Today is the ninth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.\u00a0 There are many memorial services happening today to honor those who lost their lives in those terrible attacks.\u00a0 We also pray for their loved ones, asking the Lord to strengthen and comfort them.<\/p>\n
There has also been much controversy this week centered on a Christian minister who was going to burn copies of the Quran today.\u00a0 Fortunately, he has decided against burning the Quran today or ever.<\/p>\n
Now, normally I do not like writing about controversial items here but I believe I need to comment on this issue.\u00a0 Certainly, the Catholic Church has been commenting on it.\u00a0 Here are some links<\/p>\n
Are there Muslim extremists who burn Christian Bibles?\u00a0 Yes.<\/p>\n
Are there Muslim extremists who were responsible for the 9-11 attacks?\u00a0 Yes.<\/p>\n
Are there Muslim extremists committing acts of terrorism today?\u00a0 Yes.<\/p>\n
That does not make every Muslim a bad person.\u00a0 In writing this today, I make no judgment on Islam.\u00a0 I will leave the judgment to God (“He did indeed denounce the unbelief of his listeners but left vengeance to God until the day of judgment.” Second Vatican Council, “Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Liberty)”<\/a> December 7, 1965, paragraph 11).<\/p>\n But I fail to see how burning Qurans would help the situation.\u00a0 Some say it is free speech.\u00a0 Some might say, “they burn Christian Bibles, so we will burn Qurans.”\u00a0 To mean that makes it an act of revenge rather than justice.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some will say in response, “Well, the Bible says an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”\u00a0 Yes, it does.\u00a0 You can find it in Exodus 21:24<\/a>.\u00a0 But have you read Matthew 5:38-48<\/a>?<\/p>\n “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’\u00a0\u00a0But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.\u00a0\u00a0If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.\u00a0\u00a0Should anyone press you into service for one mile,\u00a0go with him for two miles.\u00a0\u00a0Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.\u00a0\u00a0“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’\u00a0\u00a0But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,\u00a0that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?\u00a0 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup>So be perfect,\u00a0just as your heavenly Father is perfect.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Someone has to be the first to do the right thing.<\/p>\n Turning to the question of freedom of religion, as Catholics we should be mindful of the history of how Catholics were received in America, which was originally largely a Protestant country (For some of this history see a paper I wrote “Bishop McQuaid and Archbishop Ireland:\u00a0 School Controversy or Otherwise?)<\/a>.\u00a0 Catholics worked hard for religious freedom.\u00a0 If we want freedom of religion for ourselves, we must respect\u00a0religious freedom of others.\u00a0 It does NOT mean we agree with them or support them in anyway.\u00a0 It means we respect their rights as human beings.\u00a0 Pope John XXIII wrote in paragraph 14 of Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth)<\/em> <\/a><\/p>\n This too must be listed among the rights of a human being, to honor God according to the sincere dictates of his own conscience, and therefore the right to practice his religion privately and publicly (cf. Vatican II, “Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Liberty).”<\/a> Decemember 7, 1965 paragraph 2-3).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I hope this helps.\u00a0 Remember, I am not making any judgment on Islam.\u00a0 However, I do not see burning Qurans as anything that helps the situation in any way.\u00a0 Rather than fight, pray for those involved.<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today is the ninth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.\u00a0 There are many memorial services happening today to honor those who lost their lives in those terrible attacks.\u00a0 We also pray for their loved ones, asking the Lord to strengthen and comfort them. There has also been much controversy this week centered on a Christian …<\/p>\n