Leading scholar of Islam blasts prelate’s vision as ‘house of cards based on fantasy’
An Italian cardinal who has launched an ambitious multifaith house project for Islam, Judaism and Christianity in Italy’s communist-dominated province of Bologna is facing stiff opposition from locals.
Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, who is president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference and is tipped as one of the top candidates to win the papal election in the next conclave, has been pioneering the “House of Encounter and Dialogue between Religions and Cultures,” in collaboration with the municipality of Bologna, since 2021.
The multifaith house project, which has been inspired by Pope Francis’ own pet project — the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi – is being led by the heads of the Abrahamic Religious Communities of Bologna and Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, and is expected to open next year.
According to the project’s founding document, obtained by Souls and Liberty, the center will offer second-generation immigrant families, teachers and educators the tools to “spread the wealth of knowledge and inter-religious and intercultural culture acquired at the local, European and international level.”
UTOPIAN PROJECT
The document describes the goals of the “House” in utopian language, envisioning it as “the spokesperson of the inalienable premises of human growth and development such as the dignity of each person, religious freedom, cohesion, peace, exchange, and social dialogue, against every cultural stereotype and ethnic and religious intolerance.”
However, on Wednesday residents of Bologna issued a petition demanding a halt to the project, which is located in the Villa delle Rose, a mansion donated by Countess Nerina Armandi Avogli to the municipality of Bologna in 1916, expressly for the purpose of creating a Gallery of Modern Art.
“Villa delle Rose is a space for contemporary art, over the course of its history it has hosted many exhibitions, it is located inside a park of city interest,” the petition stated, noting that Zuppi’s pet project “is not a space dedicated to art.”
“Let’s take action to prevent yet another expropriation like this from being implemented and public spaces for contemporary art from being suppressed,” the petitioners urged signatories.
HOUSE OF CARDS
“No Catholic prelate in the world will admit it or is even aware of the fact, but Muslim-Christian dialogue is seen on the Muslim side as an opportunity to proselytize for Islam and intimidate Christians into fearing to discuss the rampant Muslim persecution of Christians, for fear of harming the dialogue,” Robert Spencer, author of over 25 books on Islam and the Middle East, told Souls and Liberty.
“This multifaith house project in Bologna is yet another house of cards based on fantasy, wishful thinking and willful ignorance regarding Islam and jihad,” lamented Spencer, who’s latest bestseller, Muhammad: A Critical Biography, has garnered significant acclaim in the field of Islamic scholarship.
“It will result in nothing lasting except the continued ignorance and complacency of Catholics regarding the threat of Islamic jihad. Leftist Catholics such as Zuppi who think this is a positive step are being naïve. At best,” Spencer stressed.
POPE FRANCIS’ INTERFAITH SHRINE
In February 2023, Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald hosted the first Catholic service at the Abrahamic Family House – an interfaith shrine born of Pope Francis’ Abu Dhabi concordat with Sunni leader Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb.
Speaking on behalf of Pope Francis at the inauguration of St. Francis of Assisi Church – the Catholic section of the complex housing a mosque and synagogue – Fitzgerald said the shrine could be said to fulfill Isaiah’s vision of “a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
The cardinal, a former president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, told the congregation that Muslims had earlier prayed the Maghrib prayer in the mosque section of the shrine on Thursday evening.
“Remarkably, Cdl. Fitzgerald, an acclaimed Islamic scholar, ignored the fact that the Maghrib prayer contains Surah Al-Fatiha which is one of the most anti-Christian and anti-Jewish texts in the Qur’an,” a Muslim jurist who converted to Christianity told Souls and Liberty.
“The inclusion of this prayer, which is considered indispensable in Muslim worship, tells us everything we need to know about how serious Muslims are about interfaith dialogue,” the convert, who faces the death penalty for apostasy from Islam, added.
After asking Allah to guide Muslims “to the straight path,” verse 7 defines this way as the “path of those whom you have favored, not of those who have earned your anger, or of those who have gone astray,” the convert explained.
Islamic tradition and commentaries from the hadith of Sahih Bukhari to Tafsir al-Jalalayn identify “those who have earned Allah’s anger” as the Jews, and “those who have gone astray” as the Christians.
