March 23, 2008
The Pope and Conversion
There has been a lot of attention paid to the Pope's baptism of Magid Allam the deputy editor of the Corriere della Sera newspaper who has converted to the Catholic Church. I found this though quite interesting.
"Undoubtedly the most extraordinary and significant encounter in the decision to convert was that with Pope Benedict XVI,'' Allam said. He said he admired the pope for his skill in laying out the relationship "between faith and reason as the basis of authentic religion and human civilization.''
Many news sources have called him a Muslim commentator in his role as editor. Though by his own account he has never been a practicing Muslim and was educated in Egypt at a Catholic boarding school and later on attended the La Sapienza University of Rome. I find his attended this university in light of recent protests rather ironic considering his stated reason for his conversion. His parents were both Muslims, but it seems a stretch as so many headlines stated that a "prominent Muslim" came into the Church.
There has also been a lot of commentary for the very public nature of his entering the Church. Some believe that the Pope is sending a message by doing so. Though it seems to me that the Holy Father is not the type to use a baptism in this manner.
Posted by Jeff Miller at March 23, 2008 06:51 PM | TrackBackThe "Prominent Muslim" label is misleading.
Not that the Press would mislead intentionally.
In fact, he is "Prominent" and a "Muslim," which has a different meaning altogether.
Like saying "Mickey Mouse" is a "Mickey" and a "Mouse."
!
Posted by John email at March 23, 2008 07:50 PMJohn the Baptist certainly baptized in a "very public" manner, as did the Apostles later.
I think that Allam himself probably has it about right --
". . . His Holiness has sent an explicit and revolutionary message to a Church that until now has been too prudent in the conversion of Muslims, abstaining from proselytizing in majority Muslim countries and keeping quiet about the reality of converts in Christian countries. Out of fear. The fear of not being able to protect converts in the face of their being condemned to death for apostasy and fear of reprisals against Christians living in Islamic countries. Well, today Benedict XVI, with his witness, tells us that we must overcome fear and not be afraid to affirm the truth of Jesus even with Muslims.
"For my part, I say that it is time to put an end to the abuse and the violence of Muslims who do not respect the freedom of religious choice. . . ."
-- letter by Magdi Allam, March 23, 2008, recounting "the story of the interior journey that brought [him] to the choice of conversion to Catholicism."
