Catechism on The Church's relationship with the Muslims - on believing the same God

The catechism teaches:

841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."

To me, this is the old doctrine of baptism of desire, where a person no matter what faith, and is unable to know Jesus not because of his own fault, invincible ignorance, is also baptised by his sincere desire if he lives according to his conscience. 

The problem or heresy comes when some Church leaders raises this cult to the same level as Christianity by teaching or actions e.g. sharing Church buildings.  In my mind, that puts Jesus the Incarnate Son of God, Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity down to how Mohammed defined him as a minor prophet but just a man.  Adoring the heavenly Father just as one would worship Allah negates the truth that Jesus is the Way and the only way to bridge the gap between God and man.

Then there is the flipside i.e. how do Muslims see Christians?  I have 20 links on the side of my page that reports how a Christian or Jew being murdered by a Muslim because of his Christian or Jewish faith daily.  So, while we see them as worshipping the Heavenly Father as Allah, I doubt if they see Allah in the Heavenly Father, much less in the Triune God of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  In fact, their doctrinal text, the Q'uran, is quite explicit about the negations. 

"They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them," (Quran 5:73, Yusuf Ali).

"They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no Allah save the One Allah. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve," (Quran 5:73, Pickthal).
 
who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say: Who then can do aught against Allah, if He had willed to destroy the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother and everyone on earth? Allah's is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He createth what He will. And Allah is Able to do all things," (Quran 5:17, Pickthal).

"And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old. Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they!" (Quran 5:30, Pickthal)

Then again, it may not matter even if they indeed descended from Abraham by their faith; because, didn't the Lord say, "And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham."  Mathew 3:9


Source:  http://carm.org/catholic-catechisms-view-muslim-god-wrong

On the contrary, former Muslims hold that Allah is not the same as the Christian and Jewish God. Watch the video below.


If video fails, click here or go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2011/02/catechism-on-churchs-relationship-with.html

The first Marian apparition in the US has been formally approved in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-marian-apparition-in-us-has-been.html



Three apparitions in 1859
In October 1859, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared on three occasions to Adele Brise, a young Belgian immigrant. Brise stated that a lady dressed in dazzling white appeared to her and claimed to be the "Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners."

The Lady asked Brise to pray for sinners, as well as to gather the children and teach them what they should know for salvation. The Blessed Virgin followed the commands with these words of assurance to Adele Brise, "Go and fear nothing, I will help you."

Since 1859, countless faithful have made the pilgrimage to Champion, Wisconsin to offer prayers of thanksgiving and petition to Jesus and to ask for intercession from Our Lady of Good Help.

Fulfilling obligations
After receiving the apparitions, Adele Brise immediately began to fulfill the obligations the Blessed Virgin entrusted to her. She gathered local children and taught them how to pray, make the sign of the cross, and to give love, thanks, and praise to the Lord.

As part of her commitment to the Blessed Virgin, Brise set up a Catholic school and began a community of Third Order Franciscan women. Eventually, a school and convent were built on the grounds to further the mission entrusted to Brise.

Spared during Peshtigo fire
The 151-year history of the Shrine is rich with written and oral accounts of prayers that have been answered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. The sources document physical healings and conversions that have taken place as a result of pilgrimages to the Shrine.
In addition, as the Peshtigo fire of 1871 engulfed the surrounding area, the entire five acres of land consecrated to the Blessed Virgin remained unscathed after Brise organized a prayer vigil that circled the area.

Excerpted from Green Bay Diocese

Video: Rich intellectual tradition of the Catholic faith - being dumbed-down

The Catholic faith has a smart tradition.  It is intellectually profound and rich.  The Church will not be effective telling of our story by dumbing that down.  To make our story compelling enough to  light a fire on the earth, we need  to tell the it with panache.


If video fails, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZkPH1rOAG0&feature=player_embedded

Video: Run from fake or diluted or twisted Christian teachings

Political parties have misused Christian teachings in the US to get themselves elected. They continue to do so to further their agendas. Watch these videos and see if you recognize these false or twisted reproductions of Jesus' teachings.



Source click here or use this address: http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=9fb9e41674e0b7874f12