Today in Church History

530 [Discorus] ends his reign as Catholic Pope

Today in Church History

1534 Alessandro Farnese elected as Pope Paul III

1990 1st Russian Orthodox service in 70 years held in St. Basil's Cathedral

Catholics and Muslims dine together in Church for the end Ramadan

Faisalabad, Palistan, Oct.13,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – In a move to promote harmony and understanding between the nation’s religious communities, Faisalabad’s Council for Inter-religious dialogue hosted Muslim leaders and faithful in the cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, offering them an iftar, [a bequest with which Ramadan fasting is ended ndr].

Among the banquets’ guests, which took place on October 11th last, was Sufi Masood Ahmad Lassani, a well known Muslim scholar, and the bishop of the diocese Msgr. Joseph Coutts.  Speaking to AsiaNews, the bishop explained: “in order to bring harmony in society we have to seek out and reach out to all people of good will, like Ahmad Lassani”.

These are the people, the prelate adds, “Who give us courage to carry on work on peace and harmony knowing that there are so many peace loving Muslims of good will who want to work with us. Perhaps meeting more often we will be able to have a more concrete impact”.

Speaking with AsiaNews, Lassani condemned the death threats which are oppressing Pakistan’s Christians who refuse to convert to Islam:  “force and violence is not acceptable and can not bring any positive change but spread hate among masses.  I myself have faced threats for his interfaith activities but he is firm to keep continue this struggle”.

The scholar also attacked the misuse of blasphemy laws in the country, underlining how they are almost always used to settle personal issues: “many innocent people had been trapped falsely to settle the personal disputes and false accusers went unpunished. This is a total ‘Taliban’ mentality and we condemn this strongly”. 

Today in Church History

638 Honorius I ends his reign as Catholic Pope; Pope Severinus elected

642 John IV ends his reign as Catholic Pope

1518 Pontifical ambassador interrogates Martin Luther

1975 Archbishop Oliver Plunkett became 1st Irish-born saint in 7 centuries

Extremists attack church in Lahore, beat children

Lahore , Pakistan, Oct.11,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – A Muslim mob armed with guns and steel rods attacked the New Apostolic Church in Hadyara, on the outskirts of Lahore. They beat up worshippers, including a child, and damaged property.

After the incident the attackers through mosque loudspeakers called on Muslims from nearby villages to gather for a “final attack” after Ramadan. They also urged businesses and farmers not to allow Christians on their properties or do business with them.

Lahore police arrived only after the incident, but remained overnight to patrol the area around the church building.

According to local political leaders, Christians will be safe until the end of Ramadan. But local police could not confirm the information.

Elsewhere in the country near Peshawar Islamic extremists stormed six stores selling records and a barber shop for violating Muslim morality. One person was killed and two wounded as a result of the violence. The stores were destroyed.

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