Report: Saudis cancel plans for Catholic churches in Kingdom
posted at 7:57 pm on March 25, 2008 by Allahpundit
Golly. And on the very day that Abdullah’s calling for interfaith understanding to combat the mighty scourge of atheism that threatens all that’s good and decent.
The president of the Middle East Center for Strategic Studies, Anwatr al Oshqi, has reported that Saudi Arabia’s royal family has decided against building a Catholic church in the kingdom…
While it was not an official response to that request, Al Oshqi’s report carries considerable weight because it was made during a broadcast on the Al Arabiya news channel, which is owned by the Saudi royal family.
Such has been the whining about the “provocation” inherent in welcoming a prominent critic of Islam to the flock that the Vatican was compelled to respond today with a front-page editorial in its paper. Too little, too late. That’s what you get for respecting freedom of conscience.
Exit question: Recognize the name “Anwar al Oshqi,” incidentally? Sure you do.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Who would have thought?
SaintOlaf on March 25, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Oy.
AbaddonsReign on March 25, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Golly, they were so close to having religious freedom in the kingdom, so close.
MB4 on March 25, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Man…AP is so in the tank for the pope…
Wind Rider on March 25, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Not a suprising outcome.
Hog Wild on March 25, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Who wanted Catholics to recognize Mohammed first?
Vizzini on March 25, 2008 at 8:14 PM
I recognise him . . . .for the murdering parentacidal child molester that he was.
- The Cat
MirCat on March 25, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Golly?
Kini on March 25, 2008 at 8:17 PM
They need some Pentecostal churches up in the kingdom!
SouthernGent on March 25, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Knock me over with a feather
dentalque on March 25, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Heh.
baldilocks on March 25, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Good. One of the most brain-dead and annoying cliches of the last seven years has been “Oh yeah we’ll accept mosques in the West as long as Saudi Arabia allows Christian churches blah blah blah blah”. I don’t want jihadist mosques in Western Europe or the US (or South Korea, Ethiopia, Australia, Canada etc., etc.) The Saudis don’t want Christian churches in Arabia? FINE BY ME. Just get your poisonous religion out of civillised countries. Now. The sooner the better.
aengus on March 25, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Catholics will never recognize Mo as a prophet. Not gonna happen…
JetBoy on March 25, 2008 at 8:26 PM
That was brilliant plan,convert a muslim to a Catholic
and no churches,okay I think someone is on to something here.
How about a courageous individual goes to Iran and advertizes a free conversion from muslim to say his or her
choice of any religious demonination and see how well that
goes over,it will seperate the extremist hardliners from
the more extremist moderate hardliners I bet!
canopfor on March 25, 2008 at 8:27 PM
In other shocking new released today… Hell is HOT…
doriangrey on March 25, 2008 at 8:34 PM
oops again, that should be denomination and not
demonination.
canopfor on March 25, 2008 at 8:44 PM
It’s too bad that so many lives have and will continue to be lost over these superstitions. When the oil is gone or replaced Saudi Arabia will be forgotten by the civilized world.
Annar on March 25, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Except, of course, that this decision was telegraphed before the “provocation” of baptising a believer in Christ.
RhymesWithRight on March 25, 2008 at 8:48 PM
In today’s climate in Iran, he might get stampeded by people eager to leave Islam….
ScottG on March 25, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Send Barack X over to negotiate with them.
faraway on March 25, 2008 at 8:54 PM
Being an optimist, I see this as the beginning of the end of the Royal family. Don’t ask me why because I’m not sure, just a feeling.
Zorro on March 25, 2008 at 8:56 PM
The slaves of Allah have swallowed the bait and have come out immediately interpreting the Baptism as Triumphalism, an insult and they are more humiliated then they care to admit.
Now let’s see them do something really stupid.
( are Sun Tsu’s original works in the Vatican archives?)
BL@KBIRD on March 25, 2008 at 8:57 PM
Suprize? more like Tease
Dr Evil on March 25, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Good.
Now let’s cancel all mosques here in the US, specifically, and all Western Democracies, in general.
BowHuntingTexas on March 25, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Yeah, they want churches in their Kingdom to promote Martyrdom, not molestation.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 25, 2008 at 9:07 PM
[Zorro on March 25, 2008 at 8:56 PM]
They have only so many fingers to stick in the dike. As other countries in the Mideast liberalize and compete, those foreign workers in SA will move to the more hospitable ones. It will cost SA technical expertise and the country will become a place only for apprentices.
Dusty on March 25, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Offtopic: How long has drudge been linking to hot air? I have an RSS feed that scraps drudge and hot air showed up today. I think he added TPM too.
ninjapirate on March 25, 2008 at 9:12 PM
I don’t want jihadist mosques in Western Europe or the US (or South Korea, Ethiopia, Australia, Canada etc., etc.) – Aengus
Too late.
Tony737 on March 25, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Sliding off-topic for a moment. If/when Holland becomes a Muslim country who will maintain the complex dike system that keeps the country above water? I get a little satisfaction out of the thought that even if Islam conquers Holland, an Islamic Holland will be conquered by the North Sea.
aengus on March 25, 2008 at 9:27 PM
There will always be poor Paskistanis to do the Saudis bidding seeing as there are so many of them.
Oh I know. I’m just looking for a reversal of sorts. Rome wasn’t burnt in a day.
aengus on March 25, 2008 at 9:30 PM
I have no proof of what I’m about to say but according to what I have heard and read certain members of the Saudi Royal family allegedly run one of the most complex pedophile rings in the world involving child slavery, kidnapping, blackmail, murder, torture.
