First Muslim Miss USA converts to Catholicism

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That’s great news. It’s always good when I read of someone going the Church.
 
I was happy to hear this. I will pray for her safety in Lebanon where I believe the wedding will take place. I hope she will embrace her new faith.
 
Praise The Lord. Praying to the Holy Spirit to give her guidance, direction, strength, fortitude & wisdom to continue in the faith.
 
👍

After reading the article, looks like the Holy Spirit is working in her family.
 
She and her family have been cultural Muslims until now, and have celebrated some of both Christian and Muslim holidays. I wonder if she will continue to practice both faiths.
 
What I find interesting about this news story, is the mention of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Fakih is set to marry Wassim Salibi, who is a Maronite Catholic, later this month in Lebanon where she grew up. The Maronite Catholic Church is one of 23 Eastern Catholic Churches that, while maintaining their Eastern traditions, are in full communion with the Pope.
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I’m sure many non-Catholics have no idea such churches exist, they see “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” as synonymous. But I actually do know some Lebanese refugees who are Catholic. Although they attend Latin services due to lack of Maronite services near them. They identify as “Arab”, and I’m sure many people assume that they must be Muslims.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
What I find interesting about this news story, is the mention of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

I’m sure many non-Catholics have no idea such churches exist, they see “Catholic” and “Roman Catholic” as synonymous. But I actually do know some Lebanese refugees who are Catholic. Although they attend Latin services due to lack of Maronite services near them. They identify as “Arab”, and I’m sure many people assume that they must be Muslims.
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Yes, I also know many Lebanese Maronites. Lebanon is a very secular country, so it’s not surprising that this family is mostly secular and tends to celebrate both Muslim and Christian holidays as cultural events. They DO identify as Arab primarily, so that she converted to marry is not surprising.
 
My cousin met and married a Lebanese man who came to the US to study. He is a Maronite Catholic and I have attended his church and became Godmother to their first daughter. Very Catholic and extremely beautiful ceremony and Mass.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
Yes, I also know many Lebanese Maronites. Lebanon is a very secular country, so it’s not surprising that this family is mostly secular and tends to celebrate both Muslim and Christian holidays as cultural events. They DO identify as Arab primarily, so that she converted to marry is not surprising.
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Well, her uncle actually became a priest, so I assume he didn’t convert just for social reasons. We also don’t really know what’s in the heart of this woman.

Yes, some Lebanese Maronite Catholics are “secular” or “cultural Catholics”, who only set foot in a church for Christmas, Easter, weddings, and funerals. But some are very devout and attend daily Mass. I can say the same for Roman Catholics as well.

I just get this vibe that you’re trying to minimize the significance of Fakih’s conversion by painting all Lebanese Maronites as “secular” and assuming her conversion was just a surface one meant to appease the family she’s marrying into. We don’t know. It may have been, or it may have not. I wouldn’t assume either way.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
I just get this vibe that you’re trying to minimize the significance of Fakih’s conversion by painting all Lebanese Maronites as “secular” and assuming her conversion was just a surface one meant to appease the family she’s marrying into. We don’t know. It may have been, or it may have not. I wouldn’t assume either way.
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No, I’m sorry if it came off that way. The interview I read, though, said that she claimed she was ‘spiritual but not religious’ and converted to be married, so I assumed that was the case.

I do know, however, that Maronites who practice are very devout. I’ve been to services in Lebanon and in the US, and the beauty of the Liturgies is remarkable.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
No, I’m sorry if it came off that way. The interview I read, though, said that she claimed she was ‘spiritual but not religious’ and converted to be married, so I assumed that was the case.

I do know, however, that Maronites who practice are very devout. I’ve been to services in Lebanon and in the US, and the beauty of the Liturgies is remarkable.
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‘spiritual but not religious’ is a loaded phrase, especially for a Catholic. It can mean all sorts of things among Catholics.

I think that phrase is more specific among Protestants, but among Catholics it has a lot more latitude.
 
phil19034 said:
‘spiritual but not religious’ is a loaded phrase, especially for a Catholic. It can mean all sorts of things among Catholics.

I think that phrase is more specific among Protestants, but among Catholics it has a lot more latitude.
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I am intrigued by that. Could you elaborate a bit more please?
 
Is Miss USA the one that Donald Trump was a part of? Or was that Miss America?

Anyways, congrats to her.
 
ComplineSanFran said:
I am intrigued by that. Could you elaborate a bit more please?
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For some Catholics, being “religious” means either part of a Religious Community (priest, friar, monk, nun, sister, brother) or even a member of a Third Order.

For others it means that they have religious statues and pictures in their homes, pray the Rosary daily, watch Catholic movies, listen to Catholic radio, and often attend daily mass.

Some Catholics who believe in what the Church teaches and attend Mass on just Sunday’s don’t consider themselves to be “religious.” This is because they don’t have any religious devotions.

This is why that comment is vauge for Catholics.

God Bless
 
phil19034 said:
Miss USA is part of Miss Universe. Trump was part of one, if not both
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The winner of Miss USA goes on to compete in Miss Universe. I would think it a conflict of interest for Trump to be head of both. I remember a reality show once of 2 or 3 winners of these contests rooming together at a Trump property if I remember correctly in New York City.
 
DaddyGirl said:
Is “Maronite Christianity” the same as Catholic?
.
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The five distinguishing marks of the Maronite Church are as follows (according to the Maronite Patriarchal Assembly):

It is Antiochene.
It is Chalcedonian, in that the Maronites were strong supporters of the Council of Chalcedon of 451.
It is Patriarchal and Monastic.
It is faithful to the See of Peter in Rome
It has strong ties to her spiritual homeland of Lebanon.

So yes, Maronite Christianity is 100% Catholic to answer your question.
 
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