September 8th, 2010
01:33 PM ET

Vatican: Quran burning 'outrageous'

Burning the Quran would an "outrageous and grave gesture," the Vatican said Wednesday, joining a chorus of voices pleading with a small Florida church not to burn Islam's holy book on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The Vatican body responsible for dialogue with other religions said expressed "great concern" about the plan by Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it would be a "disrespectful, disgraceful act." She was speaking Tuesday night at a State Department dinner in honor of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Her statement came a day after the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, warned that the plan "could cause significant problems" for American troops overseas.

But the pastor of the Florida church, Terry Jones, has rebuffed pleas to call off the event, saying radical Islamists are the target of his message.

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Filed under: Christian • Islam • Religion • Vatican
soundoff (78 Responses)
  1. philip12

    So let me get this straight. A bible burning is going to endanger foreign militia? How so? Is one side going to go on some sort of killing spree in retribution...over a holy book burning? Are both sides really that devoted?

    September 8, 2010 at 9:22 pm | Report abuse |
  2. philip12

    JenniferLA. Those bystanders you speak of. Sure, many German peoples knew of and resisted the plot. But as more and more of their flag waving neighbors turned them over to the authorities, more and more of them withdrew to silently watch in horror that wich they willed to resist. But dare not. Not now. What plan, no matter how noble, could withstand your very friends plotting continuously?

    September 8, 2010 at 9:30 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Stacy

    Hello all,
    I will preface this by saying I was raised in a Christian home, but we were taught to respect and to understand all religions of the world. My mother made it clear that though we practiced Christianity, it did not put us "above" anyone – or any other religion. One of the best gifts she gave us was the gift of compassion, love, understanding and acceptance of other human beings.

    As a result, I grew up with a broad view of religion(s) and I am not the least bit afraid of, ignorant of, or intolerant of any other religion. I have traveled the world over, and have had the pleasure of visiting many countries that are predominantly Muslim. Islam is a religion of peace, and tolerance. I get disappointed and sad and angry when I hear people who know NOTHING about Islam make derogatory comments or say completely ignorant things about Islam and Muslim people.

    I am sure I do not speak for all Christians (obviously I don't speak for the guy in Florida!), but I can tell you that my belief is that Jesus would never sanction the burning of the Koran; and furthermore, he would be the first to volunteer to help build the mosque at the World Trade Center.

    Love, Compassion, Tolerance, Forgiveness, Acceptance, Respect, Understanding .... all of these are the absolute CORNERSTONES of every religion that I am aware of. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism – just to name a few.

    The preacher in Florida will be judged on his actions by a far greater power than any of us have. He won't need to worry about any of us think; or what the media has to say. He needs to worry about how he is going to justify this after he passes into what we Christians refer to as the Kingdom of Heaven.

    September 8, 2010 at 9:40 pm | Report abuse |
  4. steven

    I have a very easy solution to this problem. DON'T BROADCAST IT !!! But that would require the media to take a pass on the ratings. Most likely we will see what happens.

    September 8, 2010 at 10:13 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Jim

    This guy just wants to be famous; he's pathetic. Jesus would tell him he's a demon.

    September 8, 2010 at 11:32 pm | Report abuse |
  6. jody

    Shut up Vantican.
    Vantican you are fake followers of Christ.
    Quran belongs to Satan and is a tool used by Satan to lead people astray. It has led so many people to hell, diverting people from the real God Jesus. Should burn all Qurans in the world.

    September 8, 2010 at 11:51 pm | Report abuse |
  7. SAYYED MOUSAWI

    HOLY QURAN THE FINAL BOOKS OF HEAVEN TO ALL HUMANITY
    TO REMIND THEM THE REALITY OF THIS RELIGION ISLAM

    September 9, 2010 at 1:14 am | Report abuse |
    • Retired

      Doesn't history show that Muhammad cut off the heads of 600 young men that refused to accept Islam teachings? Yes, Islam is a peaceful religion for sure...........

      September 17, 2010 at 3:56 pm | Report abuse |
  8. oc

    Muslims couldn't take any criticism at all. If the "god" they believe in is real, then their "god" can protect them, there is no need for Muslims to go crazy and send out threats. If you take a look at them when they go ballistic, protesting and threatening to kill they indeed look like demons. They look like what they believe.

    September 9, 2010 at 2:19 am | Report abuse |
  9. bill

    The Quran teaches to do away with the infidels so why not burn them?...

    September 9, 2010 at 7:42 am | Report abuse |
  10. hari

    when you try to take a bible, bhag geeta, or non-islamic religious idols to saudi arabia the customs dump it on the ground and stomp it in full view before trashing it. any answers to that?

    September 9, 2010 at 9:02 am | Report abuse |
  11. ben cox

    why dont we hold the pasteor for 48 hours, he would have no reason to burn the quarn if it isnt on 9/11, reason for holding, burning w/o a permit

    September 9, 2010 at 11:53 am | Report abuse |
  12. Aisya

    If that guy thinks dat by burning our HOLY QURAN, this will stop us from praying to Allah, then he is totally wrong. Just bare in mind what he's planning is very bad. He must be kill. He burn Quran, then we'll see what Allah will do to him later. He will suffer thousand times if he proceed this.

    juz to let you know bout this, Islam teaches us to respect other religion then it wont be any event on burning bible or any holy books of other religion.=) So i guess the same goes to other religion, respect others too right?

    what's up with this priest ? you think Muslims r afraid of you? No, we are not. I hope Allah send His "army" and punish you priest. We are praying for that, Insya ALLAH.

    September 10, 2010 at 8:38 am | Report abuse |
    • Retired

      Wow, you sure sound like one of those compassionate and easy going muslims. Kill someone for burning a book? Yes, Islam, the religion of peace and tranquility.

      September 17, 2010 at 3:54 pm | Report abuse |
  13. ABC55def

    Sorry guys, but you are all wrong. All of you. Jesus being invoked into politics like you are doing is the ultimate sin; but now that you did it...remember he judged, criticized and condemend people left and right – you can't escape that basic fact. He came to earth partially to do just that, he slammed the Hypocrites, the Pharisees, the High Priests, the wealthy, he physically attacked the money-changers making a living at the Temple – he had backbone and spoke out for most of his career as a preacher. To suggest otherwise is absolutely a betrayal of the New Testament. Sorry to see that your devotion to modern day notiions of PC has led you astray... it will be easier for you to lead a camel through the eye of a needle than to enter the kingdom of Heaven

    September 10, 2010 at 3:15 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Brittany

    so my opinion is its freedom of religion but its still wrong, think about this what if the hijackers had been Christian? its something to think about isn't it? would we be burning the bible? i don't think so we would talk about how those few people don't represent us all, but isn't that exactly what the Muslims are trying to get across? we are such a hypocritical religion. we say we accept everyone, but if they are just a little bit different we don't accept them.

    September 11, 2010 at 9:34 am | Report abuse |
  15. Retired

    What gets me about all this is the media has blown this up to something bigger than it is. I don't seem to recall much media attention given to the muslims that dragged 4 American soldiers through the streets in Iraq, hung them up naked on a bridge where they hang for days. No sir, didn't hear much about that at all.

    September 17, 2010 at 3:51 pm | Report abuse |
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