First Muslim Miss USA converts to Catholicism

[ComplineSanFran]

I think what SanFran is saying is…if someone is just “cultural” in their faith, then they are, obviously, not as deeply involved in it as someone who is devout. So, yes, it would be less of a life change and easier to join a new faith–especially if one’s family is not devout and wouldn’t be devastated. Many people stay in a faith just so that their family would not be heartbroken.

Many here talk about cultural or “cafeteria” Catholics as being more apt to believe non-Catholic teachings and stray from the Church…same thing. .

Yes, DG, thank you. I would think that if someone is culturally rooted in one faith, but not terribly observant, it would be much easier to join a different tradition. I know of many interfaith families that are more cultural than devout, and tend to participate in both holidays equally. It’s not so much a matter of religious devotion than it is of identity and establishing cultural ties. It’s not a bad thing; it keeps peace in the families (‘shalom bayit’) without losing one’s heritage.

 

[otjm]

If she were simply some young Lebanese woman with no public profile, I would not be concerned. But having had the public exposure she has had, even theough Lebanon may be vey secular, I would be concerned for her life.

The Koran makes conversion an executable offense; and there are enough ISIS wannabes and hangers on and emulators that it is not at all out of the realm of possibility that someone could decide that she should die for her apostasy.

Never mind she may have been only a cultural Muslim, and a liberal one at that; stupidity and hatred know no bounds.

And lest some think me daffy, there are ample examples of the viciousness of strict conservative Islamic thought around the world to back this up.

 

[7_Sorrows]

If she were simply some young Lebanese woman with no public profile, I would not be concerned. But having had the public exposure she has had, even theough Lebanon may be vey secular, I would be concerned for her life.

The Koran makes conversion an executable offense; and there are enough ISIS wannabes and hangers on and emulators that it is not at all out of the realm of possibility that someone could decide that she should die for her apostasy.

Never mind she may have been only a cultural Muslim, and a liberal one at that; stupidity and hatred know no bounds.

And lest some think me daffy, there are ample examples of the viciousness of strict conservative Islamic thought around the world to back this up.

I agree. that is my concern for her.

 

[tp3192000]

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.

She could have married without converting. The article does not state that she converted to be married, but only that she converted in preparation to be married. The article also states that she was not just a nominal muslim, but in college took her muslim faith seriously. There is not enough information to assume that she is not taking her new catholic faith seriously and devoutly. In any case, I wish her luck and joy with her marriage.
I attended a Marionite wedding once locally, and it was a blast.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

If she were simply some young Lebanese woman with no public profile, I would not be concerned. But having had the public exposure she has had, even theough Lebanon may be vey secular, I would be concerned for her life.

The Koran makes conversion an executable offense; and there are enough ISIS wannabes and hangers on and emulators that it is not at all out of the realm of possibility that someone could decide that she should die for her apostasy.

Never mind she may have been only a cultural Muslim, and a liberal one at that; stupidity and hatred know no bounds.

And lest some think me daffy, there are ample examples of the viciousness of strict conservative Islamic thought around the world to back this up.

Isn’t she back in Michigan, though? It seems unlikely that she would be harmed because of her marriage and conversation in suburban Detroit.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Isn’t she back in Michigan, though? It seems unlikely that she would be harmed because of her marriage and conversation in suburban Detroit.

did the wedding in Lebanon already take place? I would think she could be just as vulnerable in Dettoit.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

did the wedding in Lebanon already take place? I would think she could be just as vulnerable in Dettoit.

My understanding is that the wedding was last week in Lebanon, and they couple was to settle in or near Dearborn, Michigan, where she previously lived.

I really don’t think that she or her husband are at risk there. It is probably not good to be fearful; wish them joy and health instead.

 

[otjm]

Isn’t she back in Michigan, though? It seems unlikely that she would be harmed because of her marriage and conversation in suburban Detroit.

We have had enough instances in the US to show that there is an underground subset of radicalized Muslims in our country.

Whether or not it is true of Detroit, there are groups within the US who are practicing Sharia within their communities (one noted in Texas).

Such actions are not the result of careful, well-thought out, legal rulings from a legitimate government, but rather the emotional reactions of radicalized hotheads. And it only take one. San Bernardino was not the first aberration and is not likely to be the last. I suspect that the coworkers did not think they were in danger that day; and neither did the next group of targets - who, because of some fast police work, did not become victims in spite of the fact that the killers appeared to be on their way to another attack.

 

[otjm]

My understanding is that the wedding was last week in Lebanon, and they couple was to settle in or near Dearborn, Michigan, where she previously lived.

I really don’t think that she or her husband are at risk there. It is probably not good to be fearful; wish them joy and health instead.

In the last two years, federal authorities have charged more than 75 people in cases linked to terrorism. While more than 60 were related to cases were linked to foreign fighters in ISIS recruiting, 15 were homegrown extremists.

And those are the ones they have caught. ISIS has ignited a firestorm throughout the western world; they are not sending jihadists from the middle east to create the carnage; rather, they are using the internet to recruit. Belgium and France? Local born.

And she, by her participation in a beauty contest, and then a public acknowledgement of conversion, is a perfect target for recruitment.

As I said, according to the Koran, this is an executable offense. And in the middle east and places like Indonesia or Pakistan, you don’t even need to be a public target. You convert, they find out, and you die. Sort of like the sun comes up in the east and sets in the west.

 

[7_Sorrows]

My understanding is that the wedding was last week in Lebanon, and they couple was to settle in or near Dearborn, Michigan, where she previously lived.

I really don’t think that she or her husband are at risk there. It is probably not good to be fearful; wish them joy and health instead.

of course, they are wished joy and good health, but there is the reality also of the consequences - as unjust they seem to us are not unjust to others.