In reality, that’s exactly what it should be put down to. But Körner no doubt feels compelled to try to preserve Pope Francis’ fiction that “current Islamic aggression” has anything to do with the teachings of Islam itself. Accordingly, he has to ignore Erdogan’s explicit grounding of the conversion of Hagia Sophia in Islamic terms.
“Vatican on Hagia Sophia: Don’t Blame Islam,” by Jules Gomes, ChurchMilitant.com, July 16, 2020:
VATICAN CITY (ChurchMilitant.com) – A Vatican representative is insisting that Turkey’s conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque should not be seen as “Islamic aggression” even as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan fired a shot across the Vatican’s bow in an Islamic supremacist speech.
“It is the product of the same logic to demand the Vatican be converted into a museum and insist that Hagia Sophia remain as a museum,” Erdoğan declared on Turkish television Monday after Turkey’s top court annulled President Kemal Atatürk’s 1934 decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a museum as part of his secularist reforms.
“Making Hagia Sophia a museum did not eliminate the ambitions of Christianity on Istanbul but on the contrary encouraged, provoked and excited them,” Erdoğan contended.
In an address charged with nationalist and triumphalist rhetoric and punctuated with references to Islamic theology and history, Erdoğan hailed the “foundation charter” issued by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan, the conqueror of Constantinople, which turned Hagia Sophia from the world’s grandest basilica into a mosque in 1453.
“May the eternal curse of Allah, the Prophet, the angels, all rulers and of all Muslims be upon him and them who change this foundation charter,” Erdoğan imprecated. “Do not relieve the torment, do not look at their faces on the day of pilgrimage … The punishment of Allah is with them.”
‘Self-Profiling’ by ‘Partner in Dialogue’
Nevertheless, Jesuit priest Felix Körner, Consultor to the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with Muslims, maintained the “reclassification” of Hagia Sophia as a mosque “should not be put down to current Islamic aggression.”
“It is about an attempt at self-profiling” by President Erdoğan, Körner who teaches Islam at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, told Domradio.de.
Körner also suggested Christians “should actually be happy” that Hagia Sophia will once again be used for prayers after 85 years as a secular museum.
Most Muslims in Turkey see Christianity “not as an opponent, but as a partner in dialogue, as a sister religion,” and many see through “the instrumentalization of religious questions for political purposes,” Körner noted.
‘Lion at the Door’
Speaking to Church Militant, Islamic historian Robert Spencer said: “Körner would do well to ponder the words of Erdoğan himself”:
Today, Hagia Sophia is having another resurrection, many of which it has witnessed since its construction. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum.
“That’s not just ‘self-profiling.’ That’s a declaration of coming aggression against Israel and an explicit grounding of his action regarding Hagia Sophia in his neo-Ottoman aspirations,” he stressed.
Spencer asked: “What ‘interregnum’ does he mean? What interregnum are Muslims experiencing?”
He responded:
The Ottoman caliphate was abolished in 1924 after waging jihad war against Christian Europe for centuries. Erdoğan wants to restore it, and that would involve, since warfare against unbelievers is mandated for the caliphate in Islamic law, the resumption of violent aggression against Christian Europe. Körner is looking at the lion at the door and insisting it’s a house cat.
In his address, Erdoğan eulogized the Islamization of Hagia Sophia as “the strongest answer ever given to the brutal attacks against our symbols and values across the Islamic world.”
“O magnificent temple! Do not worry, the grandchildren of Fatih will overthrow all the idols and convert you into a mosque,” the radical Islamic president said, quoting Turkish poet Osman Yuksel Serdengecti, acknowledging that this day had arrived.
“This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to: Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul,” the president panegyrized, quoting the poet Nâzım Hikmet.
“The conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque are among the most glorious pages of our entire history,” he bragged.
‘Symbol of Conquest’
The president described in detail the conquest of the basilica by Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan, “who entered the city after conquering Istanbul on May 29, 1453, after a long siege and went directly to Hagia Sophia.”
