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The first Christian church in Qatar has no cross, no bell and no steeple. And when five thousand faithful descend on Our Lady of the Rosary this morning to celebrate its historic consecration they pray that no one will notice. “The idea is to be discreet because we don’t want to inflame any sensitivities. There isn’t even a signboard outside the church,” Father Tom Veneracion, the parish priest, said.
For Qatar’s fledgeling Roman Catholic community, the sweeping £7.5 million saucer-shaped building, a 15-minute drive into the desert, is considered a victory, built with the blessing of the current Emir. Cardinal Ivan Dias, the Vatican envoy, is flying in to attend its inauguration along with officials from the Qatari Government.
Critics in the Wahhabi Muslim country have branded it an offence, with one prominent politician calling for a national referendum to determine its fate.
As construction of the church nears completion before its first Easter service, the debate intensifies in the pages of the gas-rich contry’s conservative press. “The cross should not be raised in the sky of Qatar, nor should bells toll in Doha,” wrote Lahdan bin Issa al-Muhanada, a leading columnist in Al-Arab newspaper.
Abdul Hamid al-Ansari, the former dean of the Islamic law school at Qatar University, countered in a competing paper, saying that having “places of worship for various religions is a fundamental human right guaranteed by Islam”.
Sitting in innocuous prefabricated offices where he has ministered to his congregation for the past six years, Father Veneracion, a softly spoken Filipino, told The Times that he was flummoxed by the dispute. “We tried to be discreet and I think there’s an atmosphere generally in the Gulf that’s fairly anti- Christian, but that’s mainly to do with what’s happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has nothing to do with us at all.”
In Doha, the call for a Catholic church has intensified as waves of migrant workers from Christian parts of South Asia and the Philippines arrived in the Gulf, answering the call for cheap labour. In Qatar, natives account for only 200,000 of its 900,000 population.
The Vatican estimates that there are about 100,000 practising Catholics in Qatar, who had to attend underground services until seven years ago, when Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the ruler, granted permission to five denominations to open churches.
When Our Lady of the Rosary opens its doors today, Saudi Arabia will remain the only Gulf state still to ban churches.
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For Qatar, this is a first step in the right direction. I don't accept the sad interpretation of some fundamentalists that there should not be any churches in Muslim countries. There are many Synagogues and Churches in Muslim nations which had survived for centuries.As for not having bells or crosses in the new Mosque, in West it is not easy to build Mosque with Minarets. Many local governments in Europe have explicit laws preventing the same and even when there is no law, the public outcry makes sure that a Mosque which look like one will never be built. There are restrictions even on building Muslim graweyards. As a Muslim living in Munich, Germany, I had to take my pious parents(when they paid me a visit) to a shabby building in one of the most ghettoised part of the city for Friday prayers - a humiliating experience , but probably humility is good if you are a minority.
Zen, Muenchen,
I congratulate the nobility of the Quatar King and his government in allowing a place of worship for christians in Quatar. As I understand this is the true spirit of Islam which preaches the Compassionate and Mercyful Allah. This is a positive sign of hope for our world darkened by mutual mistrust and enemity among varios religions.
As there are mosques, temples and synagogues in predominantly christian areas, why not having churches in predominantly Hindu, Jewish or Muslim areas as well? It is only a natural justice.The King and people of Quatar have done a very noble thing.
P. Kochery
P. Kochery, Howell, US/ NJ
What a sad view that Mr. G Blezard paints of the Catholic Church. I am glad that he is one of the sad minorities that do not share the joys that their neighbours are allowed to worship in freedom and experience their thirst for the satisfaction of their spiritual needs. I say to people like them to break out of the vacuum you live in look to build up the future. A future where all people can worship in freedom. Sadly people like Blezard have closed thier hearts to unity and cordiality a very non Christian attitude. I only feel sad for them.
Nath, Surrey, England,
Let us be quite clear rome has been fornicating with Islam for years and will prove to be as always a great stirer of trouble with any one who opposes her own programe.
This church without a cross then is the engagement of two religions seemingly opposed but in nature one and the same
That union will prove to be the greatest danger to both the christian and the jew.
G Blezard, London, uk
This is a move forward for toleration in the Gulf. However, I disagree with Russ Feldmeier, Maryknoll, New York, USA. This is about freedom of worship and not proselytising. Christians in the Gulf should have freedom of worship, as should Muslims in Europe and the USA. And Atheists and Agnostics everywhere should also have the same freedom not to worship or be bound by such mores
Richard, Bexhill, UK
This is an historical achievement I would say, I appreciate the Father parish priest for his extra-ordinary work. But to note what is behind this approvals of church in Qatar? something to do with trade? who knows?
Paul, Dubai, uae
A good beginning.
But do these principles apply to Muslims in non-Muslim nations?
We Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and others have our sensibilities too!
Regards,
Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India
Migrant workers, such as the Filipino workers in Qatar, will be powerful agents of Christian missionary growth in areas that are known as traditional non-Christian countries. They bring their faith with them to these countries.
Russ Feldmeier, Maryknoll, New York, USA
Latest estimates actually put the population of Qatar at 1,500,000, not 900,000. The estimates were released earlier this year in local papers - previously it had been estimated that the country would only pass the one million barrier this year.
James, Doha,
I'll hold my applause until the first synagogue is erected in Qatar.
E.Y., Toronto, Canada
OK Hamad, let's take the minarets off the mosques in London. And who would the bells offend 15 mins into the desert?
Michael, Dubai,
True Hamad, but an external cross signifies that it is a church - a reminder to the world of what it is there for. The bells remind people when there is a service of worship - a call to worship just as muslims are called
Derek Westwood, Burton-on-Trent, UK
The Bishop of Oxford should read this article and reconsider his endorsement of permitting a muzzaine to call muslims to prayer by loud speaker three times a day in central Oxford
Archie, Greenock, Scotland
Why the bally-hoo? The fact is that the building is a church. It does not need a cross, or bells to be used as a place of worship.
Hamad Lone, London, England