One of my students is the niece of the priest in the video below, Monsignor John Esseff. Monsignor Esseff is widely known as a spiritual master who works with the Institute for Priestly Formation. He is also Lebanese and understands much about Middle Eastern culture and Islam. His video below is his call for discussion with Osama Bin Laden to help him understand Christianity.
Fascinating.
July 3, 2009 at 7:09 am
Spellbinding…but forgetting that Allah and Jesus both come from the Jews. There will be no peace as long as we have, not bin Laden, but Barack Obama…a man of such profound arrogance and ignorance that he should wake all before he calls down from heaven upon us the wrath upon the fools that elected him.
July 3, 2009 at 7:23 am
Personally, I think the Mgsr is misguided. If he is speaking in the broader sense that we are all called to bring our enemies to Christ, then I understand. But if he seriously believes that Jesus calles him personally to Osama, I would think Jesus would actually call someone who speaks Arabic, since that's Osama's native tongue. So, since the bulk of the video is in English, one has to wonder for whom it is REALLY intended.
July 3, 2009 at 5:17 pm
It is my understanding that Obama studied at Oxford. (or maybe Cambridge, but I think Oxford.)
His English is said to be very good.
July 3, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I suppose he feels he has to start with a compliment, even though Bin Laden had little to do with defeating the Soviets.
The Lion of the North, Ahmad Shah Massoud, who opposed the Taliban was much more influential in ousting the Russians.
July 4, 2009 at 12:28 am
eulogos:
So, B. Hussein Obama studied at Oxbridge? ;-)))
I know it must be a typo, but still – it is funny.
Blessings, Mum26
July 6, 2009 at 10:14 am
Misguided I would agree. If he had called for Osama's conversion that would be something. Instead we get the usual nonsense of our call to build a civilisation of love and peace. Sure, that is a byproduct of Catholicism but it's not the main focus. Why did God make you? To Know Him, love Him, serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next.