Erdoğan narrated:
Fatih enters Hagia Sophia by giving assurance to the people who meet him about their lives and freedoms. The conqueror of Istanbul sews his flag as a symbol of conquest to the altar in the middle of Hagia Sophia. He throws an arrow towards the dome and reads the first adhan [call to prayer] himself. Thus, he registered his conquest. Then, in a suitable corner of the temple, he makes a prayer and performs two rak’ahs. With this, he shows that he turned Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
But Islamic historian Robert Spencer, in The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS, records how the Muslims halted the celebration of Orthros (morning prayer) and “killed the elderly and weak and led the rest off into slavery.”
“When the slaughter and pillage was finished, Mehmet II ordered an Islamic scholar to mount the high pulpit of the Hagia Sophia and declare that there was no God but Allah, and Muhammad was his prophet,” writes Spencer.
“The magnificent old church was turned into a mosque. Hundreds of other churches in Constantinople and elsewhere suffered the same fate. Millions of Christians joined the ranks of the dhimmis. Others were enslaved and many were killed,” he notes.
The president ended by referring to the Islamic takeover of Hagia Sophia as a “second conquest” and a “new resurrection.”…
Buraq says
Vatican top dog: Conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque “should not be put down to current Islamic aggression”
Then what should the redesecration of the Hagia Sophia be put down to? Peaceful, tolerant Islam? Clown!
mortimer says
Yes, Mr. Opposite-Speak. I see nothing. I hear nothing.
JamesC. says
Isaiah 1 had these panderers to the enemies of the Gospel sorted:
10 Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 “When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
13 “Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
14 “Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 “When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
16 “Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17 “Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%201&version=NIV
With very little change, how can this not be fully applicable to the offerings of these devils ?
Rufolino says
Valid words from the Old Testament revelation of God.
However.
Don’t forget there is also a New Testament. Of NEW revelations about the loving nature of God which are astonishing, and far surpass what was revealed before.
JamesC. says
Of course – *but*, God’s Righteous and Holy character does not change. Jesus did not abolish the Law – He re-iterated and re-enforced it, by reducing it to its essentials. The Shema in Deuteronomy 6.5 was valid under the Old Law, and is valid for ever: Jesus did not relax it, let alone abolish it. God and His demands upon His People do not change: the means by which He requires men to fulfil them, is what has changed.
The great difference between the Old and New Covenant is, that the *ceremonial* element is “done away in Christ”, because He has in His own Person fulfilled, completed and satisfied it. The ceremonial part of the Law was the means appointed to Israel before Christ for living in the unreserved love for God commanded by the Shema. Because the unreserved love of God for Israel, and required from Israel in return, is fully satisfied in and by and through Christ, His members, the “Israel of God”, are free from the ceremonies of the Law, but are in no sense free from the love commanded in the Shema that summarises it.
So in a sense, the New Covenant is stricter than the Old, as the author of the Letter to the Hebrews implies.
So – by association, since they are not part of the Law – the words of Isaiah in Isaiah 1 are in principle as applicable as they were in the 8th century B.C. For God is still Righteous, still Holy, still requires righteousness from those who claim to serve Him. That He does so, is one of the lessons of the Incarnation – so it can be argued that Christians have less excuse than the Israelites and Jews of the OT. The righteousness of the disciples was required to exceed that of the Pharisees – not to be less than it. And the righteousness of Christians, is Christ Himself.
corvinae says
=Future= Islamic aggression?
I watched Erdogan’s speech and read about a hundred YouTube comments (from many countries). in response to his speech. They’re saying this is the re-awakening of the Islamic Caliphate and Erdogan should be (or essentially already is) the Caliph.
THAT is interesting.
ALSO interesting: Some comments say it’s the re-birth of the Ottoman Empire.
They adore Erdogan.
corvinae says
Buraq, if he said it shouldn’t be put down to current Islamic aggression, what about =future= aggression?
