Pakistan and Islamization: stoning women to death for Allah

  

If you close your eyes you can imagine part of the land of India which was partitioned and became Pakistan.  If we think about this area before the onset of Islam it is easy to imagine Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Zoroastrians, and many faiths throughout the land which would become Pakistan.  However, countless Islamic invasions and then the partition of India led to the creation of modern day Pakistan.

The creation of East and West Pakistan did not lead to unity or peace but instead led to more religious persecution of non-Muslim minorities, ethnic tensions, language issues, and other important factors. In time Bangladesh and Pakistan would emerge after a bitter and brutal war which erupted in 1971 and during this brutal war the Pakistan army was involved in brutal massacres and the Hindu community was especially targeted.

Therefore, just like past Islamic conquests which enslaved and killed millions of Hindus in past Islamic jihads of India the same also happened during 1971.  The eastern part of Dhaka was dominated by Hindus therefore Pakistan military units were involved in major pogroms of Hindus.  Time magazine reported on 2 August 1971, that “The Hindus, who account for three-fourths of the refugees and a majority of the dead, have borne the brunt of the Pakistani military hatred.”

After the brutal conflict in 1971 it is clear that Pakistan learnt nothing apart from more hatred because General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq would consolidate his power base during 1977 and 1978 and the new President of Pakistan was intent on installing more Islamization. 

General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq introduced many draconian laws in which non-Muslims and minority Muslims would suffer alongside women who also bore the brunt of Islamization.  Laws he introduced in the Pakistan Penal Code include the following:

PPC	Description	Penalty
298A	Use of derogatory remarks etc., in respect of holy personages	3 years imprisonment, or with fine, or with both
298B	Misuse of epithets, descriptions and titles etc., reserved for certain holy personages or places, by Ahmadis	3 years imprisonment and fine
298C	Aka Ordinance XX: An Ahmadi, calling himself a Muslim, or preaching or propagating his faith, or outraging the religious feelings of Muslims, or posing himself as a Muslim	3 years imprisonment and fine
295	Injuring or defiling places of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class	Up to 2 years imprisonment or with fine, or with both
295A	Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs	Up to 10 years imprisonment, or with fine, or with both
295B	Defiling, etc., of Quran	Imprisonment for life
295C	Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of Muhammad	Death and fine

Source of information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zia-ul-Haq’s_Islamization

Therefore, modern day Pakistan is a land of Islamic hatred whereby Islamists stone women to death, persecute minorities, and keep women in the shadows in many parts of this land and honour killings are a daily reality.  At the same time you have institutional Islamic hatred whereby the government, police force, judiciary, local government leaders, and other areas of power install or maintain institutional hatred by allowing systematic persecution of minorities and women.

Ahmadiyya Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and other minorities, now reside in fear because of the draconian blasphemy law and other laws which discriminate against non-Muslims and Ahmadiyya Muslims.

The nightmare of what Pakistan is can be seen by the recent murder of another woman which was highlighted in an article written by S Iftikhar Murshed. He states the following:

“The woman’s head was covered with a sack, her hands were tied and she was tethered to the ground – while a group of turbaned, bearded men hurled rocks at her, breaking her bones and then crushing her skull. According to reports in the press, she had been walking unescorted and was presumed guilty of adultery. The barbarity, allegedly perpetrated by the Taliban in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), was shown on Dubai’s Al Aan television. The same footage was televised by a private Pakistani channel on Sept 28 and the story also featured that day in the local print media.” 

“There was no reaction from civil society, no politician demanded that the government bring the criminals to justice, no resolution was passed by parliament expressing concern over the outrage, no statement emanated from the president or the prime minister condemning the incident, and the atrocity faded from public memory because the woman was a nonentity and did not matter.”  (Article http://www.thenews.com.pk/24-10-2010/opinion/11689.htm)

This article highlights the complete brutality of Sunni Islam under the Taliban; the institutions of Pakistan which are enabling hatred to prosper via draconian laws and ineptness when dealing with brutal murders like this; and the utter brutality of Mohammed himself who not only did adultery with female concubines but who then supported the stoning to death of people who did adultery.

