Islamic mosques are being built more often in France than Roman Catholic churches, and there are now more practicing Muslims in the country than practicing Catholics, reports the human rights activist, moderate Muslim and expert investigative reporting group, the Hudson Institute.
There are nearly 150 mosques now under construction in France, and by contrast only 20 new Catholic churches have been built in the past decade, while 60 churches have been closed – in some cases, to be converted into mosques.
Over 40 million French people identify themselves as Catholics, but fewer than 2 million practice the faith regularly.
There are only 4.5 million Muslims living in the country, but 41%, or 2.5 million, practice their faith regularly.
Taken together, the research data suggests Islam is well on its way to overtaking Roman Catholicism as the dominant religion in France, and as their numbers grow, Muslims in France are becoming far more assertive than ever before.
Muslim groups in France are now asking the Roman Catholic Church for permission to use its empty churches as a way to solve the traffic problems caused by thousands of Muslims who pray in the streets.
Every Friday, thousands of Muslims in Paris and other French cities close off streets and sidewalks to accommodate overflowing crowds for midday prayers.
Some mosques have also begun broadcasting sermons and chants of “Allah Akbar” via loudspeakers in the streets.
Sources
- Hudson Institute
- Image: WAT.tv