William Kilpatrick is the author of an excellent new book What Catholics Need to Know About Islam.
The arguments in his book apply to the situation in many mainstream Protestant churches as well, and certainly to the Islamic illiteracy of very many politicians and public servants.
Kilpatrick gave an eye opening interview recently, which can be viewed here: I would strongly advise people to read it.
On page 1 of the article, he lays out the top five myths that Church leaders promote. He sets them out as follows:
1. Islam is a religion of peace; Islam has nothing to do with violence.
2. Islam has much in common with Christianity, including a similar moral code, and similar ideas about marriage, family, and sexuality.
3. The vast majority of Muslims are moderate.
4. Jihadists misunderstand Islam. They have perverted a great religion. Luckily, they are only a tiny minority.
5. Many Christians also misunderstand Islam. They suffer from “Islamophobia” — an irrational fear of Islam that can be overcome through dialogue.”
George W. Bush calamitously pushed this line after the attack on the twin towers on 9/11 and it is clearly the view of New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern.
Now here as background from me is some information on Catholic teaching on Islam:
Both Islam and the Roman Catholic Church assert the belief that Allah and the God of the Bible are the same. Catholic Catechism #841 says:
«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.»
[I have put the word PROFESS in capitals because I do not believe this could possibly be true. There is a complete cognitive and theological dissonance between all the teachings of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus, on the one hand, and the life and teachings of Mohammed on the other.]
This is not expressed in public in Catholic Churches, but it is a doctrine of the Vatican. These words were inserted in the 1960s as an incorporation of material issued in Lumen Gentium (1964: para 16) and Nostra Aetate (1965: para 3).
Nostra Aetate (October 28, 1965)
3. The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth(5).f who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. [emphasis added]Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet.
They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion.
In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead.
Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.
Lumen Gentium (November 21, 1964)
16. Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.(18*) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh.
(125) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.(126) But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator.
In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind.
Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things,(127) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.
(128) Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.
(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life.
Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.
(20*) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.(129) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair.
Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, “Preach the Gospel to every creature”,(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention.
In my view, the fact that Pope Francis has allowed Islamic prayer within the Vatican is a very clear sign of “the smoke of Satan within the sanctuary”, as described by Malachi Martin.
In Matthew 7:16 Jesus gave a test for recognizing false prophets: “By their fruits you will know them.”
Paul, in Galatians 5:22, lists the fruit of the Spirit as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law”.
Islam’s fruit are these turned upside down: hate, misery, violence, impatience and intolerance, cruelty, evil, lying and deceit, immoderate fanaticism, and a complete abrogation of any personal responsibility (especially by men).
The Allah of the Koran is not the God of Christians and Jews.
