Catholic Cardinal Praises the Reformation and French Revolution!

In what may be an historic first, Belgium's Cardinal Godfried Danneels, said to be one of a small group of papabile, on Nov. 24 argued that:

• Muslims should engage in a more flexible interpretation of their scriptures, even if this prompts changes akin to the Protestant Reformation. "That is fundamental, the willingness of Islam to interpret its texts, the Koran in particular."
• Muslims can integrate into Europe only if they separate "church" and state, as Roman Catholicism did in the course of the French Revolution. "I think, I hope that it is possible to create a European Islam which has gone through its own French Revolution. It can already be found here or there."

Comment: Catholic clergy rarely see these events in a positive light, but the Islamic challenge can turn things upside-down. (November 26, 2004)

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