Islamic Persecution In Pakistan

In what seems like a chapter from the 'Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam', an attorney for the American Center for Law & Justice recently interviewed for a Catholic Radio & Television Network (CRTN) program highlighted discrimination Pakistani Christians face in the Islamic country. The attorney reaffirmed that...

* Anti-blasphemy laws mean that "Basically if you say anything derogatory about Islam you can be prosecuted"

* The Pakistan Penal Code imposes the death penalty for cases where "Anyone who, by words either spoken or written or by visible representation defiles" Mohammed's name. The penal code also prohibits "saying derogatory words about religious personalities"

* Anyone can file a blasphemy complaint against another person, and the law is frequently used "for personal gain" - e.g. to settle disputes among individuals

*"A lot" of Pakistanis have been persecuted because of their Christian religion

* A Muslim may be punished by a simple fine, but in the event of a complaint of blasphemy against a Christian, "your whole life may be ruined. Your property could be vandalized. You could go to jail for life."

* Christians in Pakistan are treated as "de facto second-class citizens"

* "Most" of the cases brought under anti-blasphemy laws in Pakistan involve "false allegations"

* Even though there are no anti-conversion laws in Pakistan, "the society in general would not tolerate a [Muslim] person getting converted [to Christianity]"

* Police may act as 'judge and jury' against Christians, even applying punishment (e.g. torture) to accused Christians

* Muslims may take laws into their own hands, resulting in vandalism of Christians' property - and even death

The attorney called for "a lot" of prayers.

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Ecumeniacs will tell you it's a victory, but would St. Paul?

Apparently, a Catholic radio station and an Islamic radio station in Guinea Bissau have agreed to air each other's programs. While is certainly great that Catholic truth will presented to those who listen to the Islamic radio station, how can it be good that Muslims will be allowed to speak to Catholics about the Islamic faith on a Catholic radio station?

St. Paul tells us...

"Do not be yoked with those who are different, with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ with Beliar? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said: 'I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore, come forth from them and be separate,' says the Lord, 'and touch nothing unclean; then I will receive you and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.'" (St. Paul, 2 Cor. 6:14-18)

St. John says...

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works." (St. John, 2 Jn. 1:10-11)

A hearer of St. John the Apostle said those who "corrupt by evil teaching the faith of God" and those who listen to such a person will be damned...

"Do not err, my brethren: the corrupters of families will not inherit the kingdom of God. And if they who do these things according to the flesh suffer death, how much more if a man corrupt by evil teaching the faith of God, for the sake of which Jesus Christ was crucified? A man become so foul will depart into unquenchable fire; and so also will anyone who listens to him." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, a hearer of St. John the Apostle, c. 110 A.D.)

As St. Ephraem the Syrian, Doctor of the Church has said...

"Fly from them and from their doctrines; do not go near them, for you know that whoever is found in a place where outrage has been offered to the king has to come into court to be questioned according to law. Even if he can prove he was not guilty he will be condemned for want of zeal. Do not sit with heretics nor associate with apostates."

If it was truly necessary to "learn each other’s faiths very well" in order to live together, why doesn't Scripture teach this? Why doesn't Apostolic example or the Early Church Fathers confirm this? Doesn't Scripture rather point to converting the one in error to the Truth? Do we really think Jesus would have allowed Muslims (had they existed at the time) to preach to His flock? Didn't He rather instruct His apostles as follows...

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Mt. 28:19-20)

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