Thanks to the Pope, Now We're Talking

By David Warren
An extraordinary thing happened a week ago. Thirty-eight Muslim scholars and chief muftis, from across the Muslim world, jointly replied to the Pope's speech at Regensburg (and more have associated their names with this document, since). It was presented to the Vatican's envoy at Amman; the full text in English is available through the Islamica magazine website, the Catholic website, Chiesa, and elsewhere. I look through the list of signatories, and they are a "who's who" of the learned leaders of a faith that has always aspired to be led by its most learned.
One of the points the Pope has made, about the difficulty of engaging in dialogue with Islam, is to know who speaks authoritatively for it -- as, for instance, the Pope can speak for Catholic Christians. The document answers that question. In effect, the signatories reply, "Here we are." Here, for Muslims as well as Christians to read, is an authoritative contemporary statement by men who DO speak for Islam. Not for "moderate Islam", whatever that could mean, but for the living religion itself. And they speak in forthright contradiction of the welter of idiotic fatwas issuing from Afghan caves, the Sunni Triangle, and the North London Central Mosque.
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Five non-religious arguments for marriage over living together

Five non-religious arguments for marriage over living together: "Five non-religious arguments for marriage over living together
DENNIS PRAGER


There are enormous differences between being a 'husband' or a 'wife' and being a 'partner,' a 'friend' or a 'significant other'.

I have always believed that there is no comparing living together with marriage. There are enormous differences between being a 'husband' or a 'wife' and being a 'partner,' a 'friend' or a 'significant other'; between a legal commitment and a voluntary association; between standing before family and community to publicly announce one's commitment to another person on the one hand and simply living together on the other.

But attending the weddings of two of my three children this past summer made the differences far clearer and far more significant.

First, no matter what you think when living together, your relationship with your significant other changes the moment you marry. You have now made a commitment to each other as husband and wife in front of almost everyone significant in your life. You now see each other in a different and more serious light.

Second, words matter. They deeply affect us and others. Living with your 'boyfriend' is not the same as living with your 'husband.' And living with your 'girlfriend' or any other title you give her is not the same as making a home with your 'wife.' Likewise when you introduce that person as your wife or husband to people, you are making a far more important statement of that person's role in your life than you are with any other title.

Third, legality matters. Being legally bound to and responsible for another person matters. It is an announcement to him/her and to yourself that you take this relationship with the utmost seriousness. "

Fourth, to better appreciate just how important marriage is to the vast majority of people in your life, consider this: There is no event, no occasion, no moment in your life when so many of the people who matter to you will convene in one place as they will at your wedding. Not the birth of any of your children, not any milestone birthday you may celebrate, not your child's bar-mitzvah or confirmation. The only other time so many of those you care about and who care about you will gather in one place is at your funeral. But by then, unless you die young, nearly all those you love who are older than you will have already died.

So this is it. Your wedding will be the greatest gathering of loved ones in your life. There is a reason. It is the biggest moment of your life. No such event will ever happen if you do not have a wedding.

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What Kind of Catholic Are You?

In the spectrum of Catholicism, where do you fall? Take our quiz--which covers issues like Vatican II, Marian devotion, and married priests--to figure out how you relate to the church.

Click on the link below to take this quiz.

http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=95

Favorite Catholic Movie:

Very Traditional:"The Passion of the Christ"

Moderately Traditional:"Black Robe"

Moderately Progressive:"The Mission"

Very Progressive: "Dead Man Walking"

Favorite Catholic Actor:

Very Traditional:Mel Gibson

Moderately Traditional:Nicole Kidman

Moderately Progressive:Martin Sheen

Very Progressive:Tim Robbins

Favorite Apparition of the Madonna:

Very Traditional:Our Lady of Fatima

Moderately Traditional:Our Lady of Guadalupe

Moderately Progressive:The Madonna of the Streets

Very Progressive: Madonna