Filipino Christians are afraid to go to Mass because of perceived threats from Islamist radicals. “Before, the Philippines was a dream place for inter religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims … but now people are frightened even to go to Mass”, said Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, an Italian missionary in Italian missionary living in Mindanao in Read more
The burkini – modest swimwear designed for Muslim women – is causing controversy and outrage, with some wanting it banned and others claiming it’s better than togs that expose too much flesh. The ban on the Islamic burkini swimsuit on some French beaches has triggered disdain in English-speaking countries, where outlawing religion-oriented clothing is seen Read more
In a show of solidarity with their Catholic neighbours, Muslims all over France attended Mass on Sunday, five days after a murderous claimed attack on a Catholic priest in Normandy. France’s Muslim council, the CFCM, urged Muslims to show “solidarity and compassion” over Father Jacques Hamel’s murder. “We are all Catholics of France,” said Anouar Read more
I was passing through airport security somewhere in North America in October 2001 when I realised it: I was no longer the face of terrorism, and might never be selected for one of those comprehensive “special clearance procedures” again. Until then, that’s what a passport with a Northern Irish birthplace had got me – it Read more
Islam is “fundamentally a form of government” rather than a religion because when a state finds itself with a majority population of Muslims they have a duty to submit the whole population to Sharia law, the Raymond Burke, the controversial American cardinal, has said. Burke said individual Muslims “are lovely people” and can speak “in Read more
An outspoken politician has called for a royal commission into Islam in Australia, noting how such a body is helping uncover child abuse in the Church. Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie’s office released a graphic comparing a “big problem”’ with Islamic radicalisation to child molestation in the Australian Catholic Church. The graphic asks if a royal Read more
In his Atlantic article on “What ISIS Really Wants” last March, Graeme Wood insisted that “the Islamic state is Islamic. Very Islamic.” Wood’s detractors have been similarly emphatic, arguing that ISIS is a perversion of the Islamic faith. For Wood’s critics, secular politics, far more than religion or religious ideology, is the key to understanding Read more
JAKARTA: As the call to prayer rang out across the Indonesian capital, Sutikno faced a dilemma – the devout Muslim needed to set off through Jakarta’s notorious traffic to pick up his wife but did not want to miss out on worshipping. However for him and others juggling the demands of hectic, 21st century life Read more
A Muslim imam and missionary has taken to Auckland’s streets to gauge what New Zealanders think about Islamic culture, and to try and change perceptions. Mustenser Qamar and a group of friends used a white board displaying the text, “I am a Muslim so that makes me…” to invite members of the public to share Read more
All Black Sonny Bill Williams has said he is most happy when he is saying his prayers. In an article in the UK Daily Mail, Williams admitted to having to fit his Islamic diet and prayer around an intensive rugby schedule. “When I’m most happy is when I’m doing my prayers,” he said. “When you Read more