I wrote this about two years ago while in Adana Turkey and thought it worthy to post again, especially since I am seeing it again — now in Israel.

Europe is full of magnificent churches—Gothic, Baroque and even modern. Their steeples and crosses still dominate much of the skyline. They stand as impressive monuments to the Christian faith that built the free world and brought beauty and justice out of a pagan, barbarian wilderness.

Today the churches in Europe are becoming museum pieces recalling the lost faith and  collapsing backbone of Europe. (Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral to left)

Paganism is on the rise – and along with it something just as alarming. The skyline will soon change, not only for Europe but for the whole Western World, including the United States. You will soon see new structures piercing the sky!

But before I tell you how your view of today’s horizon will change, let me tell you about what happened to Turkey. Then you will see that it can happen—and if we don’t move quickly, it will happen again.

Janet and I are now in Turkey with our Skyline Productions video crew working on our next documentary Apostolic Fathers for the Footprints of God series. We are driving/flying with our crew from one Christian site to another. This country is often called the Second Holy Land—why? Because it contains more Christian sites than anywhere other than Israel.

For a few examples: Antioch is where we were first called Christians, Tarsus was the home town of St. Paul, and Lystra the home city of St. Timothy.

But, Turkey is also home to the Seven Church of Revelation. The Blessed Virgin Mary lived here with the Apostle St. John. Selçuk still boasts the tomb of St. John (see picture to right). Istanbul (Constantinople) was once a proud patriarchate of the Catholic Church and home to Ecumenical Councils.

Actually, the first Seven Ecumenical Councils were held here, including Constantinople, Chalcedon, and Nicea—from which we got Nicene Creed recited each Sunday. And don’t forget the Council of Ephesus which defined Mary as the Theotokos, the Mother of God.

And if you remember your New Testament, you will recognize cities that were in today’s Turkey: Galatians, Ephesians and Colossians. Turkey is also the land of martyrs, Fathers and Doctors of the Church like Sts. Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, and Basil the Great to name just a few.

So, when I look out over the horizon from my hotel room window, do I see the beautiful churches that once marked the skyline of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)?

Nope. Sorry. I see something else.

From my window just now, I counted no less than nineteen minarets! What are minarets? They are the tall slender towers above an Islamic mosque from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer (Notice two pictures from my hotel window–one wide shot with no less than five minarets; the second at the bottom of this blog showing a large mosque across the river. There is only one Catholic Church within a hundred miles of where I am now).

What happened to the churches? Let’s go to Istanbul together and I will show you! I have frequently visited the Hagia Sophia—the Church of Holy Wisdom. It was the glory of Christendom and for over a thousand years it had the largest dome — until St. Peter’s was built in Rome. Many people thought the dome stayed up by a direct miracle of God. How else could something so expansive stay up without crashing down?

But when the Muslims conquered Contantinople they defaced the church, painted over the golden icons of our Blessed Mother and turned the spectacular church into a mosque. The crosses came down and the minarets went up.

Today the Hagia Sophia is a museum! (picture of modern Hagia Sophia to left)

It has been predicted that within fifty years Europe’s skyline will change. It will become a Muslim empire. Steeples will come down and minarets will go up. No longer will you hear bells – you will hear muezzin wailing from the balconies of slender minarets.

And America? We are losing our faith too, and our backbone. Will we be far behind Europe? I don’t think so. Islam has 1 billion followers, many of who will stop at nothing short of world domination. They won’t call it that, of course. They will say the world is now as Allah willed it.

And like the Hagia Sophia—your church, and the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC and St. Patrick’s in New York will still pierce the skyline, but no longer as steeples. They will sport the latest in minarets. And our grandchildren’s’ children will wonder why we caved in so easily—why we lost our faith and our backbone.

Oh, so you don’t believe it can happen to us? Neither did the Byzantine Empire, the powerhouse of Christianity in the East! But, the East fell to Islam and the West may fall as well. Maybe not by military might, but by religious indifference, population control, and secularism. Islam can overtake us by persistence, population growth, and religious fervor.

What was once part of a powerful Christian Empire is now 99% Muslim. Out of a population of about 75 million, there are only 60,000 Christians (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestants, etc.). The past screams to us but will we listen.

Prepare to see the new skyline; prepare to be awakened at 4 AM with the wail of the muezzin.

Far-fetched? Read this article about Holland.

St. Ignatius, pray for us. Sts. Polycarp, Irenaeus and John Chysostom, pray for us!

Koran or Bible? Michael had to answer that question.

Michael lived in Saudi Arabia and was a member of a Sunni Muslim family. His story is educational especially for those who want to understand Islam. Many people think it is impossible or at least very difficult for a Muslim to become a Christian. Michael’s story will be instructive. Michael said he wrote it to bring glory to God Almighty. It is a long story of 21 pages and well worth reading.