I watched Erdogan’s speech about the re-conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque, then skimmed about a hundred youtube comments from Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, India, USA, Nigeria … in response to the speech.
Many, many comments saying this is the re-awakening of the Islamic Caliphate and Erdogan should be (or essentially is already) the Caliph.
THAT is interesting.
ALSO interesting: They say it’s the re-birth of the Ottoman Empire, rising like the phoenix from its ashes.
They adore Erdogan.
JamesC. says
Caligula was said to have made Incitatus, his horse, a consul. A dog might be no bad choice as a cardinal. It could hardly do worse than some human cardinals. Although a doggy cardinal would throw a spanner in the works in Vatican relations with Mahometism, it might appeal to the Church of England. Ratzinger is very much a cat person. like Ernst Stavro Blofeld – but cats and dogs often get on very well.
mortimer says
Quote: “Körner also suggested Christians “should actually be happy” that Hagia Sophia will once again be used for prayers after 85 years as a secular museum”.
Does Fr Körner realize that mullahs will curse Christians 17 times a day in those prayers?
If he doesn’t know that, then he is USELESS or HARMFUL in his job.
Islamic prayers encourage Muslims to hate Christians.
Körner should be replaced.
gravenimage says
Spot on, Mortimer–that’s just what Muslim prayers call for.
TruthWFree says
My guess is he’s dancing to the dictates of this fraudulent Pope Francis. Francis is reaching out to Islam, Satan’s religion. He should be preaching the Gospel to Muslims thaqt Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the only way to the Father (God) as Jesus states in the eye witnessed Gospels. Muhammad had no witnesses to his claimed revelations from the allah god, thought he was possessed by a demon on his first encounter with the being in the cave in 610 AD, and performed no miracles. Jesus performed countless miracles as testified to in the eye witnessed Gospels. Muhammad would have no standing in a court of law versus the eye witness Gospel writers.
David says
I do believe that Islamic prayers are in Arabic. If I am correct, the average muslim will just be repeating verbatim words he doesn’t understand. so, a pointless exercise.
Korner (Koraner) is just a scapegoat. Why is the Christian clergy so pathetic and floppy?Oh, I get it: Love everybody! What they don’t do is hate the sin (Islam)
Yvonne Tierney says
Thankyou for telling the truth!!
mortimer says
Erdogan is the ‘GREATEST SYMBOL’ of NEGATIVE NATIONALISM.
He needs an enemy, because he has no productive policy. He thrives on finding or creating enemies so he may fight them and cast himself in the role of a hero.
mortimer says
Körner is the guy they hired to paint happy faces on all bad news.
Körner has just contradicted the pope who was ‘SAD’ about it.
TruthWFree says
He is following Francis’ outreach to Islam lead IMO.
mortimer says
Robert Spencer has expertly understood the message of Erdogan … the conversion of HS is only the start of Erdogan’s world conquest.
Erdogan has delusions of grandeur similar to those of Hitler, but Hitler had a more organized country. It is anyone’s guess if Erdogan can motivate his people to start WWIII, but I doubt it. Someone is going to pop him. When in a dictatorship, peaceful, democratic change is impossible, violent revolution becomes inevitable.
Michael Copeland says
Erdogan, achiever of a “second conquest”.
Yes, by issuing a decree from his comfortable office.
TruthWFree says
With Islam, there really can never be a Democracy or Republic as we have. Sharia Law must be enforced on all by a dictator.
mortimer says
Not all Roman Catholics are BLIND to Islamism like Fr Körner.
Fr Henri Boulad SJ of Alexandria wrote with great and correct precision that …
“Islamism is not a caricature, nor a counterfeit, nor a heresy, nor a fringe or atypical phenomenon versus classical, orthodox, Sunnite Islam.
To the contrary, I think Islamism is naked Islam, Islam without a mask and without paint, Islam perfectly consistent and true to itself, an Islam that has the courage and lucidity to go all the way to its ultimate conclusions and final implications.
