Cardinal Turkson apologizes for video, denies anti-Islam bias
October 17, 2012
Cardinal Peter Turkson has apologized for screening a video about the growth of Islam in Europe for participants at the Synod of Bishops.
The YouTube video, “Muslim Demographics,” which called attention to the rise in Europe’s Muslim population, was criticized by some Synod fathers as an attack on Islam. A Vatican Radio report described the film in unsparing words, as a “fear-mongering presentation of statistics attempting to show how Islam is conquering Europe and the rest of the world.”
Cardinal Turkson, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, insisted that his intention was not to denigrate Islam. “The point was to highlight the demographic situation as a result of the anti-life tendency and culture in the Western world,” he said.
“For me to attack Islam would be to attack my own family,” said that cardinal, a native of Ghana. “My paternal uncle was a Muslim and he took care of me when I was a boy, and when he grew old I took care of him until he died.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Cardinal Turkson: “For me to attack Islam would be to attack my own family” (Vatican Insider)
- Video on Islam's growth sparks debate at Synod (CWN, 10/15)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: Justin8110 -
Oct. 19, 2012 9:47 PM ET USA
If we Catholics were as serious about our faith as Muslims many more Muslims would be Catholic. A solution to the Islamification of the West is a robust Catholic population not afraid to risk their lives to bring those estranged from Christ and His Church to both.
-
Posted by: chady -
Oct. 18, 2012 11:23 AM ET USA
I have watched the video. I think the members of the synod who objected are being a might bit sensitive.The video seemed to express genuine concerns about the decline of the Western Christian population. I could not detect any bias and the facts presented speak for themselves. The underlying message was the need for us to evangelise and spread the gospel values. I have worked with both sunni and shia. They very much respect non muslim people who show Koranic values in their day to day lives.