He begins: When I thought about writing my testimony many things came to my head. Should I write it in order to share my Catholic and Christian faith with others? Should I add more reasons that will help others convert and see the light of the truth and the darkness of false teachings? What do I want from sharing my conversion?

I decided to write my story as it is with nothing made up. Since I am trying to be honest and of course I can share more reasons about why Islam is a false religion or why Protestantism is not for me.

To read the whole story, click here.

Church torched by Muslims in Cairo Egypt

ROME, DEC. 24, 2011 (Zenit.org).- For Christians in so many countries around the world — Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt, and others — and even for Christians in Bethlehem, the celebration of Christmas means facing particular difficulty.

In Iraq, for example, where another round of suicide bombings on Thursday killed some 70 people, there will be no Midnight Mass.

Iraq’s Christians spend Christmas in “great fear,” Archbishop Louis Sako, the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Kirkuk, northern Iraq, told Aid to the Church in Need.

Christian prisoners in China

He said that it will not be possible to hold Midnight Mass because of the high security risk — all services over the festive period will be held in daylight — and Christians are not displaying Christmas decorations outside their homes.

In Pakistan, meanwhile, the Fides news agency reported that more than 2,500 police will be protecting Christian churches during Christmas. Local sources told the agency that some 430 churches in Pakistan will have “special security measures.”

Victim of Christmas Day Muslim Terrorist bombat St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Nigeria

“There are about 2,500 police, including snipers, to protect the faithful Christians at Christmas,” said a police spokesman in Lahore, in Punjab, home to the majority of Christians and their places of worship. “We have given priority to 38 churches, 20 of which are widely attended by foreign Christians participating in the Christmas Mass.”

Christians make up about 3% of the Pakistani population. As reported to Fides by official sources, over the past five years, nearly 5,000 people have been victims of attacks by fundamentalist groups in Pakistan: a quarter of the victims are Christians.

Few local Christians left in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Two praying at place of Nativity.

In Bethlehem, few Christians remain to celebrate Christmas at the site of Jesus’ birth. [The Christians are squeezed between two forces: Israel and Muslims. They are leaving in droves.]

But Christmas “is an opportunity to encourage [these Christians] to stay there,” said the Franciscan custos of the Holy Land, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, “and become more anchored to their town and to their identity.”

Imagine Christians in China, North Korea and many other such places. Lord, bless them all.

Steve on air with Drew Mariani

Monday at 4 PM Eastern: “The Stones Cry Out: the Apologetics of Archaeology” with Al Kresta on Ave Maria Radio. Link to Archaeology article mentioned on Al’s show.

Monday at 6 PM Eastern: Catholic Answers Live: “The War Against Christmas” Click here for the Islamic Scholar saying that saying that “Merry Christmas” is more evil than murder or adultery (**see below).

Archived show: LIsten now, download for later.

Tuesday at 9 AM Eastern: “A Virtual Tour of Bethlehem and the Nativity” with Teresa Tomeo on Ave Maria Radio (for info on our pilgrimage together in April visit Teresa and Steve in Israel).

My run from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, click here.

Wednesday at 3:15 Eastern: “A Virtual Tour of Bethlehem and the Nativity” with Drew Mariani on Relevant Radio.

Steve and Teresa doing a radio show together

***  On Catholic Answers Live we discussed the Muslim cleric announcing that to say “Merry Christmas” is more evil than to murder or fornicate.

Do we want guys like this making the laws in our land, or even influencing us with their Sharia Law? Listen carefully and then decide to protect our life and faith and truth for our children and grandchildren.

What does this profound Catholic philosopher and theologian teach about Islam? Take the time to educate yourself against this Muslim heretic here. Peter Krreft’s  talk is about defending faith and freedom and understanding the truth of reality.

On a recent flight on Royal Brunei Airlines I was intrigued when they began to pray an Islamic prayer in Malay over the intercom system. You will hear it below – even making out the name Allah.

The prayer was in written form on the TV screen in front of each seat. Can you imagine the Our Father officially prayed on a plane? Yet, the Muslims have no hesitancy to pray to Allah and expect everyone else to accept it without question or resistance.

Only 67% of people in Brunei are Muslim, 10% are Christians. But Islam is the countries official religion and therefore the other 33% are subject to the Muslim Prayers and rules in their country and on the plane (like no alcohol).