The mass media in the West which highlighted an insignificant Christian pastor with a flock which is very small about burning the Koran remains largely silent about daily murders of women and minorities in Pakistan.  Or if information is provided then it is not advertised so much because it would break the “Islamic mantra of peace” which is being sold in many media outlets or by national leaders like President Obama who is following the party line of ex-President Bush.

In truth the brutal murder of this woman shames the appeasers of Islam and shames the multi-religionists who are closing their eyes to the reality of Islamic Sharia law and the tenets of Islam which were espoused by Mohammed.

It should also be remembered that America and the United Kingdom both supported General Zia-ul-Haq and little was said about the draconian Islamic laws which he put in motion, in full accordance with the Koran and the Hadiths.  Therefore, silence is both a Democratic and Republican issue in America and an issue for nations like the United Kingdom who have turned a blind eye to brutal laws and institutional hatred in Pakistan.

The author, S Iftikhar Murshed, continues by stating the adage “justice delayed is justice denied” is not necessarily true. In the case of the unknown woman in Fata, as in other instances, the skewed Taliban concept of Islamic justice was as swift as it was brutal. The stringent Quranic evidentiary requirements for proving adultery were set aside and the accused was condemned for a crime she had never committed.”

This comment clearly shows you that the article by S Iftikhar Murshed does not condemn the Koran and the Hadiths because he states “The stringent Quranic evidentiary requirements for proving adultery were set aside.”  However, why do people deserve to be killed for adultery, apostasy, or have your hands and feet chopped off for minor crimes in accordance with what Mohammed stated?

Returning back to this article it is clear that Pakistan is in crisis and this crisis is based on the religion of Islam. The complicity of nations who continue to prop-up this nation also must be rebuked because General Zia-ul-Haq created an even more vengeful Pakistan and the global Sunni Islamic jihadist movement obtained major funding and backing under his rule.

Ex-President Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski fell into line and supported the motives of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in 1979 after the Siege of Mecca by forces loyal to Juhayman ibn Muhammad ibn Sayf al-Otaibi created mayhem for the House of Saud. 
(http://leejaywalker.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/the-siege-of-mecca-to-pro-islamic-policies-in-bosnia/)

In an earlier article I wrote called “USA, CIA, created Sunni Islamic Terrorism” I comment that “The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) implemented Operation Cyclone and this policy was aimed at supporting the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski began a new policy whereby America would support radical Islam in the full knowledge that this meant supporting terrorism and a movement which supported killing all apostates from Islam and persecuting women.” 

“Therefore, both political parties in America were involved in the funding of radical Sunni Islam and Michael G. Vickers, a Special Forces NCO, was commissioned by the CIA to support radical Islamic forces. Of major importance was coordination and launching attacks against the Soviet Union which would prove to be successful. Given this, Vickers, and other covert operatives, would train terrorists and in time they would unleash a force that could not be contained.”

The CIA’s regional head, Gustav Avrakotos, alongside people like Charlie Wilson, Gordan Humphrey, Fred Ikle, William Casey, Joanne Herring, and a host of others, were all responsible in spreading radical Islam in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Therefore, the “dark forces” of radical Sunni Islam were being unified via enormous funding and military training…………… the CIA, political leaders, and the people mentioned above, would all play their role in the future destabilization of Afghanistan and Pakistan and in making September 11th happen.

“Of instrumental importance were Pakistan and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) unit which would work hand-in-hand with the CIA and other covert networks. Other nations were also involved, including the British, because MI6 and the SAS, would help to train Islamic terrorists and of course Saudi Arabia would provide ample funds in order to spread radical Sunni Islam.”

However, the mistakes of America and the United Kingdom can’t be exonerated nor can Mohammed who is the prophet of Islam because history tells us the reality of Mohammed and Islamic jihad. 

The defeat of communism was a serious issue during the Cold War but it is clear that Islamic jihad was an instrument of power and control. This began under the founding father of Islam because Mohammed simply sat by and watched the beheadings of the Banu Qurayza who were followers of Judaism.  More than 600 men over puberty were beheaded one after the other in full accordance with the wishes of Mohammed.

The fate that befell the Banu Qurayza clearly shows you the mindset of Mohammed and Islam. Jihad, jizya, dhimmitude, and the destruction of other faiths and systems is part and parcel of Islam and only fools would have ignored the reality of Islam and its bloody past and continuity in the modern world.

