Islam must speak against its radical factions - Well and good, but it is difficult for citizens or public leaders to do so when at any time the mob can accuse and execute them.

At this website by various means we seek to defend life, to encourage Christian faith, to promote Catholic tradition, to edify Marriage in its link to the Creator, to encourage families and individuals, and to support missionary disciples of Jesus.  G.S.

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Islam must speak against its radical factions 

THE OTTAWA CITIZEN AUGUST 28, 2010 

Catholicism relies upon the Vatican for guidance and control. The Church of England has the Archbishop of Canterbury. Judaism has a variety of organizations which are designed to instruct, teach and certify rabbis and cantors. There are, with a majority of religious groups, bodies in control. Failure of religious leaders to follow edicts have consequences including excommunication. 

What many are waiting for is a declaration from a governing body within Islam condemning the war upon the West. The nervous reaction that people have towards Muslims is because there has been no united condemnation of the radical factions. Because there has been no central outcry from within, the perception is the radicals are being supported by all. 

There is no formal school to teach imams, no central authority, no class of clergy within the religion. Anyone who is learned in the Koran and who demonstrates sufficient piety and scholarship can become an imam. Each imam is free to preach what he believes. If he has a background which is radical, his teachings will follow. 

What most people can't understand is when an imam spouts off that America is the devil and Jews and Christians are its spawn, how such individuals are allowed to continue preaching. There are no sanctions, punishments or consequences for making those remarks. That fosters the belief that everyone within the culture accepts and adopts those words. 

Islam must find a way to deal with its radicals internally. Without that it is impossible for outsiders to understand where the radicals stop and the secularists begin. The media paints everyone with the same brush. While that is unfair, there has been little condemnation from within so there is little opportunity to see the moderate side of a good people.

Russel Molot, Ottawa

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

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COMMENT - I have known some Muslims who have emigrated from Muslim countries where Sharia is the law of the land. It happens in such countries that ordinary Muslims become quite bold to accuse others of blasphemy; whether it is true or not. One man was accused by a business competitor who didn't like him, all the more so because the man he hated was not Muslim but a Roman Catholic Christian. In such an environment, the accuser broadcasts his accusation loudly and the crowd joins in to support him. Some Muslims are intimidated into joining the gathering crowd lest they be accused of not being zealous enough for Islam. The Catholic business owner would have been killed, executed by the mob, if the authorities had not intervened. Once he came to trial the judge admitted to him he was obviously innocent, but if he were to be released he would surely be executed by the mob. The judge arranged for him to be released later at an unsuspected time and secretly at night with the support of some non-profit organizations which helped to spirit him away safely and out of the country along with his family; for they too would have been in danger for their lives. So, in such cultures where mob rule intimidates any who might be opposed or disagree; it is very difficult for anyone to come out to declare disapproval of the actions of violent extremists. Anyone - a citizen or public leader who speaks up or resists injustice takes not only their own life into their hands, but the lives of their family as well. G.S.

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At this website by various means we seek to defend life, to encourage Christian faith, to promote Catholic tradition, to edify Marriage in its link to the Creator, to encourage families and individuals, and to support missionary disciples of Jesus.  G.S.

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