rabid, virulent, disgusting animals running around the world dressed up as human beings. They commit vile, cowardly, violent acts of random terrorism and justify their depravity with assertions that their religious affiliation requires and even rewards their deeds.

    If they claimed to be Christians, the real Christians would immediately repudiate their activities in the most forceful way possible. If they claimed to be Buddists, real Buddists would do the same. But ask most Muslims and what you get is a lukewarm …well I don’t really agree with their methods, but….

    Can you imagine the outcry if a Christian walked into a Muslim school and demanded a space to put up a Crucifix? That’s assuming the Christian actually walked out alive.

    Radical Muslims have been bullying, demanding and forcing their worldview in the public arena for years now, and the West has been slow to see the problem.

    To make things even worse, Islam has for centuries been a religion which stunts growth and intellectual progress. They have contributed absolutely nothing to mans progress for at least 8 centuries.

  39. texpat on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    Why is it for every immigrant that comes to Texas from Wisconsin like Adee, we have to also take in a Shamaal ?

  40. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 pm

    People ask why I came here if I don’t like it.

    I answer, “Why do people go to zoos?”

    h/t to Mencken

  41. Shamaal on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    Can you imagine the outcry if a Christian walked into a Muslim school and demanded a space to put up a Crucifix? That’s assuming the Christian actually walked out alive.

    It just gets better and better.

    If you see a story where a muslim walked into a christian school and demands that they accomodate his religion let me know.

  42. RobotPirateNinja on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    Nice, a rational response. First one I’ve gotten here.

    I suppose it may be… but I tend to look a bit suspiciously at any religion who forces conversion at the point of a gun and punishes those who leave with a death sentence.

    Indeed. This is actually a big part of the whole reformation and internecine warfare that plagued Europe for a good long while. To think this common aspect of various religions is isolated to pockets of Islam is a gross mistatement.

    BTW, who taught you this was the core of Islam? In all my discussions with Muslims, including rather frank religious ones, I’ve yet to be threatened at the point of a gun. Perhaps your personal experience differs.

    Really? Supporting data please. (And DON’T quote wikipedia - that’s Shamaal’s job.)

    I see. Not a problem, as people usually use other sources in order to build good wikipedia articles.

    NEW YORK (AP) - The Assemblies of God, the Mormon church and the Roman Catholic Church were the fastest-growing major denominations in the United States last year, according to the just-released 2006 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.

    [ http://www.religionnewsblog.com/14263/us-church-growth-monitored ]

    You obviously haven’t read either the Bible or the Koran. They have incompatible world views.

    Having read a good bit of both, I’d have to disagree. They are very different works, as one is half about the oral traditions of the Jewish people and half writings about a Jewish prophet, and the other is a work largely created BY Muhammed allegedly quoting direct revelation, it’s not hard to see why the presentation is so different.

    If Jesus had lived and preached quite a bit longer (as Muhammed did) and conquered his opressors rather than being executed by them, it’s not hard to imagine him creating a similar work.

    See above, I don’t want to start a theological argument but honestly… you don’t have a clue.

    That’s a curious way to *not* start an argument. Usually a direct insult leads to arguments.

    Alas, a good many people have been impressed by my cluelessness, so I’ll chalk that up them being…different…than you.

    Oh, and one more… Read Demasio again. He indicates that he has evidence of feelings, not emotions. And, he is at pains to try to define them both.

    I would disagree in the point that Damasio is a pains to define the terms, as he very clearly demarcates feeling (conscious interpretation of) and emotion (measureable physiological changes caused by stimulus).

    I would also point to the vast amount of chemicals that many people are proscribed in order to moderate their sadness or happiness, or joy, or depression. There is a very large chemical aspect of such feelings. While it is quite a complicated system that doesn’t work the same for everyone (diversity increases survivability), we have made great strides as a species in understanding our own interpretation of the world around us. To throw up one’s hands and say it is beyond comprehension doesn’t sit well with me, particularly when the cutting edge of this research is miles beyond the common understanding of the brain, emotions, and the “soul”.

  43. RobotPirateNinja on December 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 pm

    There are a bunch of rabid, virulent, disgusting animals running around the world dressed up as human beings. They commit vile, cowardly, violent acts of random terrorism and justify their depravity with assertions that their religious affiliation requires and even rewards their deeds.

    Looks like I may have jumped the gun on that rational point.

    To be clear here…are you talking about the 20,000 or so hardcore Islamist-radicals worldwide?

    Or are you talking about the 1,200,000,000 Muslims that share this planet?

    If they claimed to be Christians, the real Christians would immediately repudiate their activities in the most forceful way possible.

    You *do* remember when Pakistan stormed the Red Mosque, right? How exactly would you characterize that action?

  44. Matt Bramanti on December 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 am

    “If Jesus had lived and preached quite a bit longer (as Muhammed did) and conquered his opressors rather than being executed by them, it’s not hard to imagine him creating a similar work.”

    So, you’re saying that if Jesus had been a violent, warlike type, he would’ve sounded a lot like Mo?

    I agree.

  45. RobotPirateNinja on December 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 am

    NIce one Matt. Sadly, however, your conception of Islam is about as accurate as your appeasement metaphor.

    Are you now tacitly agreeing that your point is that allowing kids to wash their hands is the EXACT SAME as allowing a power-crazed anti-Semite to invade a country?

    Can you go ahead and make that official?

  46. antifascist on December 3rd, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Matt, England already has a bad record with all things Catholic… that is just the “crap icing on the sh-t cake” as Jon Stewart would say…

    …as for this year’s BCS football mess, here’s my take:

    IF:

    Florida beats Alabama
    Oklahoma beats Missouri
    and
    USC beats UCLA

    THEN:

    The BCS National Championship Game would CLEARLY HAVE TO BE:

    drumroll…

    Notre Dame vs.

    the Peshawar Madrasa J.V. team
    (you know, a team the golden domers would have a shot against)

    HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYONE!

  47. Matt Bramanti on December 3rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    Are you now tacitly agreeing that your point is that allowing kids to wash their hands

    Are you implying that Catholic schools in the UK don’t have sinks?

    This is about Islam’s attempts to dominate civil society and other religions.

  48. Eddievee on December 6th, 2008 at 8:02 am

    We, that is those of us who believe in the LORD Jesus, should extend charity(love) to those we feel are undeserving as well as to those we feel are deserving. The LORD Jesus made/makes no distinction, why should we? But the household of GOD, again, those who believe in the LORD Jesus, should be taken care of first.

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