Therefore, the stoning to death of this lady may have been done by the Taliban but the “hands which are dripping in blood belong to Prophet Mohammed.”

In America and other nations people are now waking up despite media bias which is trying to distort the reality of Islam.  President Obama may not be on board and his eyes may be closed but forces within America are gradually waking up.

If only America, the UK, and others, had turned to India and the history of this nation because Islamic jihad, enslavement, brute force, dhimmitude, and so forth, was not only a past tragedy but is also a living tragedy.  After all, Hindus and other minorities still continue to suffer in the House of Islam in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and within Kashmir.

Also, the teachings of the Koran and the Hadiths clearly support Islamization via stealth jihad and jihad. In time this leads to dhimmitude and the destruction of the host culture and traditions.

Therefore, while Islamists were shouting “Allah Akbar” while killing a woman in such a brutal method let us not forget that the evil they did was in the name of Allah because Mohammed supported stoning to death.

Western nations have no excuse for their ignorance and if Islam is allowed to grow at any cost or if Western nations keep on supporting nations like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan without any modernization strings; then the “final Rome” called “world civilization” will be faced by an Islamic monoculture which devours the non-Muslims first and then like in Pakistan they turn on each other and backwardness becomes the norm.

http://global-security-news.com

Saint Boniface of Tarsus

Boniface of Tarsus
Born	Third century Rome
Died	May 14, 307 Tarsus, Cilicia
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast	May 14 (pre-1969 General Roman Calendar); December 19 (Eastern Orthodox Churc
Attributes	Martyr

Boniface of Tarsus was, according to legend, executed for being a Christian in the year 307 at Tarsus, where he had gone from Rome in order to bring back to his mistress Aglaida (also written Aglaia) relics of the martyrs.

Aglaida and Boniface (painting by Alexandre Cabanel)

Boniface was one of Aglaida's slaves. The name Aglaida is sometimes given as Aglae. Both were pagans and lived in debauchery together, some legends say they were even lover. Tiring of their way of life, both discover Christianity as a meaningful way. Aglaida decides to sent him on an errand to collect holy relics. Finding upon arrival at Tarsus that the authorities were torturing Christians, he openly declared himself to be a Christian. His own body constituted the relics that were brought back to Aglaida, who in turn became a Christian.

In his memory she constructed a church, which today is the Church of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio. She distributed her wealth to the poor and lived in a monastery for 18 years. She apparently received the divine gift to exorcise evil spirits.

St. Boniface Cathedral: Past & Present

The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates both of them on December 19 as the "Martyr Boniface at Tarsus in Cilicia and Righteous Aglaida of Rome." In the twelfth century the name of Boniface (without Aglaida) was included in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, with the lowest rank of feast ("Simple"). His celebration, on May 14, was reduced by Pope Pius XII to a commemoration within the ferial Mass in 1955 (see General Roman Calendar of Pope Pius XII), and was omitted completely from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 because of the totally fabulous character of his "Passio".

Fire in 1968

The original cathedral, built in 1908, was destroyed by fire in 1968.
photo: www.winnipegfiremuseum.ca

Twenty-three Muslims Charged With Terrorism in Egypt

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The Supreme State Security Prosecution has started legal proceedings against 23 Salafis allegedly involved in the sectarian violence in Imbaba on Saturday, charging them with terrorism, premeditated murder, vandalism of public and private property and intimidating citizens.

The charges were made as part of the prosecutions' investigation into the sectarian clashes, which lead to the deaths of at least 15 people and the injury of several hundred more.

Prosecutors presented the defendants with photographs of them throwing stones and destroying private property in the area during the incident.

Meanwhile, scores of Coptic Christians staged demonstrations before the Supreme Court, requesting a fast trial for the perpetrators of the violence in Imbaba.

Police intensified their presence in the Imbaba neighborhood in order to avoid any further clashes.

Prosecutors also started questioning a Coptic Christian, the owner of a cafe in the area, who fired the first shot in the clashes.

They are putting questions to Abeer Talaat, the Coptic woman who is said to have sparked the clashes when she converted to Islam.

