Rite and Reason: A secular and relativist Europe has so far proved powerless against Islamisation of the continent, writes Paddy Monaghan.
Historian Bernard Lewis recently predicted: "Europe will be Islamic by the end of the century." Pope Benedict XVI is not sanguine about this prediction. Indeed he is aware of the grave danger Europeans face.
Even before his address in Regensburg last week he had called on Europe to recover its Christian roots "if it truly wants to survive".
He has spoken up for the rights of Islamic converts to Christianity, who live under a death sentence in Islamic countries and increasingly live in fear, even in the West. He has criticised Europe's reluctance to acknowledge its Christian roots for fear of offending Islam's rapidly growing and increasingly influential presence in European countries.
He opposes Turkey's proposed entrance into the European Union: "Turkey has always represented a different continent, in permanent contrast to Europe" [with its Christian roots] (interview with Le Figaro in 2004). The rediscovery of Europe's Christian roots may outrage secularists, but a secular and relativist Europe has so far proved powerless against the Islamisation of Europe; despite the fact that it threatens cherished Western notions of equality of rights and dignity of all people.
Following the activities of fundamentalist Islamics in the UK, many Irish people are beginning to comprehend the threat posed by fundamentalist Islam.
Recently moderate Muslim sheikh Dr Shaheed Satardien courageously highlighted that there was "an ocean of extremism" spreading among Muslims throughout Ireland and that Irish Muslim leaders are failing their young people who are embracing fundamentalism. He also said young Irish Muslims were being drawn into support for terrorism, anti-Semitism and a hatred of western democracy.
On August 16th, The Irish Times reported that 15 representatives of a number of Muslim organisations in Ireland met to discuss the claims of Dr Satardien. These representatives stated that Dr Satardien's comments do not represent the views of the Irish Muslim community and that his press interview was a publicity stunt.
They then challenged the media to investigate these "ludicrous allegations".
If Dr Satardien's allegations are ludicrous then these representatives of the Muslim organisations should have no difficulty in answering the following questions:
1) The Koran seems to justify the killing of infidels (Jews and Christians) in a number of places - one such example is "When you meet the unbelievers in jihad, chop off their heads." Sura 47.4.
Can Sheikh Halawa, the president of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland and Imam of the South Circular Road mosque in Dublin and these other representatives give reassurance that passages such as these from the Koran are not seen by young radicalised Muslims in Ireland as a call to jihad against non-Muslims?
2) Within Islamic literature, the world is divided into two spheres, House of Islam, used to describe land presently ruled by Islam, and House of War, meaning territory currently under the rule of infidels which has not yet been subdued by Islam.
Can these Irish Muslim representatives give reassurance that they don't see or regard Ireland as being part of the House of War?
3) Dr Satardien has "urged the Irish authorities to monitor the activities of foreign Muslim leaders who were entering the country to promote radical fundamentalism".
One of these, surely, is Sheik al-Qaradawi, a radical fundamentalist preacher, who regularly preaches support for suicide bombing, murder of homosexuals and the elimination of Israel.
He recently visited Dublin to chair the 14th session of the European Council for Fatwa. Would these representatives now agree that such militants be banned from entering Ireland?
4) Sheikh Halawa, himself, is also secretary of this European Council for Fatwa, which has its headquarters in the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, Dublin, where the 15 representatives met. Would Sheikh Halawa and theses other representatives give reassurance that they do not support suicide bombings, etc?
5) Would these Muslim representatives agree that any Muslim, who believes that jihad against non-Muslims is their right and duty, be denied obtaining citizenship in Ireland? Would they also agree that the promotion of Sharia Law in Ireland should disqualify Muslims from obtaining citizenship?
I hope that the representatives of the Irish Muslim Community who so quickly accused Dr Satardien of a publicity stunt, will answer the above concerns and thus encourage the many moderate and peace-loving Muslims in Ireland.
Paddy Monaghan is secretary of Alpha Ireland and a Catholic lay missionary