Gospel Reflections for November 29 2015
This Gospel can help Muslim leaders bring peace
The Gospel presents frightening images of the end of the world. Ironically, Radical Islamic extremists are actually hoping for an end of the world cosmic battle with non-Muslim countries. What is going on here?
Islam began in the early 7th Century in the Middle East. Very soon afterwards, Islamic armies conquered all of the Middle East and North Africa, and were even approaching Paris. At that high point, the Islamic kingdom was powerful and huge, but eventually collapsed and is now subdivided into many different countries. Today, the Middle East is economically poor and politically weak. That is why Radical Islamic extremists, like ISIS and Al Qaeda, want to restore that original huge Islamic kingdom, and will do so with violence to make it happen. They also seek to forcefully convert the USA and the whole world to Radical Islam as well.
Since the 7th Century, the West and Islam have had periods of conflict but also long periods of peace. Radical Islamic extremism is a brand new phenomenon that began just a few decades ago, but has recently advanced rapidly with Al Qaeda and ISIS. They both insist on the strictest version of Islamic ideas and the very harshest punishments for the smallest infraction. They also use the most violent methods of punishment to frighten and terrorize people into compliance. They both believe this version of Islam will restore the original Islamic kingdom.
This is a major threat to the USA. The Gospel warns against being asleep and not being alert, so I am glad that politicians, presidential candidates, and commentators constantly offer ideas about how to counter radical Islamic leaders. They offer many ideas about military, political, and multi-national efforts.
However, there is one group of leaders from whom we have not heard enough, and that is all the other Muslim leaders around the world who have not taken a leadership role.
The Radical Islamic extremists have effectively made the case that their violent version of Islam is authentic. Where are the other Muslim leaders to counter that?
Muslim leaders need to speak out forcefully against radical Islamic extremism every single week in their mosques and clearly explain how this version of Radical Islam is wrong. They need to do this every week …every month …and never stop. They need to pound home the point at every opportunity that the radical version of Islam is just plain wrong.
Young people especially need to hear from every Muslim leader everywhere in the world that ISIS and Al Qaeda are illegitimate versions of Islam. More than any other political or military effort, I believe good Muslim leaders can truly do the most to bring peace to a troubled land.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Your accusation that Muslim leaders are not speaking out against extremists claiming to be representing Islam is as wrong as it is irresponsible. In fact, Muslims have been speaking out against ISIS and other extremist groups. The problem is, some times, you either don’t know this or choose bear false witness against Muslims.
The Vatican’s internal news source reported that the Secretary General for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 1.4 billion Muslims in 57 countries around the world, has condemned ISIS.
Lebanese paper The Daily Star reported that Al-Azhar’s Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam, Egypt’s highest religious authority, denounced the Islamic State as a threat to Islam and said that the group violates Muslim belief as well as humanitarian law.
Turkey’s highest ranking cleric, Mehmet Gormez, decried the Islamic State’s declaration of a “caliphate” and argued that the ISIS is a threat to the Muslim community.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has repeatedly condemed ISIS as a terrorist group that is “un-Islamic and morally repugnant,”
Shame on you for fueling the flames of hatred and bigotry.
I respectfully disagree with your overall assessment, and do so with the utmost politeness. I am well aware of the statements of these few Islamic leaders.
Last year. President Sisi of Egypt felt there was so little Muslim leadership on this issue that he called over a thousand Imams to Al-Azhar where he strongly chastised them for letting the radicals “destroy our religion.” That was an amazing acknowledgement of the lack of Muslim leadership and the consequences to Islam because of that lack of leadership. Sisi believed it was not enough for the Grand Mufti to speak. He believed, as I do, that it has to be EVERY Muslim leader.
Along those lines, in my article, I mention the basic idea that we need EVERY Muslim leader in EVERY mosque around the world to make the case EVERY week, EVERY month, and all year long. A few leaders here and there is not enough, and obviously, has not been enough so far.
It will be in the neighborhood mosques that this radical interpretation of Islam will be defeated.
Saudi Arabia did this successfully in their own country a few years ago. They began a program of “de-programming” radicals by having them meet and listen to learned Muslim clerics on a weekly basis for many months. The program has worked very well in treating the problem of radical Islam for what it is a religious problem of interpretation.