Collected from http://www.almasryalyoum.com

Obama Should Condemn Anti-Christian Violence in Egypt

Even as he renews his outreach to Muslims, President Obama should seek to stem the growing tide of violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt by condemning last weekend's attacks that left a dozen people dead and scores injured.

The attacks, about which Obama has been silent, also resulted in the burning of Coptic Orthodox churches and the destruction of Christian homes and businesses.

The president needs to say more to stem religious violence that creates opportunities for Islamic extremists who want to seize power in Egypt, our most important Arab ally.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Monday "strongly" condemned the violence, saying, "We stand behind the Coptic Christian community and their right to practice their faith in safety and security, free of persecution."

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that Obama is preparing to try to reengage Muslims with a speech, possibly next week, that will make the case that Muslims should "reject Islamic militancy in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death and embrace a new era of relations with the U.S."

Whether Obama views condemning Muslim violence against Christians as inopportune during the lead up to a renewed outreach to Muslims is unclear. But it's worth noting that after Obama seemed inexplicably slow off the mark supporting the masses of Iranian protestors two years ago, there was widespread belief that he was concerned about compromising his outreach to the Iranian government.

Obama, though a Christian, seems to view his background, which includes a Muslim grandfather and several years living as a child in Muslim Indonesia, as giving him a special conduit into the Muslim world. But I doubt this type of personal outreach by one man changes the way people view the United States. And it shouldn't interfere with other aspects of U.S. policy.

Obama commendably condemned a New Year's Eve church bombing in Alexandria, Egypt that killed 21. But he has said little -- actually nothing that I could find -- about the religious killings and tensions since then, which included the deaths of 12 people Jan. 30 during a raid of Christian homes in Upper Egypt.

Obama also should speak about about the growing violence against Christians in Iraq, a country where we have some real sway. Four were killed and 171 injured in attacks over the weekend, prompting a reaction from Pope Benedict XVI.

News collected from Keith Koffler

The Christian Predicament in Syria and Egypt

The last few months have seen an historical earthquake, or volcano if you will, in the Middle East. Islamic countries, some with sizeable Christian minorities are witnessing revolutions which on the surface seem to display a desire by the peoples of the these countries for genuine democracy, something only to be found outside of the Middle East, except for Israel.

The story begins with an economic trigger of $147 a barrel for oil in 2008, leading to the near collapse of the world economy. With this near collapse of the world economy, the barrel of oil dropped back to $30, even if for only a few days, and then slowly began to climb back, hovering now around the $100 dollar mark.

Whether or not the world economy recovers or not, we all know that food prices have gone through the roof as a result of this greed. Higher oil prices mean higher food prices. Food prices will continue to spiral upwards and starvation will increase in many more places.

When a Tunisian fruit and vegetable vendor self-immolated himself after a humiliating arrest that included being slapped in the face by a female officer and having his produce confiscated, ostensibly for not having a license (or paying a bribe), the word got out quickly thanks to mass online media like Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and massive riots ensued. The corruption, the lack of employment, the lack of freedom and democracy led these people in the Middle East to want and demand more, primarily what is to be found in the West where there is work, democracy and food.

These revolutions spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain and other countries, and threaten to spread elsewhere as well, such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and perhaps even Iran.

The Egyptian Revolution is a case in point. Christians and Moslems demonstrated together in Tahrir Square and other places calling for the overthrow of the Mubarak regime in hope of a better future. The Mubarak regime suffered from the same corruption and elitist domination of the economy by certain chosen groups. US President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the "democratic revolution" in Egypt as they are now doing in Libya.

When the US Administration was warned of the dangers of the Moslem Brotherhood, Secretary Clinton's response was: "They are only a 30% minority."

The problem is that throughout the Middle East, the governments are usually controlled by the minority, not the majority. By the way, Hitler came to power in Germany in January of 1933 with only 30% of the German democratic vote. Khomeini in Iran came to power in 1979 leading a wall-to-wall coalition of democratic forces, but in the end it was his fanatic group of fundamentalist Shi'ites that eliminated all the other groups leaving only Khomeini's group in power.

So today, the Egyptian Army in partnership with the Moslem Brotherhood are now the ruling forces. And there should be no doubt that the agenda in Egypt has never been for democracy, nor is it now. On the contrary, the Islamic motto is: We kill the Jews on Saturday, and we kill the Christians on Sunday.