MUHAMMAD IN HELL
In 2019, Zuppi sparked a cultural and culinary storm after the diocese of Bologna ordered Muslim-friendly pork-free tortellini for the feast of its patron saint Petronius. Nationalist leaders, including populist Matteo Salvini, slammed the move, saying Italy is forgetting its history and identity.
Before this latest surrender by the Church over food, Muslims in Bologna already had marked one great victory over the civilization of the Kuffar, Jihad Watch reported, explaining how the diocese decided to install a grate partially concealing a famous fresco by Giovanni da Modena in the Basilica of St. Petronius showing Muhammad, the founder of Islam, being tormented by devils in Dante’s eighth Circle of Hell.
In 2002, five Muslims linked to Al Qaeda were preparing to blow up the fresco and the Basilica, but were caught just in time. A similar plot by another Islamic group was also foiled in 2006.
“Now visitors must strain to view, from that distance deliberately imposed, Giovanni da Modena’s fresco in the ill-lit chapel; the figure of ‘Mahomet’ can no longer be seen. In the end, the Muslims in Italy did not need to blow up the Basilica or the fresco to obtain their aims; the Church created the conditions that render the fresco scarcely visible,” Jihad Watch reported.
“Part of the West’s artistic heritage is now off limits because of Muslim threats to destroy it; the Muslims have effectively won,” the website lamented.
“I’m reading that there are those who are asking for tortellini without meat. It’s like proposing wine without grapes,” Salvini said. “The problem is some Italians forgetting their roots, denying our history, from tortellini to the crucifix. Should I be the one defending faith and values? I’m a sinner,” Salvini posted on Facebook.
“I really think it’s time for a mosque in Bologna. Some people think otherwise but they are wrong,” Zuppi said. “I also wish Islamic celebrations to be welcomed in schools,” he added, “as already requested by archbishop of Milan Angelo Scola.”
Editor’s note: To learn about the history of how Christendom defeated Islam, check out our book selection by clicking here.
Dr. Jules Gomes, (BA, BD, MTh, PhD), has a doctorate in biblical studies from the University of Cambridge. Currently a Vatican-accredited journalist based in Rome, he is the author of five books and several academic articles. Gomes lectured at Catholic and Protestant seminaries and universities and was canon theologian and artistic director at Liverpool Cathedral. This article is cross-posted with the author’s permission from Souls and Liberty.
Wellington says
Where to begin, eh?
GE says
Sounds more dystopian than utopian to me, Wellington
St Croix says
Oh, yeah. Where indeed?
How about, “what planet do these dupes think they are living on?”
Utopia? Islamic-style only. That’s what they are aiding and abetting.
They worship and bow to the god of humanism, the idea they can create a millennial kingdom of peace by their own hands. Communism always has this vision, a vision without God, but it has a god, their own minds and desires. Not unlike the WEF, indeed, Pope Francis is quite friendly with that lot.
I check in on JW now and then to stay up to date on this fast-paced careening ride to a version of hell, with smiling ersatz peace activists like the Pope at the helm of this ship of fools.
But each time I check in, I scan the headlines with trepidation; it’s always WORSE than I think. And I think it’s pretty bad.
I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and his return to the earth. A la “The Second Coming.” But between then and now, it will be very rough. Very rough. Yes, we should resist, and stand up for what is right and decent. It’s still going to be crazy times on steroids. For many in the world, as JW highlights, those times are here now. The martyrs, like those in Nigeria just now, who were butchered for the name of Jesus, they have already faced it and it has passed for them.
Jesus said keep your eyes on him. This will be a time of many turning to Christ, paradoxically, when they see the absolute evil of Islam and that Christians will come forth and resist, and not deny the name of the Lord. Like those Egyptian men beheaded on the beach in Libya by ISIS. When I feel weak, I think of them.
Troybeam says
Multi Faith is a huge mistake especially if it means Islam involved.
somehistory says
This ambitious creature is a fool, much like the creature who presently holds the seat desired.
What is “intercultural culture”? Will the little girls who go to his church now be wearing burqas? Will their fathers and mothers be separated from one another at church? Will the congregation be told to avoid pork and will they be forced to observe all of the unholy rituals for which mozlums are insane fanatics?
