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Dec 29th, 2019
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This article is on Catholic World News today. It is sad that you can not even pray privately in your home. Saudis Arrest Christians For Home Prayer Service [ cwnews.com] In IC XC, Father Anthony+
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ's own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. - Saint Gregory of Sinai
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Father,
Several months ago some posters regularly tried to defend Islamic actions such as this. I'm glad they don't post here any longer. Such actions are indefensible.
CDL
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Dear Father Anthony,
Bless.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
This is a reminder, that even though we need to show love to all our neighbors and find the Christ in each and every one, that the evil one continues to manipulate through whatever devices and channels possible.
As a sailor visiting Saudi Arabia back in 86, [yes, this is another one of Mike's St. Olaf stories] one of the things we did during our port of call was to "hide" a couple of Bibles in our back packs as we left the ship for liberty visits. On our culture video, it stated these might be appreciated.
The American and English expatriate community was overwhelming warm and open with invitations to bring us into their homes for dinner and conversation. One of the first things many asked about was the availability of Bibles. Imagine the surprises and smiles as we pulled them out for these wonderful people.
Many brought Bibles when coming into the country, but the Saudi authorities confiscated every last one of them.
It is a very difficult culture to live within. I could go on and on but do not want to bore anyone further.
So the ultimate question to be asked is how can children of God be allowed to worship in countries controlled by the evil one? I do not believe the people are inherently evil, but the laws of this and many other countries are.
In Christ,
Michael
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The Saudi regime is pretty despicable... yet another of its many human rights violations.
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It was great to see Ukraine trounce the Saudis 4-0 at the World Cup today.
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And some people think I'm nuts for being nervous about the growing Muslim population of Europe...
"Shar-eeee--aaahhh, oh, shar-eeee-aaahhh, to hear the prayer call and see ya..."
:p
God bless,
Karen
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Aahhh, it's just a 'peaceful religion' said someone. And , he wasn't the one who 'didn't inhale'. Islam is as it always was. Their hours of prayer are modeled after their Jewish brothers, who can deny...! Facing East at prayer, sounds Orthodox. But, you know the lurkers are on here. May God, the One Holy Trinity, Father , Son and Holy Spirit, grant us, and them mercy, and repentance before the day of His judgement. S Bohom, mik
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Dear Michael B, Thanks for sharing that interesting story about your visit to Saudi Arabia. I enjoy personal recollections and I bet mostly everyone else does to. Please keep them coming, Mr. Fellow Moderator!  In Christ, Alice
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Mike,
But all Muslims east of Mecca would pray facing west, of course.
And, as you know, facing Eastward for prayer isn't just an Orthodox thing. It's Catholic, too, though much less pronounced in the past few decades.
Logos Teen
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The Muslims don't just face East or West they calculate the position of where they are in relation to Mecca and face exactly to the Ka'ba.
"The importance of Mecca for Muslims is inestimable. All Muslims, wherever they are on the earth, are required to pray five times a day in the direction of the Ka'bah in Mecca (located at 21�25′24″N, 39�49′24″E). This direction of prayer is known as the qiblah. Muslims regard al-Masjid al-Haram (or 'The Sacred Mosque') as the holiest place on Earth." -Wikipedia article on Mecca
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Dear Logus Teen you said: But all Muslims east of Mecca would pray facing west, of course.
And, as you know, facing Eastward for prayer isn't just an Orthodox thing. It's Catholic, too, though much less pronounced in the past few decades. I say: I have a story to tell. On reading about the Crusaders, one of them came across a Muslim facing Mecca to pray. Not realizing he was a Muslim, he lifted him and faced him East. Well the Muslim again faced Mecca and once again he lifted him and faced him East. :rolleyes: I guess the Muslim gave up, but until then I always thought that facing East was purely an Orthodox thing. My grandmother would face me that way, and she would also have me cross my arms to pray. I guess those things have all been forgotten now.  Zenovia
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CIX!
I am a regular visitor to Malaysia, a Mahometan country where hotel rooms all have a little 'Kiblat' thingt on the ceiling - an arrow indicating the direction of Mecca.
I take wicked pleasure in reversing the direction of the things - in order that they may pray the other way and hence have their bums facing Mecca.
Just my two hrivs...
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Dear Edward,
You are a very naughty boy! :p
Alice
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I believe that it was Bishop Fulton Sheen who said that there would not be peace in the world until the Muslims are converted.
Those laws in Saudi Arabia are evil. One day, that nation will come to a very bitter end.
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Bishop Sheen had it spot-on with that statement. It's really sad that the ecumenical movement in the Catholic Church has gone so far as to embrace even non-Christian religions. Tolerance of and respect for other human beings as children of God is one thing of which we as Christians should always be conscious. However, to me, this "let's stop fretting over our differences and pray to (the) God(s) together" attitude is way beyond the pale. This is one big reason why, though I loved and honored him as the Vicar of Christ and felt he had only the best of intentions, I had serious reservations about the papacy of JPII.
One day - soon I hope - Sacred Scripture promises us that literally every knee - not just Christian knees - shall bow.
God bless,
Sam
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