Posted by
Cary Wesberry on Saturday, March 22, 2008 7:42:38 PM
It marks the period between Good Friday, which commemorates Jesus' crucifixion, and Easter Sunday, which marks his resurrection.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said of Allam before the service that anyone who chooses to become a Catholic of his or her own free will has the right to receive the sacrament.
Lombardi said the pope administers the sacrament "without making any 'difference of people,' that is, considering all equally important before the love of God and welcoming all in the community of the Church."
In the Il Giornale interview, Allam explained his complicated relationship with Islam and his affinity for Israel.
"I was never practicing," he was quoted as saying. "I never prayed five times a day, facing Mecca. I never fasted during Ramadan."
Yet he said he did make the pilgrimage to Mecca, as is required of all Muslims, with his deeply religious mother in 1991.
Married to a Catholic, with a young son and two adult children from his first marriage, Allam indicated in the interview that he would have no problem converting to Christianity.
He said he had even received Communion once -- when he was 13 or 14 -- "even though I knew it was an act of blasphemy, not having been baptized."
Allam also explained his decision to entitle a recent book "Viva Israel" or "Long Live Israel," saying he wrote it after he received death threats from Hamas.
"Having been condemned to death, I have reflected a long time on the value of life. And I discovered that behind the origin of the ideology of hatred, violence and death is the discrimination against Israel. Everyone has the right to exist except for the Jewish state and its inhabitants," he said. "Today, Israel is the paradigm of the right to life."
Now, if we can convince about one billion more to do the same as the brave ex-Muslim mentioned above we'll have won the war! Someone tell the Pope to get busy, he's got a great deal of work to do. If more Muslims would simply embrace Israel the majority of the world would have peace. I did, and I didn't even have to convert.
That's right, I'm a Jew-embracing Christian and proud of it. I'll support Israel's safety and security as long as Christ continues to grant me everlasting life. The story above gives me hope. The fate of the world is tied to Israel unlike any other nation. Its existence is necessary in order to win the war against Islamo-fascism. Much like the United States, which I firmly believe is a Promised Land as well. Make your way to the Father through His son Christ. If an ex-Muslim, albeit a Muslim-hating ex-Muslim, can do it; anyone can!