Although I respectfully and politely disagree with your comments, I am very glad you wrote, and I hope that you found my return response was a polite one as well, even if you might still not find it convincing.
Fr Dave – you couldn’t be more correct. The world needs the peaceful Muslims to speak up and condemn the radical, demonic Muslims !
Let’s pray that many more Muslim leaders will so on a weekly basis throughout the world.
I too have questioned in my mind why the Islamic countries leaders have been tooooo silent. They seem not to interfer . But to what end? What are they waiting for? Aren’t they moved by the brutality and the inhuman acts even to their own people? Thanks Father Dave for focusing on that thought too. I too am worried why aren’t the Islamic leaders doing anything.
Hopefully, they will step and help in this world wide effort against radical Islamic terrorism.
Father Dave, You could not have expressed it better!!! We have an evil terrorist group in the radical extremest Islamic terrorists and they must be stopped!!! The world must unite to end this horrible evil!!! The Muslim leaders should acknowledge this evil and inform their people of this heinous version of Islam and its terrible evil that takes life!!! God gives life and no one has the right to take it except in defending this precious gift!!! Our Blessed Mother said at Fatima to pray the Rosary for peace!!! We must pray our beautiful Rosary and act with
force!!!
Love, Franca and Dick
Well said!
Father Dave, I have also wondered why the peace loving Muslims have been so quiet. Have you ever heard of “Radical Christian Extremists”? If there were such, I would bet that there would be many good Christians coming forth to straighten out the misunderstandings..
Yesterday there was an incident at a Planned Parenthood facility where a gunman was resisting arrest inside the facility. I haven’t heard how that turned out, but I theorized that the gunman was a “Radical Extremist” who was demented and thought he should make a respect life statement. Do you know how it turned out?
The difference would be that the Radical Extremist, possibly Christian, was not trying to incite terror (I think) but was wrongly trying to promote one side of a “the better good”, right to life, controversy. I submit that this is much different from trying to use terror to promote scarring people into submitting to anything you propose, such as the Radical Extremist Muslims do.
In my opinion, our National Government is far too accepting of the evils performed by the Radical Islamic Muslims.
It is still too early to tell about the tragic assault in Colorado. I am patient to wait for the fuller explanation. Whatever the explanation is, it is still tragic.
Fr. Dave
I commented on this matter last week but didn’t receive a reply. Let me know if I should resend.
+Blessings
I received this message, but apparently missed the last one. Can you resend it?
Resending comments 11/22/15:
Fr. Dave,
Zinger! As much as I distaste the tactics the Israeli Goverment is using to defend themselves (and by default their neighbors) against radical Muslims, their “PlaybooK” needs to be taken seriously less our Judeo-Christian way of life is all for not. It’s important to emphasize that no one is calling for war against Islam, only its radical extremists!
I find it disheartening to not hear or see huge condemnation movements by the many hardworking and good Muslims – perhaps it’s the FEAR you allude to in your commentary….
As an aside, while I don’t always reply to your weekly reflections, I do always read them – keep up the good work. Too, I attended the I-Heart Radio Elevate conference last Saturday, it was fabulous (sold out, over 900 attending). Have you thought about hosting a radio spot on Catholic Radio – you’d be fabulous!
Finally, hope to see yah at Catholic Charities Xmas Gala in two weeks.
Dio vi Benedica
Comments 11/29/15:
Just learned that a wall is nearly starting construction biforcating Jersuleum from Bethlehem – this can’t be a good thing! Are you aware of the timing of this; and of any movements to halt or at minimum delay this deeply Christian matter?
Thanks for your comments. I am glad you enjoy reading these articles. I am actually on Catholic Radio (93AM on the radio dial) most Thursdays for about 20 minutes beginning at 6pm. The 5-7pm host, Joe Sikorra often invites me on for various topics at the time and day. Last week we discussed the new California Doctor Assisted Suicide Law.
I will be at the Catholic Charities Banquet. See you there!