Islamism is Islam in all its logic and in all its rigour. Islamism is present in Islam as the chick is present in the egg, as the fruit is present in the flower and as the tree is present in the seed.
But what is Islamism?
Islamism is political Islam, the bearer of a project for a model society and whose aim is to establish a theocratic state based on Sharia, the only legitimate law—since it is divine—since it was revealed and enshrined in the Koran and Sunna—it’s a law that applies to everything.
Here is an all-inclusive and all-encompassing project, one that is total, totalizing and totalitarian.”
DH says
Mortimer, thanks for introducing me to this man. I am new to his work but thought I’d share this relevant news story:
“Egyptian Jesuit monk P. Henri Boulad S.J. has become a Hungarian citizen, it has been announced.
Father Boulad took the oath of Hungarian citizenship in the Parliament Building in Budapest on Thursday.
Father Boulad asked to be allowed to take on Hungarian citizenship because he agrees with the Hungarian government’s efforts to protect Christians and Christian values, in Hungary and around the world.
Boulad was born in Alexandria in 1931. His father was Syrian, his mother was Italian, and the family were Catholics who spoke French as a first language. He entered the Jesuit Order in 1950 and was ordained as a priest in 1963 in Beirut, Lebanon.
At the oath-taking ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén said that “Hungary has been a Christian country for over a thousand years and the new Hungarian Constitution places great emphasis on Christian values”.
“Similarly to universal Christianity, the Hungarian people also received the faith and the gospel from the east, and is aware of its duty to eastern Christians now that they are in a difficult position,” he added.
Hungary is extremely proud to welcome Father Boulad who was described as a theologian and world famous professor, who is considered a great authority.
“It is a great honor for Hungary and for the government to share with Father Boulad the bond of citizenship and of the heritage of St. Stephen,” the deputy prime minister said.”
mortimer says
Fr Boulad obviously wants to be somewhere where he can speak about his faith and the danger of Islam freely without government sanctions.
Fr Boulad has called the situation of Hagia Sophia a ‘DIFFICULTY’ for Orthodox Christians, which it is.
TruthWFree says
After studying Islam since 9/11/2001, some 18 years having read the Quran and some 30+ books on islam including Robert’s books, I have come to the conclusion that the being who gave revelation to Muhammad was Satan. The supposed allah god of the Quran denies Jesus Christ’s divinity and death on the cross, Quran Sura 4-157, 4-171, 5-17, 5-73, 5-75, 5-116, 17-111, and 19-35. The allah god cannot be the God of Christians and Jews., he has to be Satan…or Muhammad made it all up making him the greatest LIAR in all history. Jesus says in John 8-44 that “Satan is the father of all lives”. The allah god is Satan…NO QUESTION in my mind. Hagia Sofia is just a church building, albeit the grandest church in its time, but this is definitely ashout out by Erdogan that Islam will dominate. Erdogan has no idea he is following Satan, nor do over a billion Muslims.
TruthWFree says
CORRECTION!!! Jesus says in John 8-44 that “Satan is the father of all LIES”.
DH says
Now they’re straw manning themselves, or rather straw manning their flock (on their behalf, and without asking). They are blind to the obvious fact that the Jihadist’s appetite for total submission is not subject to change and has no regard for any authority. The confirmation bias runs deep and wide among these clergymen who now represent a fraction of their former clientele.
JamesC. says
They are blinded by 56 years of ambiguity & error, and they seek to blind the CC as well. They preach a lie, and call it truth.
Exactly what God requires of them, apparently. They are calling Christ a fool or a liar.
mortimer says
Quote: “Should not be put down to current Islamic aggression”. No? Erdogan was working cheek-by-jowl with ISIS.
mortimer says
Körner and the pope should be saying that it’s unacceptable.
