The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob ...

I realize that most people here do not consider themselves to be people of faith, but I cannot let go of something I heard this morning. So, please bear with me or, if you prefer, just skip this one...

Those of us who do follow the Abrahamic traditions share much. We share a faith in the one true God, the Creator of all that is seen and unseen. We believe He has revealed His will to us through the Prophets. We have much in common. More, I believe, than our differences.

The leader of my Church, Pope Leo, recently visited the Blue Mosque (the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) in Istanbul. I have also been there. It is beautiful. It is spiritual. It is transcendent. And, while there, I prayed. Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, also prayed when visiting the Blue Mosque. Pope Leo chose not to pray while there or with the Iman's at all. As a Roman Catholic, I am disappointed.

With all that is happening in the world today, he chose to focus in that moment on differences rather than similarities.

I don't want to be too critical of Pope Leo. He is new and I don't really know much about him. But in this act, to pray or not to pray in a "different" house of God, I think we can see and draw lesson. For me, I will always choose to strive for unity and understanding, not divisiveness.

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Pretzel · 70-79, M

I'm not Catholic nor am I religious but I understand his decision.

His teachings have taught him that approach to God is only through Jesus Crist while the Islamic faith sees him as a prophet but not Mediator.

He would no doubt find it offensive not to include Jesus in the prayer while the Islamic might offended if he did.

But that doens't prevent them from working together toward peace.

BohoBabe · M

@Pretzel That's kinda how I see it. I'm an Atheist, but if I legit believed Catholicism was the correct religion, I wouldn't pray in a non-catholic temple. It would be a sin.

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@BohoBabe No. It is most definitely not ever a sin to pray.

BohoBabe · M

@sarabee1995 In Catholicism, it's a sin to go to a non-catholic temple specifically to pray. If you happen to find yourself in a Protestant church, you can pray and it's not a sin. But going to a Protestant church in order to pray or do the rituals of that religion, that's considered a sin according to the Catholic Church. It's really more about going to a non-catholic temple in order to engage in "heretical" rituals.

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@BohoBabe Well, yes, of course. I think just about any faith on earth objects when it's members engage in the traditions, rituals, and practices of other faiths.