Home » International News » US al-Qaida official called Catholics ‘fertile ground’ for conversion
US al-Qaida official called Catholics ‘fertile ground’ for conversion
Tags
Related Posts
About the author
A U.S. al-Qaida official concluded that Catholics were “fertile ground” for conversion, “particularly after the rage expanding against the mother church (Vatican) as a result of its scandals and policies refused by many of its public.”
American al-Qaida spokesman Adam Gadahn wrote Osama bin Laden in January 2011 and laid out reasons for reaching out to Catholics, particularly the Irish. He urged bin Laden to use public anger at the church’s mishandling of clerical abuse to encourage Irish people to convert to Islam, according to newly declassified documents.
The letter was contained in files allegedly found at bin Laden’s Pakistan hideout after he was killed by U.S. special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, last May.
The Combating Terrorism Center, a privately funded research base at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, posted a number of declassified documents belonging to bin Laden on its website May 3.
They were taken in the raid on his house.
The letter from Gadahn particularly highlighted the reason for approaching the Irish, noting Ireland was not a participant in “Bush’s Crusade wars.”
It noted “the increasing anger in Ireland towards the Catholic Church after exposing a number of sex scandals and others” and speaks of the hunger of youths because of the economic downturn in Ireland.
Gadahn wrote that Irish people, “who were the most religious of atheist Europe,” were moving toward secularism.
“Why do not we face them with Islam?” he asked.
He said he considered preparing a similar message to Catholics living in Arab regions, calling them to Islam: “Catholics were historically the prominent enemies of the Jews, amongst the other Christians. They were also the original enemies to the evangelist Protestant(s) who were the vanguard of the Crusades. [More]
SOURCE
Leave a Comment
Photo Archive
-
May 24, 2013 7:00
Historic vote to accept gays as Boy Scouts draws mixed faith response
-
May 24, 2013 6:55
Faith-Healing Churches linked to 2 dozen child deaths
-
May 24, 2013 6:51
Clergy campaign for indigent care
-
May 24, 2013 6:46
Five more come forward alleging abuse by Hawaii Catholic priests
-
May 23, 2013 1:58
Religious freedom reports see little improvement in troubling countries
-
May 23, 2013 1:43
LGBT Catholics find a new supporter: An openly gay priest
-
May 22, 2013 1:37
Tornadoes exact deadly toll; region needs ‘a lot of prayers right now’
-
May 22, 2013 1:32
State Dept. report says countries have repressed religious freedom with laws
-
May 22, 2013 1:23
2 lawsuits filed against Maine Catholic church
-
May 21, 2013 1:32
Church Whistle-Blowers Join Forces on Abuse
4 Comments
My heart gos out to Ireland. The greatest, largest Catholic country, so faithful to God and the Catholic church. So betrayed by the Bishops by allowing the sex abuse to go on for so long. This wound and the advancement of Secularism have distroyed the church in Ireland. Al-Qaida and the muslims are attempting to fill the void felt by those that have left the Catholic faith. I pray for Catholics, as we all have been betrayed by our Bishops and so many priests. The real question is what is your relationship to Jesus Christ? My relationship is with Jesus Christ not bishops. I would tell Al-Qaida, No thanks I’ll stay with the winner.
WOW………we are the TRUE Church……..didn’t that line of thinking go out with the Inquesition?
One wonders if the good deacon has read much of Eucuminism.
I guess every website has its hecklers. Tony, your Relativism offers no help. Do you feel Islam is just as good as your generic Christianity? Islam’s rigidity is what converts find attractive, since their own church let’s them believe as they will; everyone is free to interpret God’s Word as he/she feels serves them; there is no absolute Truth in “relative” Christianity. If you think you are not free to question Catholic dogma, try questioning the obvious conflicts and contradictions in Koran to an Imam.
I cannot subscribe to this thought. Any true Catholic is aware that we are the true Church which is composed of fragile men and women who are far from being perfect. Just look at our Church history. Without the work of the Holy Spirit the Church would have crashed and burned long ago.