James Lincoln says
So, according to the feature article:
“A Vatican representative (Jesuit priest Felix Körner) is insisting that Turkey’s conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque should not be seen as “Islamic aggression”…”
Evidently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip “Taqiyya” Erdoğan disagrees…
Wellington says
Seems that much of the Catholic hierarchy, as well as many Catholic laymen, can be lumped together under the rubric of “useful idiots.” I have personally spoken to many Catholics who think Pope Francis is wonderful or, in the alternative, are essentially ignorant about all the harm he has done. A la Alfred E. Neuman, “What, me worry?”
Again I assert that the Roman Catholic Church is in profound trouble. Though an agnostic, not religious at all, I don’t want the Roman Catholic Church to be in profound trouble because said sect of Christianity, the largest sect of all Christian sects, is optimally a major guardian of the best that Western Civilization has produced.
And Western Civilization is easily the greatest civilization in world history—among so many other achievements being the invention of philosophy (never earlier anywhere in the world than the ancient Greek Milesian school starting with Thales), democracy (beginning with the reforms of Solon and Cleisthenes in the 6th century BC), the scientific method (almost accomplished by ancient Greece but having to wait until the Early Modern European era), and the most extraordinary technological advances, not to mention other great achievements like exploring and establishing women’s rights and the capacity to apologize for wrongdoing.
But right now the Catholic Church has terribly lost its way, which wrong direction began with Vatican II (1962-1965). Pope Francis is a major symptom of all the harm Vatican II wrought. So is Felix Korner. So are a slew of other Catholics, both clergy and laymen.
Beyond sad. Actually, a phenomenon effectively functioning in virtual suicidal mode. Compounded by the element of betrayal. And sadly lost on so many, whether Catholic or non-Catholic. It’s tragedy on steroids. But then, arguably, so is our era in toto.
curious george says
Wellington says
+1
Pope Francis is a major symptom of all the harm Vatican II wrought.
……………………………………………
I agree, Pope Francis is a symptom of a much larger problem, not only in the Roman Catholic Church, but in Christianity overall.
The future look bleak. The worst is yet to come.
Wellington says
Agreed, curious george. The worst is yet to come.
Pope Francis is arguably “merely” the tip of the iceberg that sunk the Titanic. And what was below that tip was vast, extensive and very deep.
JamesC. says
Speaking as a hugely fed-up RC, ISTM you are far too optimistic. Despite its external impressiveness, Rome is in terminal, irreversible decline. And good riddance to bad rubbish. The sooner this nest of liars, paedo-enablers, apologists for Pukeymama-worship, time-servers, panders to Mohammedism, and idolaters is obliterated for ever, the better. It is a danger to Christianity.
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
Excellent post, my compliments.
All unfortunately true.
That being said, not all Roman Catholics are clueless about Pope Francis and how the Roman Catholic Church has lost its way, starting with Vatican II.
Roman Catholics are finding out that they do not need to be “Roman Catholic” in order to be Christian – much to the chagrin of the Roman Catholic Church…
Rufolino says
The idea that the Catholic Church is “a major guardian” of what is “best” in Western Civilisation” is a contradiction of reality.
The Catholic Church’s principal preoccupation is itself. Not Western Civilisation. It has interest in the latter only when it serves the interests of the Catholic Church.
Wellington says
Again we disagree. Intellectually, ethically, artistically and in sundry other ways the Catholic Church historically has been, at its best (and yes there have been several times when it has been pretty bad), one of the great developers and preservers of Western Civilization.
Think of such achievements as the papacy filling the vacuum of political, institutional and legal authority as the western half of the Roman Empire collapsed in the fifth century AD. Then there was the preservation of so much of the heritage of ancient Western Civilization by such occurrences as Irish monasticism in the Early Middle Ages, the Northumbrian Renaissance and the Carolingian Renaissance, all led by Catholic clergymen and monks.
