Author: Alan Feuer
Publication: The New York Times
Date: May 15, 2004
In an official church document released
Friday, the Vatican discouraged marriage between Catholics and Muslims,
especially Catholic women and Muslim men.
When "a Catholic woman and a Muslim
wish to marry," the document says, "bitter experience teaches us that a
particularly careful and in-depth preparation is called for."
It also says "profound cultural
and religious differences" exist between the two faiths, particularly concerning
the rights of women, who are referred to as "the least protected member
of the Muslim family."
The document, written by the Pontifical
Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, sets these
issues in a context of globalism and easy travel that encourages the mixing
of religions. Although it makes no mention of the conflicts in the Middle
East, its release comes during a time of heightened anger in the Muslim
world.
The document indicates several points
of commonality between Roman Catholicism and Islam, like a belief in God,
daily prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage and "the fight against injustice."
At the same time, it gently chides
Muslims for faltering on the issue of human rights.
"We hope there will be, on the part
of our Muslim brothers and sisters," its authors write, "a growing awareness
that fundamental liberties, the inviolable rights of the person, the equal
dignity of man and woman, the democratic principle of government and the
healthy lay character of the state are principles that cannot be surrendered."
The Vatican has long encouraged
Catholics to marry within the faith, and the current document - an 80-page
booklet titled "The Love of Christ Towards Migrants" - makes that point
again. It says marriage between Catholics and all non-Christians "should
be discouraged," mainly for the sake of children.
Earlier this week, the Roman Catholic
Church released a similar document expressing its disdain for same-sex
unions.
In a pointed reference to Islam,
the document released Friday said, "It is well known that the norms of
the two religions are in stark contrast."
If Catholics do choose to marry
Muslims, the document says, they must be sure to baptize their children
and avoid signing Islamic documents or swearing oaths, including the "shahada,"
Islam's profession of faith.
All Catholics, it warns, "must take
a firm stand on what the church requires."