Now that there are no more Jews in Egypt (Saturday people), the Moslems say: "We will go for the Sunday people" (the Christians).

There is no doubt that the condition of the Coptic Egyptian minority is indeed dire. Woman are being kidnapped, raped and forced to marry Moslem men who can anyway have multiple wives. When Christians protest about this, the Moslems riot and kill the Christians. Churches are being burned down and Christians gunned down. My fear is that the Egyptian Coptic community faces imminent and massive ethnic cleansing if not outright Holocaust at the hands of the Moslems.

When the Egyptian Christian community is terminated, the economy will completely collapse and Egypt will become a desolation with tens of millions of Egyptian Christians and Moslems fleeing to the West were the grass is greener and there is food, employment and freedom, at least for now.

In Syria, another country ruled by a minority, this time a pro-Iranian 10% Alawite minority, another volcano is about to explode.

The Sunni population of 80% is seeking "democracy" or rule of the majority of the people. The Christian population is about 10%, and until now has been protected by the Alawites. But if Bashar Assad and his regime fall from power, the Sunnis, led by the same Moslem Brotherhood as in Egypt, will decimate both the Alawites and the Christians, thus terminating the Christian presence in Syria, and by extension the Christians in Lebanon as well.

We already have seen how the Sunni/Shi'ite struggle in Iraq killed Christians and forced them to flee to Syria. Now this is about to happen in Syria and, by extension, in Lebanon.

Unfortunately, the Christian world in the West is silent about this as are most of the churches and denominational leadership. No one in the Christian world is saying or doing anything about the slaughter of Christians in Africa. And, of course, as the fundamentalist Moslem Brotherhood takes over in Egypt and Syria as it already has in Turkey and Gaza, I believe we are witnessing the creation of a Sunni Caliphate that will soon be surrounding Israel as well.

Could this be a Gog and Magog scenario in the making? Will the world do anything about the Christians of Egypt and Syria? Will the world do anything to stand by Israel at that time?

It is time for Jews and Christians to awaken and unite in an alliance for the defense of Christians, Jews, and all of Western Civilization threatened by this rising tide of Sunni Moslem Brotherhood fundamentalism.

Muslims Attack Christians in Egypt, 12 Killed, 232 Injured

(AINA) -- Christians Copts in the area of Embaba were attacked Saturday evening by Muslim Salafis. The attacks lasted for 14 hours. The Muslims fired guns and rifles and hurled Molotov cocktails at Coptic churches, houses and businesses. 12 Copts were killed and 232 wounded.The church of Saint Mina was the first to be attacked. According to its pastor Fr. Abanoub the attack started at 5.30 PM on Saturday May 7, when church parishioners noticed a large number of Salafis, estimated at 3000 men, congregating near the church. Anticipating trouble, the army was called. The Salafis went to the church and asked to search it because they believed a Christian girl named called Abir, who had converted to Islam, married a Salafi and wanted to revert back to Christianity, was hiding inside the church. The Muslims circulated a rumor that the husband of Abir received a call from her asking him to save her as she was being "tortured" inside the church.

The governor of Giza said that there are no girls hiding in St. Mina Church. He falsely claimed that things were under control and a "reconciliation" meeting will be arranged for tomorrow. The army later cordoned off the entire district of Embaba.

Father Yohanna Mansour from Giza Bishopric confirmed that no one knows this alleged girl called Abir. He said the congregation was meeting at church and the Salafis wanted to break into the church and force a search to look for this alleged convert, he said in an interview with the Egyptian State TV. "Muslims always come invited to church, but this would have set a precedent that Muslims would use to search our churches." He refused the "reconciliation" meeting and insisted on the application of the law.

According to Fr. Abanoub the Salafis started shooting at 5:30 but the army arrived at 10 PM. "I called everyone, but no one bothered to come." He said six policemen came and left when they saw the shooting. There were also snipers shooting the parishioners from rooftops. "I mourn all those young people who died. We now must ask for international protection."

The second church attacked by Salafis was St. Mary and St Abanob, also in Embaba. Muslims prevented the fire brigade from reaching it. Copts were also shot. This video shows the wounded brought inside the church.

