It's not so much an obsession with Islam, it's a revived obsession with religion that is so disturbing. I had thought we'd put this sort of thing behind us and looked forward to a more rational world. But we seem to have had some sort of relapse.

alan, germany,

Incredibly stereotypical comment Jane.Firstly,there are plenty of highly skilled Asians in the UK,so much so that the functionality of the entire economy would be reduced dramatically had they left.Secondly, Asian or South American, tolerant people would be tolerant regardless of race or religion!

Nubla, Liverpool, UK

We are obsession with Islam because our defence industry can make money out of being at war in Irag and Afganistan

Before it made money out of being against Russia

It is more more profitable an obsession as weapons get to be used and reordered

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire

UK should have looked to south america for your labour need then you would not be facing such intolerance and people who refuse to integrate.

jane, singapore, Singapore

It is disturbing to read that the Catholic Church and other religions are not directing their attention to environmental issues. All religions have a large role to play in saving the planet earth. They should start by reducing their flocks instead of supporting irresponsible population growth.

Jim Wills, Brisbane, Australia

"Yes it's a good idea to have a Church in Saudi Arabia.Can some one tell me how many Mosque are there in Vatican City ?

Jami, Manchester, UK"

Saudi Arabia = 829,996 sq miles
Vatican City = 0.17 sq miles

Are you really that thick? non catholic christian churches? Plenty of mosques in England!

Alex, London,

Why don't we forbid the building of any more mosques in any
part of the West until Churches are allowed in the Islamic world, and those who are or become Christians are free from threat and persecution.

Fred, Liverpool, UK

Christian is more than a religion, but its a relationship between god and yourself. The only one thing that Christian not similar with other religion is the "Love" to other people as god loves us, but not to threat people to convert by violence.

Randy, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

My concern is that they are forgetting how people who believe in Mohammed can not accept any other way to God. There may be one God, but I strongly disagree that Allah is the same God as the God of other faiths. There is only one true God and only one way, Mohammed.

Tabatha, Ft Lauderdale, US

Jami in Manchester asked how many Mosques there are in Vatican City. None is the answer, but according to a report by CESIS (the Executive Committee of Security and Information Services) published in May 2007, there are 735 mosques in Italy.

Mary, London, UK

Religious tolerance cannot be a one-way street.

Also it does not seem that life is sacred under the muslim religion - too much intolerance & hatred for my taste.

We daily hear of muslim martyrs on suicide missions to kill innocent civilians....

Richard, Bucharest,

My concern is that they are forgetting how people who believe in Jesus Christ can not accept any other way to God. There may be one God, but I strongly disagree that the God of Abraham, Jacob, and Issac is the same God of other faiths. There is only one true God and only one way, Jesus.

Tabatha , Ft. Lauderdale, USA

I'm all for religious debate and interfaith dialogue, but let's have a level playing field. If Christianity and Judaism can be discussed, criticised, dissected and analysed using rational debating techniques, reason and logic, then so can Islam. It's not good enough for Muslims to say otherwise.

Tim Burton, Sutton Coldfield, England

Islam this and Islam that. Why can't people just leave things alone. Fear is what drives this Pope and it is silly. He feels threatened, he can blame his own ignorance and fear. Please do your own thing.

Abraham Manning, Bristol,

The fact that Churches are not allowed to be built in Saudia Arabia shows how backward Islam is and inward looking

john, durham, uk

"All religions are equal", says Cardinal Tauran. Does this mean he thinks all concepts of God are equal, or that there's no difference between one religion's reverence for life and condemnation of killing (of any species) and another's sanctioning or even recommending it?

jane, washington, usa

We need a strong public statement that says "Being muslim affords you no special treatment here. We respect freedom of speech. You should be grateful that you live in a country that treats muslims quite differently from the way muslim countries treat non-muslims." Any unhappy muslims can leave.

Nick, Rotherham, UK

Yes it's a good idea to have a Church in Saudi Arabia.Can some one tell me how many Mosque are there in Vatican City ?

Jami, Manchester, UK

I find it ironic that on one hand the Catholic Church is espousing equality among the world's religions while on the other hand prohibiting non-Catholic, baptized Christians from partaking in the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. Quite inconsistent, I must say.

Charles, Palm Beach, U.S.A.

Yes, we must all remember that Islam is only just ONE religion among the multitude of religions in the World.

It's about time too, that Islamic countries adapt to the presence of Christianity by allowing Christian churches to be built in places like Saudi Arabia.

J. S. C., Monmouth, Maine, USA

It's actually quite logical that a special dialogue exist among Judaism, Christianity and Islam, for they are all three derivative, interrelated manifestations of the same monotheistic worship of the transcendent Sky-Mountain-Thunder God. Except qua Mary, the immanent Goddess is given little shrift.

Laurence Tenney, San Francisco,

A pity: many of us do in fact think that Islam is irrational and violent at its core, Mohammed was a conqueror an d imposed the Quran as if directly from God and so not be debated or investigated. It's all about power. Jesus went to Calvary, Mohammed took up his sword to conquer Mecca.

Fati, Dalston, UK

Why do we bother trying to appease muslims with these papal visits and prayers at mosques? Their message is "convert or kill", the sooner we realise that the sooner we will begin to defend our own culture and modernist way of life properly.
Oppression of women and other faiths is Islamic policy!

gareth, monmouth, uk