Libya’s new leader declared his country’s liberation Sunday and set out plans for the future with an Islamist tone. In a televised address, transitional leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil declared his nation will adopt Sharia law as the basis of government, and immediately announced the canceling of all bank loans in violation of such law. The announcement may prove a serious setback for the Obama administration, which had promised support for a post-Gadhafi democratic Libya.
Read the Full Story — Go Here Now

Does this surprise anyone? Christians in the Middle East saw it coming from the beginning. As soon as the strong dictators are removed, Christians are the first victims. It happened in Iraq, now in Cairo and it will happen in Libya and Syria too.

When Christians are the minority in a Muslim country with no strong government to protect them, the Muslims will persecute the Christians and attempt to drive them out.

Arab Spring becomes Terrible Autumn

Have sex with a 9 year old girl?
Recommend wife beating?

LONDON — Foreign Secretary William Hague on Wednesday said he “deplored” reports that Iran was about to execute a pastor after he refused to give up Christianity and return to Islam.

Hague urged the Iranian regime to respect its international human rights commitments and overturn the ruling.

“I deplore reports that pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the supreme court of Iran to recant his faith,” Hague said in a statement.

The former Conservative party leader commented that the reports illustrated Iran’s “continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom.

“I pay tribute to the courage shown by pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence,” he added.

Nadarkhani, now in his 30s, became a pastor of a small evangelical community called the Church of Iran after converting from Islam at the age of 19.

Iranian authorities arrested him for apostasy in 2009 and sentenced him to death under Islamic Sharia law.

The pastor was spared by a supreme court appeal ruling in July, his laywer told AFP, but was again condemned to death after the case was reheard at a court in his home town of Gilan, according to media reports.

Getting no Coverage in the US!

“The proposal to change the Swiss flag has been met with outrage across the political spectrum and is sure to fuel anti-immigrant sentiments in Switzerland…

“The issue of Muslim immigration to Switzerland has been a hotly debated topic in recent years and the flag controversy is sure to add fuel to the fire…

“The new Muslim demographic reality is raising tensions across large parts of Swiss society, especially as Muslims become more assertive in their demands for greater recognition of their Islamic faith.

“The ensuing controversies are fueling a debate over the role of Islam in Swiss society and how to reconcile Western values with a growing immigrant population determined to avoid assimilation.”

Read the whole eye-opening article here.

Wake up America!

Related topic: Saudi Woman to be Lashed for Driving a Car

My Arab Christian friend in the Middle East writes,

” The most recent edition of the Middle East Quarterly includes an exhaustive peer reviewed study of Mosques in the United States. In the study, it was found that 81% of Mosques have active programs to train their members to overthrow the United States Government and to destroy the Catholic Church.

The study of the Quarterly is sobering and freightening in that most Americans sleep while their own society and faith is being targeted for utter destruction.”

For the full article accompanying the video, click here.

Nothing new, but usually ignored or unknown to Americans, though much of the world knows it from experience.

Since 2006 over 200 churches have been attacked by Muslims in Indonesia.

This is multiplied in Iraq, Egypt, Philippines and everywhere else Muslims are gaining control or are a majority of the population. Problems are also arising in European countries with large Muslim populations.

Wake up America! http://www.zenit.org/article-32862?l=english

Hi Steven,

The most recent edition of the Middle East Quarterly includes an exhaustive peer reviewed study of Mosques in the United States. In the study, it was found that 81% of Mosques have active programs to train their members to overthrow the United States Government and to destroy the Catholic Church.

The study of the Quarterly is sobering and freightening in that most Americans sleep while their own society and faith is being targeted for utter destruction.

I have asked Bishop Loverde if we might treat him to dinner in November or December!!!!

Fr. Bob Kincl

Maybe a radical fringe or maybe the ripe fruit of Islam, but the world should open it’s eyes to what can and does happen in the name of Islam. And not only in Nigeria but everywhere Muslims entrench themselves.

Cathedral Destroyed by Muslims

Just posted a Running trip, “2011-06-01 Temple Mount”, to @EveryTrail. Check it out HERE

Group Run around Jerusalem Walls yesterday on Jerusalem Day.

With Muslims gaining ground and expanding throughout the world, this may be as close to “world pea-ce” we are ever going to get.

Revolutions in Muslim Arab countries is not a good thing. It will eventually end with the persecution and extinction of Christians. Churches torched in Cairo, Christians forced to flee Iraq, everywhere their existence precarious.

Don’t Encourage Arab Revolutions, Melkite Patriarch Tells Western Leaders: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=113156

Janet and I are on a layover in Amsterdam on our way to Israel. You never see anything Christian here but Muslims are everywhere. Also, as an aside, 10% of Holland’s gross national product is sex.

In the airport you find Meditation Centers. I guarantee these were Catholic Chapels in years past. Now they are politically correct and ecumenical “Meditation Centers” which are filled with Muslims.

Catholics in Europe, you’re losing it! Europe, you are losing it! Beware America! You are next!