Catholic Church to France: Don’t Ban the Veils
The Catholic Church has spoken out against banning the veil in France. As reported on Islam Online, the New York Times, and The Daily Mail, they see it as an issue of minority rights and religious liberty. Moreover, it has been pointed out that the veil is seen as non-obligatory by French Muslims, and there is debate in France (and in Muslim nations) about its use. However, if the state were to ban it in public, it might have those women who have not taken up the veil to do so in solidarity with their fellow Muslim women, not because they agree with the veil, but because they feel those who do are being wrongly targeted by religious persecution.
This is right. Yes, we know, Christians are not given the same rights in Muslim nations, but we must remember, Muslims have not always been given the same rights in Christian ones. The failure of the Christians is what should concern us. The question is not, “What do the Muslims do,” but, “What is right?” The Christian response should always be to do what is right, even if others do not do so. We are supposed to be the salt of the earth. We are to lead by example. If we cannot do it, as Christians under grace, how can we expect others to do it?
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it is not about banning any veil, but only banning the full- face veils, as the bourka.
Mary
But even that is discriminatory. I wonder how many women would be upset if they were told “we will ban bikinis in public because it is hostile to women.” I think people should be free to decide their own clothing standards and not be forced to one cultural motif over another. I do think there are problems and abuses by some Muslims on this issue, but so is there by the West by being reactionary. Many Muslim women are proud of this — we might find it odd, but they find fashion odd too. And it would encourage more use of it to try to ban it, I am afraid. The best way is to help the Muslim women themselves want to stop using it.
Well I am against this ban but that might be the American in me influencing my view that is distrustful of intereference in religion.
I see your point about Christian duties Henry and agree. But at some point that Chrisitain duty has to also recognize common sense and real life.
I think Pope Benedict is not so subtly hinting at this when he is talking about the urgent need for political/cultural “reciprocity” from Muslim nations.
On the streets of London and Paris the burqa has become an incendiary statement. Have you seen the angry, hostile looks of the Muslim female eyes staring at you from inside the burqua? Have you seen the angry grimaces of male and female Londoners, as they look back into those eyes? The indigenous populaces of those and other European cities now regard that costume–unfairly or not–as the dress of a terrorist, and the local constabulary are made nervous by it. It should be banned, for the sake of public tranquility.
Digby
I would disagree, because we must remember the kind of anger they get at them for wearing the burqa. There has been a rise of nationalism causing all kinds of anti-Arab division and xenophobia; the women who cling to the the veil do so in part because of the xenophobia. If it wasn’t treated in this fashion, I think they would give it up quicker. If they were forced to give it up, the tranquility would still not be there, but new cultural excuses will be given for the racism.