The Trouble with Jesuits, Part 8 AND Islamic Outreach, Part XX

From an earlier post on this blog:

Pope Francis spoke to the diplomatic corps and amongst other things, said, "Hence it is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions, and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam."

From the Messenger:

" A Jesuit priest (Father Thomas Michel) delivered what he said was the most important message of a day of study about Muslim Christian relations as knowing and understanding what the church means by “esteem” for Muslims....Father Michel’s message and what he considers most important: “At the Second Vatican Council we were taught we should have esteem for Muslims,” he said....At its most basic, “Islam is a faith, a living before God,” Father Michel said. “I realize that God stands at the center, a driving force of all that occurs.”

From Father Michel's blog:

 Among the medieval mystical poets, the one who speaks most clearly and directly to the modern world is  Jalaluddin Rumi known simply in the Muslim world as “Mevlana,” Our Master.

 MEANWHILE.....from the Hoover Institute:


"Few people realize that we are today living through the largest persecution of Christians in history, worse even than the famous attacks under ancient Roman emperors like Diocletian and Nero. Estimates of the numbers of Christians under assault range from 100-200 million. According to one estimate, a Christian is martyred every five minutes. And most of this persecution is taking place at the hands of Muslims. Of the top fifty countries persecuting Christians, forty-two have either a Muslim majority or have sizeable Muslim populations."

Could that be true, Mister Angry Muslim Guy?