Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 1:01am
Bishop bars Muslim prayers in cathedral
The Bishop of Córdoba has rejected the Islamic community's request to allow Islamic prayer in the city's famous Mosque-Cathedral, saying the measure would "generate confusion" and lead to "religious indifference."
Mnsr Asenjo went on to say the Christian roots in Córdoba deserve to be respected, and under these, the Catholics can live in peace with the believers of other faiths. He added the Bishopric had valid legal documents saying the building can only be used by the Catholic Church, LifeSite.net reported.
The diocese, however, wants to maintain relations of respect and value it has had with the Muslims, Asenjo said.
The Junta Islámica de España made a formal request Dec. 24 to the Vatican for them to be allowed to pray in the Mosque. The group's president Mansur Escudero organised an Islamic pray-in Thursday at the doors of the Córdoba Mosque to protest the action.
"We have the sincere wish that centre could become an ecumenical centre where all believers could pray," he said. "This prayer is to show that we do not demand the ownership of the temple or a shared liturgy, only that we have the sincere wish that center could become an ecumenical centre where all believers could pray."
Mnsr Asenjo went on to say the Christian roots in Córdoba deserve to be respected, and under these, the Catholics can live in peace with the believers of other faiths. He added the Bishopric had valid legal documents saying the building can only be used by the Catholic Church, LifeSite.net reported.
The diocese, however, wants to maintain relations of respect and value it has had with the Muslims, Asenjo said.
The Junta Islámica de España made a formal request Dec. 24 to the Vatican for them to be allowed to pray in the Mosque. The group's president Mansur Escudero organised an Islamic pray-in Thursday at the doors of the Córdoba Mosque to protest the action.
"We have the sincere wish that centre could become an ecumenical centre where all believers could pray," he said. "This prayer is to show that we do not demand the ownership of the temple or a shared liturgy, only that we have the sincere wish that center could become an ecumenical centre where all believers could pray."