Consider this BS if you like. I can’t prove it but what I have read on this subject strikes me as plausible to say the very least.
aengus on March 25, 2008 at 9:37 PM
aengus on March 25, 2008 at 9:37 PM
I’ll take your word for it. By the way, am I crazy or does the Catholic church not seem as righteous without John Paul? I’m definitely not a Catholic, but he seemed to be a soft, kind man. This new guy needs to keep his mouth shut about the US and its foreign policy. I need not remind the Pope of the history of the Catholic Church.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 25, 2008 at 9:53 PM
Like I said its not my word. I’ve heard plenty of hearsay, nothing solid. I hope that one day the truth of this matter is brought forward and that the parents of many abducted children either see their loved ones returned or get to see justice for their murdered children.
I don’t want to call you crazy but I would not describe his gentleness as softness. A kind of understated but determined and forceful goodness (or perhaps better described as an uncompromising insistence on goodness) as epitomised by John Pau helped drive wicked and tyrannous men to utter ruin (see the Soviets and several Latin American socialist leaders).
Benedict is a rather shy man who finds it difficult to convey his personality worldwide. I find the similarities between him and John Paul striking. Both are strong leaders but use very passive-aggressive means of confronting the enemies of the Church. They were lifelong friends and confidantes so that is not surprising.
I wasn’t aware that this Pope had made any negative comments about US foreign policy. Links?
Hahaha. You must be someone fun to know in real life.
aengus on March 25, 2008 at 10:16 PM
They have only so many fingers to stick in the dike.
An Islamic Holland will be conquered by the North Sea.
aengus on March 25,2008 at 9:27PM.
aengus: How about,Hell and High Water,wait I think
thats a war movie title!
canopfor on March 25, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Hmmm… Here’s a better idea. You can blow it out your ass.
Sydney Carton on March 25, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Boys, I don’t want any Catholic-bashing here. We’ve had this problem before. Don’t make me ban anyone.
Allahpundit on March 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
SHOCKA!
Capitana on March 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Yeah, those couple decades of bad spots sure does wipe away the daily immense good the Catholic Church, the world’s largest and best run charitable organization, does on a daily basis to help people who are actually in need in actual hellholes.
Meanwhile the other churches harp on about whether they should be selecting gay ministers.
BKennedy on March 25, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Maybe the baptism was the Pope’s stick in the eye to this question.
desertdweller on March 25, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Hey: for all the jokes, I think Bene 16th (go Marktl!) has something good – and not just “up his sleeve.”
We’ll all see how it develops, but this could be a good move.
Lockstein13 on March 25, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Uggh, didn’t the Vatican back the Nazi’s on more than one occasion?
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 25, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Allahpundit on March 25, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Me bad Allah, I just have sorta this problem with an institution that passed one child molesting priest after another onto unsuspecting god fearing and TRUSTING communities. I have absolutely nothing but respect for the faith and the good folks who make the church what it is, however the leadership needs to be held accountable until justice has been served. I’ll save it for another time/place.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 25, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Mohammad died after Jesus Christ was crucified, so if he was a prophet Christians recognized he would certainly be a Christian and very likely a saint. So we should make a prototype icon of Saint Mohammad of Arabia, holding up a cross.
That should end any requests for recognition.
raybury on March 25, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Piatak on Hitchens. Please read it all.
aengus on March 25, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Heh. Benedict is one shrewd m-ther- F-er isn’t he Allah?
He IS the resurgence of Catholicism in my humble estimation.
May God bless his soul.
awake on March 26, 2008 at 12:09 AM
No, not suprising.
Don’t think the Pope will give -up though.
coleporter on March 26, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I have no idea what the future may bring in this arena…but…I am so down with B-16 !!! Lets just stir this sh-it up and see how it shakes out.
Dirthead on March 26, 2008 at 12:27 AM
In one sense Benedict invited the whole world of Islam to free themselves and leave Islam behind. Very bold indeed. Would Islam be gauche enough to just outright kill the well known ex Muslim? But then Islam doesn’t have or want full control of all it’s lesser demons. So his murder is likely to be attempted by someone, sometime.
This Fridays Seethe services may be gestating new ripples and currents.
BL@KBIRD on March 26, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Yes, Muhammed was a prophet…a false one.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
labrat on March 26, 2008 at 1:00 AM
I have read similar things about the Saudi “Royal” family.
labrat on March 26, 2008 at 1:03 AM
Surprise, surprise.
Johan Klaus on March 26, 2008 at 1:38 AM
Can we NOW drill our own oil?
Seven Percent Solution on March 26, 2008 at 2:02 AM
Thank you AP. Civil debate is one thing. Bashing is anothah.
inviolet on March 26, 2008 at 6:56 AM
I say the Catholics were wrong…they should recognize Mohammad, if they recognize the Christ is their savior and the son of God.
I’ll see your bet of a prophet for the Son of God and raise you in three days.
right2bright on March 26, 2008 at 8:22 AM
And these are the people that Obama claims he can reason with?
jeanie on March 26, 2008 at 8:58 AM
No Christian slaughterhouses in the cradle of Islamic fanaticism? That’s a good thing.
Adamski on March 26, 2008 at 11:07 AM
That’s what I was thinking.
Al in St. Lou on March 26, 2008 at 4:08 PM