The third church attacked was St. Mary Church in Wehda Street in Embaba, the ground floor of which was completely torched.

An apartment complex inhabited by Copts, near St. Mina Church, was set on fire after being looted. Another two houses were torched (video).

Youssef Edward, a deacon at St. Mina Church, said the army and security forces stood watching while Muslims threw Molotov cocktail at homes. He said the Muslims who attacked the church came from outside, as Muslims from the area live peacefully with them. "The army was not able to control the situation, and the mob was chanting 'Islamic', 'Islamic'" (video showing wounded Copts and a dead Copt named Medhat in St. Mina).

As soon as Copts heard of the Salafi attacks, they rushed to protect their churches. There were contradictory reports of Copts using guns to defend themselves.

Witnesses reported the Salafis were wearing Taliban style clothes. "I believe they are of the 3000 Jihadis who returned lately from Afghanistan," Saber Loutfi, one of the Embaba residents told Coptic Free Voice.

Renowned Muslim liberal writer Nabil Sharaf el Din said on the Coptic Hope Sat Channel "The army is either incapable or is an accomplice to the Salafis." He believes that what took place today exceeds anything else that had previously happened to the Copts. "If the army does not takes a stern position with the Salafis they will look real bad." He said that all moderate Muslims and Copts should stick together to overcome the Salafis. In his opinion the Salafis, who were encouraged and nurtured by the old State Security, are like the genie who has come out of the lamp and now cannot be restrained or controlled.

The Bishop of Giza, Anba Theodosius, said "These things are planned. We have no law or security, we are in a jungle. We are in a state of chaos. One rumor burns the whole area. Everyday we have a catastrophe." Addressing the Salafis he said "We will never leave our country".

Most witnesses interviewed asked for international protection of the Copts, as the army does nothing when it comes to attacks on Copts. Others accused the army of complicity.

Camelia Shehata, who the Muslims claim had converted to Islam and was held by the church against her will, appeared today on Hayat Christian TV and said Muslim claims are groundless and that she is 100% Christian. She denied that she had met any of the Salafi sheikhs who claimed they went with her to Al-Azhar to convert to Islam.

A large number of Copts are presently staging a sit-in in front of the US Embassy in Cairo, asking for International Protection for the Copts.
Coptic groups have called for a "million-man" protest in Cairo and Alexandria on Sunday to protest the Embaba attacks. The march will start at the High Court and end in Maspero, in front of the State TV Building.
The funeral of the Coptic victims will take place on Sunday at St. George's Church in Giza.

What Divides Catholics and Protestants?

As Pope Benedict XVI continues with his highly publicized visit to the United States, some may wonder what the major differences are between Catholicism and Protestantism – the two main Christian bodies in the world.

(Photo: AP Images / Gerald Herbert)

President Bush and Pope Benedict XVI walk down the Colonnade of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2008, following an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn.

Perhaps the biggest difference is their views on the sufficiency and authority of Scripture. Traditionally, Protestants believe that the Bible alone is sufficient in teaching man all that is necessary for salvation from sin, and contains the standard in which Christians should measure their behavior.

Catholics, however, do not believe that the Bible alone is enough, and instead hold that the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic traditions are equal in authority, as noted by Got Questions Ministries, which provides biblically-based answers on spiritually-related questions in its Web site, GotQuestions.org.

Roman Catholic doctrines, such as purgatory, praying to the saints, veneration of Mary, have little or no basis in the Scripture, but are based on Roman Catholic traditions.

Another major difference is the office and authority of the pope. There is no equivalent position to the pope in Protestantism because of the belief that no human being is infallible and that Christ alone is the head of the church. Protestants believe that the spiritual authority of the church is based on the Word rather than apostolic succession, and that all believers through the Holy Spirit can understand the Word.

For Roman Catholics, on the other hand, the pope is the “Vicar of Christ,” and stands in the place of Jesus as the visible head of the Church. Therefore, his teachings are considered infallible and effective over all Christians.

