Swiss bishops criticize country's ban on construction of minarets

[struggle4progress]

Source: Catholic News Service

By John Thavis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The bishops of Switzerland said the country's ban on the construction of minarets, the Muslim prayer towers, represents an obstacle to interreligious harmony.

The ban aggravates interfaith tensions and could have negative repercussions on Christian minorities in Muslim countries, the bishops said in a statement Nov. 29 ...

The bishops said the referendum campaign, promoted by right-wing parties, had used exaggeration and caricature, and demonstrated that "religious peace does not operate by itself and always needs to be defended."

"The decision of the people represents an obstacle and a great challenge on the path of integration in dialogue and mutual respect," the bishops said. Banning the building of minarets "increases the problems of coexistence between religions and cultures," they said ...

Read more: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0905281.htm

[BolivarianHero]

1. The real story here...

People in the Catholic hierarchy have actually made a rational and progressive contribution to the political discourse. I thought President Lugo was the only one capable of such a feat nowadays.

[New Dawn]

4. +1

[Dutch]

2. Who gives a crap what they think either way?

Certainly not DUers 99% of the time.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. I'm an athetist and I definately give a crap and applaud them when they're opposing bigotry...

Which is what that vote in Switzerland was.

[madrchsod]

3. i see the bishops have`t forgotten the golden rule...