The Twelfth Century Renaissance was also very Catholic based, which included the founding of the world’s first true universities granting bachelor, masters and doctoral degrees. Romanesque and Gothic architecture was Catholic inspired. Certainly the Italian Renaissance, just about the greatest artistic “endeavor” in all of history, was supported quite actively by the Catholic Church. Baroque art and architecture was the Catholic response to the Protestant Reformation in artistic form.
Here in America Catholic education at its best achieved a great deal. I myself was at the very end of traditional Catholic education in America and was taught wonderfully by many nuns. The Catholic Church has also been in the forefront in the US, going the whole way back into the early nineteenth century, establishing a huge number of hospitals that did great work. My own father was chief ophthalmologist at a Catholic hospital in Pennsylvania. The papacy at its best has served as a moral beacon not only to Catholics but to all the world. The two previous Popes come to mind (the present one of course is a tragedy still in the making). And on and on respecting the integral relationship of Roman Catholicism with Western Civilization.
I think you have missed a lot, Rufolino. Oh yeah.
gravenimage says
+1
CogitoErgoSum says
Christ would not be praising these thieves for taking over the temple. They have destroyed its beauty and made a mockery of its name. They use in now to prostate themselves on bloodstained floors and grovel to their god of murder and death. I long for the day when this holy place is cleansed and purified once more and the true God proclaims victory over the vile impostor god that defiles the world with his very name, Allah, the serpent whose head shall be crushed by the One who is the First and the Last and the Judge who shall send these un-repentent thieves and murderers to the place they have chosen for themselves in Hell.
CogitoErgoSum says
Someone fix my spelling errors and send the message to Erdogan.
curious george says
CogitoErgoSum says
+1
I long for the day when this holy place is cleansed and purified once more and the true God proclaims victory over the vile impostor god that defiles the world with his very name, Allah, the serpent whose head shall be crushed by the One who is the First and the Last
……………………………………………..
Unfortunately that day is a future event. Between now and then, there will be a lot of pain and suffering.
In the meantime you may want to look at 2015 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Code E978
http://www.icd9data.com/2015/Volume1/E000-E999/E970-E979/E978/E978.htm
mortimer says
CES, Turkey is one of the MOST CHRISTIANO-PHOBIC countries in the world with 74% hating Christians and Jews.
That’s why he linked Hagia Sophia with Al Aqsa.
Jaydam says
Meanwhile, the historic Cathedral in Nantes, France, is burning as we speak.
The media are doing their best not to mention whether it is was accidental or arson, till an on the scene firefighter revealed that the fire was started 3 places. Hmmm.
Now the million dollar question is “who could of possibly started this latest fire”…?
Considering that dozens and dozens of fires have been started in Churches in France in the last few years.
Could these be the red flags for the future war with Islam,..?
Jaydam says
https://twitter.com/EuropeanUnionC/status/1284402104279408640?s=20
gravenimage says
You are right, Jaydam:
“Fire rips through 15th-century French cathedral, police calling it a criminal act”
https://www.foxnews.com/world/fire-15th-century-french-cathedral-nantes
Sounds as though this was *definitely* deliberate. Jihad? Quite likely.
Jaydam says
I agree with you GI.
And do you remember when the fire in Notra Damme Cathedral in Paris last year, was quickly denied to have been started delibertately by the President of France,..?
From what ive read since then,.. the fire was said to have been started deliberately.
President Macron cannot keep denying the obvious, when its staring him in the face, that these fires are almost exclusively the work of Muslim Jihad’s.
gravenimage says
Vatican top dog: Conversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque “should not be put down to current Islamic aggression”
…………….
Even though this is *exactly* what it is.
Wellington says
Very sadly, gravenimage, the Catholic Church has lost its collective mind, much as the Democratic Party has here in the US. Ditto for many other institutions and organizations across the West. It’s the fifth century A.D. all over again—except worse.
gravenimage says
Grimly true, Wellington.
James Lincoln says
Oh, Wellington – how I wish you are wrong…
Wellington says
Me too, James.
corvinae says
gravenimage, yes.
