Arsonists in Malaysia struck at a Catholic convent school and a fifth church yesterday.

A petrol bomb was thrown at a building at the convent school.

This is part of a stand-off following a court ruling on 31 December, permitting a Catholic newspaper (The Herald) to use the name “Allah” for the Christian God in its Malay-language editions.

Malaysia’s top police officer now says he hasn’t the manpower to  protect Christian properties, and that churches must arrange security themselves.

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So is all this a misunderstanding that can be sorted out?

Or is Islam so fundamentally violent that all sortings-out are a mere pipe-dream.

The Qu’ran says:  “Slay the idolators wherever you find them . . .  lie in ambush everywhere for them.  If they repent and take to prayer and pay the alms-tax, let them go.  Allah is forgiving and merciful.”  (Sura 9:5)

History, including recognised Islamic sources, reveals that the Prophet did a lot of such slaying.

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Most nations with Christian-based culture, e.g. Australia, permit mosques and Muslim schools.  Yet what happens to people in Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia who engage in public Christian activities?

Catholics love and respect Muslim individuals — as Christ commands love and respect for all men. 

But the religion of Islam, they can neither love nor respect.

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Should not the Australian Catholic Church’s policy be for Australia to close its mosques and Islamic schools?

Perhaps to phase them out gradually, to avoid disrupting the students’ education too suddenly – but aim to have them gone in a finite time – let’s say 2 years.