Arabic-speaking Muslims who convert to Christianity often refer to the One True God as “Allah” -- despite the fact that they recognize the differences between the nature and revelation of God as described in the Bible and the nature and revelation of God as described in the Qu’ran. [For example, the doctrine of the Holy Trinity (Matthew 28:19.)]
NOSTRA AETATE,
“Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions”
#3. _ The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems (Muslims). They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all-powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth, who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems (Muslims), this sacred synod (sancta synodus) urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom. _ Pope Paul VI (October 28, 1965).
NOTE: When the Bishops of the whole world are congregated under the presidency of the Pope, the synod (council) is denominated ecumenical or general. It is only to such an assembly that it is lawful to apply the term “sancta synodus” (sacred synod) _ New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia
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RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM:
ISLAMIC STATE IS SATANIC
Rome, Italy (April 15, 2015) _ In a recent Facebook post, well-known Roman exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth said the Islamic State (ISIS) “is Satan,” and he also questioned the lack of response from Western nations.
“ISIS is Satan. Things first happen in the spiritual realms, then they are made concrete on this earth,” he said in an April 8 post on the social media website.
Father Amorth continued, “there are only two spiritual realms: The Holy Spirit and the demonic spirit.”
He said the demonic enters in “because evil is disguised in various ways: political, religious, cultural, and it has one source of inspiration: the Devil. As a Christian I fight the beast spiritually.”
“The political world, which today seems to lack a response in face of the massacre of Christians, will also have to fight ISIS and it will do it in a different way. If it advances as it seems to be doing, we ask ourselves what has the West done over the course of the last decades.”
The priest, who founded the International Association of Exorcists, explained that Satan “keeps saying that the world is in his power, and what he says is true. Biblically speaking we are in the last days and the beast is working furiously.”
ISIS took control of the largest Christian city in Iraq, Qaraqosh, in August last year, causing tens of thousands of people to flee.
The terrorist group has persecuted and murdered Christians and other religious minorities in parts of Syria and Iraq.
Fr. Amorth, age 90, has performed over 70,000 exorcisms during the past 29 years. The number is so high because carrying out an exorcism can require multiple sessions and each time the rite is administered it is counted as one instance.
Fr. Amorth has previously spoken about the danger posed by people no longer believing in the Devil, as well as a shortage of exorcists.
Catholic News Agency (CNA)
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