Catholics consecrate new church in Qatar

[Holly3278]

Doha, Mar 18, 2008 / 10:15 pm (CNA).- Despite threats from Islamic radicals, thousands of Christians on Saturday took part in the first Mass to be held at the Muslim nation of Qatar’s only church, Agence France Presse reports.

catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12107

This is great news! May services continue to be held there without violence or threats of violence.

 

[Dale_M]

Congratulations to all who will have the opportunity to attend Our Lady of the Rosary. Its design was a bit controversial in the West since it doesn’t include a steeple, bell or cross on the exterior. But I suppose just having it built in Qatar required some cashing in of favors on the part of the leadership.

Qatar has approximately 100,000 practicing Catholics, but until now they have had to rely on underground services. Amazing. I’m so glad it is open now.
timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3549158.ece

 

[roanoker]

This is amazing progress. Just think about it! A Christian church in an almost totally muslim country. Never thought I’d live to see the day. May God bless that church… Roanoker

 

[Adonis33]

Excellent news!

 

[rien]

Now how can there be any evangelization. O read someone say they need to send a couple of Mother teresa’s siters and station them at the church. But don’t forget, for the 200,000 citizens there is no poverty or health care crisis. They are all well off by Western standards.

Some would argue there is a spiritual crisis but these are Koran believing Muslims who aren’t questioning there faith as many and more and more Catholics seems to be. And Chritians in general - but to a lesser extent I think than Catholics.

So can there be any outreach (to use a non-controversial term) from this church?

 

[AJV]

Now how can there be any evangelization. O read someone say they need to send a couple of Mother teresa’s siters and station them at the church. But don’t forget, for the 200,000 citizens there is no poverty or health care crisis. They are all well off by Western standards.

Some would argue there is a spiritual crisis but these are Koran believing Muslims who aren’t questioning there faith as many and more and more Catholics seems to be. And Chritians in general - but to a lesser extent I think than Catholics.

So can there be any outreach (to use a non-controversial term) from this church?

To the non-Muslims, yes, it is possible. To the Muslims, not unless you want the church burnt down. It was hard enough getting to this stage.

Conversion of Muslims to any other religion is prohibited by law throughout the Gulf. Officially therefore, we do not evangelize Muslims nor are Muslims allowed to attend our services. Likewise, baptisms and sacraments for children of Muslim parents is tricky, we cannot announce banns for marriages to a Muslim, etc., etc. - which is why the Church here generally strongly discourages such marriages in the first place.

One also has to be careful since occasionally there are “checkups” - people posing as converts or wanting to buy religious items. Therefore officially the answer is no. Unofficially,…that is another matter…usually people go to another country because in the Gulf there is no legal protection from repercussion - you can get (and I know people who have) hauled up before the court. And of course, such things are treated REALLY carefully to see whether people are actually sincere.

As for no poverty…there are actually poor local people though the government tries not to acknowledge it. They do get assistance, though.

 

[rien]

To the non-Muslims, yes, it is possible. To the Muslims, not unless you want the church burnt down. It was hard enough getting to this stage.

Conversion of Muslims to any other religion is prohibited by law throughout the Gulf. Officially therefore, we do not evangelize Muslims nor are Muslims allowed to attend our services. Likewise, baptisms and sacraments for children of Muslim parents is tricky, we cannot announce banns for marriages to a Muslim, etc., etc. - which is why the Church here generally strongly discourages such marriages in the first place.

One also has to be careful since occasionally there are “checkups” - people posing as converts or wanting to buy religious items. Therefore officially the answer is no. Unofficially,…that is another matter…usually people go to another country because in the Gulf there is no legal protection from repercussion - you can get (and I know people who have) hauled up before the court. And of course, such things are treated REALLY carefully to see whether people are actually sincere.

As for no poverty…there are actually poor local people though the government tries not to acknowledge it. They do get assistance, though.

Interesting. Sounds like you live in the region.

But basically, despite this church and the 4 supposed to follow, there will be no change in the religious landscape. At a time when many Chritians, nominal perhaps, are converting to Islam in Europe. Especially Spain. Spanish Muslim converts have set up a minitry of missionaries for central America which is having some success in converting whole villages.

This seems to be a symbolic thing. Christianity continues to shrink in the Middle east and much of the world.