Christians know better than this kind of ‘eating and drinking at the table of demons.’
St Croix says
Dr. Michael Heiser once said that syncretism has been more harmful to the church than anyone realizes.
Fusion with Islam is taking it Next Level.
Oh my. It’s hard to believe they are thinking straight. I must assume they aren’t. They are under deception, and given over to gross delusion! And there may be some truly evil operatives amongst them, who know full well the agenda and what they are doing. Truly wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Emilie Green says
In the end, the Muslims in Italy did not need to blow up the Basilica or the fresco to obtain their aims; the Church created the conditions that render the fresco scarcely visible,” Jihad Watch.
—–
Muslims play for keeps. Winning is even easier when your opponents keep handing you the ball and instruct their teammates to clear a path to the end zone.
FYI says
It is not that allah is simply a different version of the Biblical God.
allah is teaching CONTRARY to the Law of Moses:so islam does not have the Exodus 20 laws or the Two Chief Commandments.
allah clearly is NOT the same.
Pope francis ,the Jesuitical fraudster in Rome thinks allah is the same:but then.like many elderly smiley clergymen,it takes too much effort to figure it out.
Maybe francis thinks pachamama is the same as allah.
Hoi Polloi says
“I really think it’s time for a mosque in Bologna. Some people think otherwise but they are wrong,” Zuppi said. “I also wish Islamic celebrations to be welcomed in schools,” he added, “as already requested by archbishop of Milan Angelo Scola.”
In a Catholic Church not headed by a heretic, Zuppi should be excommunicated, but Fran is at least as zealous for islam as Zuppi, if not more so. The Vatican needs a real housecleaning.
Good for the Italians who are attempting to block this move. Godspeed.
FYI says
islam is neither Biblical nor Abrahamic.In fact in islam,”Abraham was not a Jew”koran 3:67 insists allah{..laughably…} and the teachings of the koran are at odds with the Law of Moses despite allah confirming the Torah koran 3:3
Islam is the kaaba cult.
The new world order has a plan for a new world religion.Perhaps a dhimmi idiot like Zuppi would make an ideal new leader for this cult.
As for pope francis?Is the pope a catholic?well apparently this one isn’t..
A new world religion requires the acceptance that allah and the Biblical God are the same.
They are clearly not!
allah’s greatest enemy is a man called “the King of kings”
{Sahih Muslim vol 5 hadith#5611}
Margaret Curtis says
“The new world order has a plan for a new world religion.”
The farsighted G K Chesterton saw this coming well over a hundred years ago. Writing in “The Flying Inn”, he has one of his characters coin the term “Chrislam”.
SC says
It is time for all members of the catholic church to stop giving contributions to the church until they get a say in their leadership and a way to remove the corrupt or mentally ill cardinals and popes. It is clear from their love of Islam the cardinals and pope no longer do Gods work because Islam’s stated goal is to kill Christians and Jews.
Goofy says
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Christians have been given the Great Commandment to spread the Gospel that all may be saved because there is no other name in which we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
This is the opposite of having dialogues with people who willfully reject the word of God, and this dialogue attitude undermines the Gospel by lending credibility to a demonic, self-righteous cult which knows neither love kor forgiveness.
There is no logical reason to accept Islam as an Abrahamic religion. There is no lineage connecting Ishmael and Muhammad. We have Muhammad’s own words for it that his parents were pagan and that they were burning in hell! So if you insist that Islam is Abrahamic you make Muhammad a liar!
Lacking lineage apart our LORD GOD is spirit and love whilst Allah created himself, and he is the greatest of deceivers!
Allah is the eternal slave owner and if you live up to his evil plans he will make you a slave owner as well in his Paradisical brothel! Allah is not concerned about wiping away the tears in the eyes of his slaves.
God is not a slave owner, and he wants to have a loving family relationship with his creation. He desires us to be His children!
What do you desire? To be a favourite slave or a child of God?
OLD GUY says
No such thing as DIVERSITY in islam. Better not sit with your back to them in your multi faith pews.
Scotsman48 says
Meanwhile muslims in Italy, Europe and the rest of the World are laughing in the faces of those fools that think islam means peace.
islamism is the new nazism.