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Because of the emphasis on the authority of the Church over the individual believer, Catholics believe that only the Roman Catholic Church can interpret the Bible. Protestants, on the other hand, believe that all Christians have the authority to interpret the Bible through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The issue of salvation is also a point of contention between the two Christian bodies. Protestants traditionally believe that a person is justified and saved only by faith in Jesus Christ alone. However, Roman Catholics believe it is faith in Christ plus good works that man can be saved. Part of the Catholic salvation process is the seven sacraments: baptism at birth, confirmation, the Eucharist, holy orders, anointing of the sick, matrimony and penance.

"To get access to the grace of God, Catholics have to go through the Catholic Church and the sacraments,” pointed out Tal Davis, interfaith coordinator in the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board (NAMB)’s evangelization group, according to Baptist Press.

“We Southern Baptists think that's unnecessary and, in fact, is a hindrance to God,” Davis said. “We go straight to Jesus Christ for salvation by faith alone. No works are involved. You can't save yourself and you can't add anything to God's plan of salvation."

To Catholics, faith in Christ is only the beginning of salvation, and the individual must engage in good works for eternal salvation. Purgatory, for example, is where man goes after death if he did not sufficiently pay for his sins.

While Protestants recognize the importance of good works, they believe good works is the fruit of their salvation and not part of the process to be saved.

“Simply put, the Roman Catholic viewpoint on salvation implies that Christ’s atonement on the cross was not sufficient payment for the sins of those who believe in Him, and that even a believer must atone or pay for his own sins, either through acts of penance, or time in purgatory,” wrote Got Questions Ministries in its Web site.

Differences aside, Protestants and Catholics do share several core beliefs including the Trinity, the deity of Jesus, and the fact that he was sinless, that he died on the cross for man’s sin and rose from the dead and ascended to heaven.

"When you're talking to Catholics, you don't have to convince them to believe in God, Jesus Christ or the Bible," noted NAMB’s Davis.

Still, the divide between Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church is clear, as respected theologian Dr. R. Albert Mohler recently reiterated.

“I am convinced that he (the pope) is not right – not right on the papacy, not right on the sacraments, not right on the priesthood, not right on the Gospel, not right in understanding the Church,” the seminary president wrote recently in a special column for The Washington Post and Newsweek.

“The Roman Catholic Church believes that evangelicals are in spiritual danger for obstinately and disobediently excluding ourselves from submission to its universal claims and its papacy. Evangelicals are concerned that Catholics are in spiritual danger for their submission to these very claims,” he added.

“We both understand what is at stake.”

According to the CIA World Factbook, Christians make up one-third of the world’s population, with Roman Catholics making up 17 percent, Protestants 5.8 percent, Orthodox 3.5 percent, and Anglicans 1.3 percent. By comparison, Muslims make up 21 percent, Hindus 13.3 percent and Buddhists 5.8 percent.

Catholic Church only true church, Vatican says

Pope Benedict XVI was elected Pope in April 2005.(Plinio Lepri/Associated Press)

The Vatican issued a document Tuesday restating its belief that the Catholic Church is the only true church of Jesus Christ.

The 16-page document was prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a doctrinal watchdog that Pope Benedict used to head.

Formulated as five questions and answers, the document is titled "Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church."

It says although Orthodox churches are true churches, they are defective because they do not recognize the primacy of the Pope.

"It follows that these separated churches and communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation," it said.

The document adds that Protestant denominations — called Christian Communities born out of the Reformation — are not true churches, but ecclesial communities.

"These ecclesial communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood … cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called 'churches' in the proper sense," it said.

The document is similar to one written in 2000 by the Pope — who was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger at the time — that sparked an angry reaction from Protestant groups.

"I suspect there will be some reactions that are rather passionate," said Raphaela Schmid, director of the Becket Institute, a group that advocates religious freedom. "I hope they will not be angry because we all try to understand about each other."

The document is issued by Benedict's successor in doctrinal matters, Cardinal William Levada, and endorsed by the Pope, said Reuters.

The decree comes days after liberal Catholic and Jewish groups spoke out against the Pope's move to authorize the wider use of a traditional Latin mass.

The Tridentine mass includes a prayer for the conversion of Jews. Its use was restricted following the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965.

Pope Benedict issued a decree last week authorizing its broader use in an effort to reconcile with followers of an ultratraditional excommunicated bishop.

The Jewish Anti-Defamation League in New York called it a "body blow to Catholic-Jewish relations."