Islam's progress in Europe

The migration of people and ideas disturbing the contemporary world is striking a new fear within the European Catholic Church -- fear of losing its territory, and above all its soul.

It sees itself trapped between two fires. The Dalai Lama arrived in Milan greeted by the wealthy avant-garde, while Islam's domineering voice could be heard in the city's poorer districts.

Religion, culture, society, life, thought, and behavior are understood as a whole in Islam. However, in Europe there are Christians in favor of the marginalization of their own church.

An echo of the drama troubling Christian Arabs in the Holy Land could be heard in the Vatican: the Muslims want to build a mosque in front of a Christian shrine.

The Catholic Church has been leading the peace process in Europe for some time; it's unimaginable that fear could block this precious role.

Paradoxically, Catholic volunteers have been the first to provide aid to Muslim immigrants entering Italy. This unprecedented step has shaken the Church's cultural traditions. But why fear the future? A united, multicultural Europe presents an entirely new model. We will change but not for the worst.

-- La Repubblica, Rome