Political correctness seems to be controlling the pope’s reaction too.
Dapto says
The Catholic Church under the this Poop has joined the soros Nazi project and they to want to send all the deplorables to concentration camps for disposal. Seig Hiel Mr Poop you Nazi.
gravenimage says
I am *no* fan of this foolish pontiff–but where has Pope Francis indicated he wants to send people to death camps? Citations, please.
Wellington says
Your remark is beyond foolish. It is idiotic—and I am no fan whatsoever of the present Pope.
nicholas william tesdorf says
Stating that the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a Mosque is not yet another sign of Muslim aggression is yet another sign of the inner moral collapse of the Catholic Church in the face of organisedIslamic aggression.
James Lincoln says
According to the feature article, Jesuit priest Felix Körner maintained the “reclassification” of Hagia Sophia as a mosque “should not be put down to current Islamic aggression.”
If it’s not Islamic aggression, then what is it?
Also, according to the feature article, Körner suggested Christians “should actually be happy” that Hagia Sophia will once again be used for prayers.
These islamic “prayers” promote the killing of all infidels – which of course includes Christians – unless they convert to islam or pay the jizya.
Jesuit priest Felix Körner is a fake, a phony, and a fraud.
He should just convert to islam and get it over with. At least then he would be authentic…
mortimer says
Fr Korner makes up his own facts too: “Most Muslims in Turkey see Christianity “not as an opponent, but as a partner in dialogue, as a sister religion.”
Korner should be sacked. Turks hate Christians more than almost any other country.
That is not what polls and surveys say:
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2008/09/17/chapter-1-views-of-religious-groups/
Negative attitudes towards Christians … most notably Turkey, where unfavorable views of Christians – as well as unfavorable views of Jews – have surged over the last four years.
The only countries surveyed in which majorities express a negative view of Christians are Turkey (74% unfavorable), Pakistan (60%) and China (55%).
Negative attitudes toward Christians have been on the rise in a few countries over the last several years, most dramatically in Turkey. The trend in Turkish opinions about Christians has been very similar to the trend regarding Jews. In 2004, about half (52%) of Turks gave Christians an unfavorable rating; today roughly three-in-four (74%) hold this view.
gravenimage says
So true.
Rufolino says
It would be very interesting to know why Turks give Christians such a high “unfavourability rating”.
On what is it based ?.
gravenimage says
They aren’t Muslims.
CogitoErgoSum says
Meanwhile, another cathedral burns in France:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POoDmXuSt6M
mortimer says
The Turks have had free elections since about 1950. I feat that if Erdogan doesn’t win, he will cancel future elections or rig the system to he always wins every election.
Win Muslims have freedom of choice, they always tend to choose parties that promote discriminatory Sharia. Muslims when given the right to vote will vote to destroy equality and freedom of expression.
Secularism in Turkey is now dead. The Turkish army has been gutted so they can not defend secularism. The Turkish constitution says the army must defend secularism.
We will see what happens.
gravenimage says
Erdogan has pretty much killed Secularism in Turkey. His eviscerating the armed forces was a big part of that.
He is a virtual dictator, and has been top dog as either President or Prime Minister since 2003–17 years now.
SAFI says
“It is enough that we put our trust in Allah’s promise and strive to bring that day. Hagia Sophia today, the Al-Aqsa Mosque tomorrow.”
https://www.memri.org/tv/Turkish-show-hagia-sophia-mosque-return-rightful-owners-al-aqsa-liberation-caliphate
Giacomo Latta says
”Most Muslims in Turkey see Christianity … as a sister religion”
Is ‘sister’ a Turkish word that translates to ‘doormat’?
gravenimage says
+1
David says
Who first built on the site of Hagia Sophia? Christians. Then it got dumped on by islam, as have many thousands of other churches. Can we see a pattern here?
OLD GUY says
Makes you wonder when the Vatican will become the next new mosque. SCARY!