Boy, what a can of worms… Well for ears I have had my thoughts on it. The Gospel talks about us being asleep and that is exactly what is happening. Especially in America. Over the Internet I have seen Muslims going into different countries and amongst are ISIS. The have even said they are positioned in America. Interesting.
In stdying history before the World War 2, people were not exactly in unity. They hated the Irish when they came in. Of course they hated Blacks and any race that was different from them. Then the war came out and everyone picked up their guns and went to war and guess who all slept in the same bunker. They came together to win that war. Well my Question is when we see everything going on in our country, not just the muslims but Homosexual Issues, Abortions, Know we are acting on the pill for suicide, people are ignoring the fact that when abortions came in as acceptable it was for those that were raped, now look. What do they think will happen with this suicide pill and do they really think you’ll be given a choice?. pornography and yet all seem to be sleeping and saying, I don’t like it “Oh Well”. When will the real believers stand up and say enoughd? say that we have had enough. . Coming from both sides All I have seen is Christians with so much pride saying who is right and who is wrong. We need to put down our differences and not change our beliefs but agree to disagree and come against the enemy that has been alowed to go crazy in this country.
I am excited about the classes on Apologetics this next week as our people don’t seem to know enough about their faith. I hope there is a real mob showing up. We don’t need to learn to fight with other faiths, but comely explain what is true. I have beendoing it since I have many Protestant friends and in a meeting if something comes up I will calmly explain. I know, it is hard to believe I can be calm. It aint easy… But standing up in this country for what is right needs to be done and we need to get our people out there to vote. It also isn’t necessaryily a democratic and Republican issue, it is a faith isue.
Thanks for your comment. Yes, one moral issue often does impact another, especially in the respect life area, like abortion and doctor assisted suicide. I hope the apologetics conference will help people respectfully offer calmness, reason, and logic in the discussion of these often highly volatile subjects.
Resent my comments from last week above.
What do you think would be the most effective tactic the new president could use to deal with ISIS? Why do you think our current administration has been unable to defeat them. Is ISIS motive to eventually conquer Israel?
I would like the US to inspire Muslim leaders in every mosque throughout the world to give sermons every week for years that de-legitimize radical Islamic extremism.
Excellent Fr. Dave. Thank you very much for having the courage to speak the truth. My question is sincere: what is it about Islam that promoting terrorism and murder throughout the world is justified? Surely these monsters are not all criminally insane? What kind of afterlife would welcome these mass murderers?
Thanks for your excellent question. Islam itself does not justify terrorism, but radicals today interpret sometimes rather vague passages from the Quran in extremely harsh ways. For example, one verse simply says “resist evil.” That is actually a good idea! However, radicals today interpret “evil” as any non- radical Muslim, and interpret “resist” as a license to kill. That is why I call on Muslim leaders to make the case to the entire Muslim world that this radical interpretation is wrong.
Secondly, radicals have adopted this radical interpretation in the mistaken belief that it will restore the age old glory days of Islam when they conquered all of the Middle East, North Africa, Spain, and even half of France in thee years after Mohammed.
People can be both sincere and mentally ill at the same time. Such is the case here!
The problem still seems to be the warped ideology of Islam though. We do see lone wolfs bomb abortion comics or shoot up a clinic because the believe the are ridding the world of evil but this is rare. I do believe there is something warped in Islamic ideology that is not present in Christianity or Judaism or Hinduism or Buddism. Am I too closed minded?
I agree that there are some inherent problems in Islam that have caused problems, principally is the Islamic response to Non-Muslims. The key question has been the status of Non-Muslims among Muslims and whether they are safe or not. The answer has been different at various times in history. In the last few centuries there was not much problem, and Christians and Muslims got along reasonably well. However, the most radical form today, represented by Al-Qaeda and ISIS,believes all non-Muslims, and even all non-radical Muslims must die. That is outrageous and terribly wrong. It cannot last, and will collapse for lack of general Muslim support, and Muslim resistance which is even occurring now in areas controlled by ISIS. IN the meantime, the Islamic people worldwide suffer from the reputation forced on them by the radical groups.
Understood. Thank you for your reason and wisdom Fr. Dave. I am saddened to think of how many must die while the resistance effort against the radicals within Islam get the courage to rise up and crush the evil in their midst.