If an Irish Catholic Terrorist came to the US and blew up a building?

Question

Would we treat ALL Catholics with distrust? Do we do that to Muslims because they LOOK different and speak a different language?

Answer 1

Strangely, no. Catholics are too much an integral part of Western culture to ever become completely outside the realm of the ordinary, unlike Muslims. Pretty sad, isn't it?

Answer 2

Associating all Muslims with it is inappropriate, but it will happen. As it would if Catholics starting blowing things up in the name of the Pope. Look at all the Islamic groups that see ALL Jews as their enemy- as if they are one united group.

Overall, however, I don't think anyone treats all of any one group with distrust at this point. Just ask African-Americans who are unfairly stereotyped as criminals (or other negative images) by many people because that is the only image they see on TV. Stereotyping is, unfortunately, one of the bad ways we try to simplify our world (consciously or subsconsciously).

That aside, the Islamic situation is pretty different in that the terrorists are using their religious beliefs as the rationale for 1) commiting the act; 2) why it is okay - actually doing god's work; 3) often come from seemingly normal background despite their uncivilized behavior. And, like it or not, the most public terrorist groups are Islamic so associating Islam with Terrorism is pretty easy if you don't have any exposure to Islam but what you see on TV.

But to answer the last part of your question, it's not a looks issue it's a perception that their faith can take a seemingly normal person and have them go off the deep end and commit horrible acts in the name of their faith. That's pretty scary - and so if Islamic people do this you can see why simple people will say, "then I don't want them around me." That's wrong, but you've got to see that coming.

Moderate Muslims need to actually speak out louder against the terrorists (with no excuses) and that can change.

Answer 3

I think it depends. I mean, while he was doing it, if he was screaming religious statements like "In the name of Jesus Christ...etc etc" or made it clear he was doing it for religious reasons, then yes, perhaps Catholics may be suspect. But then again Catholics might not be suspect unless similar incidents occurred over and over again in similar patterns w/ the same religious undertone. If it was once, it may be seen as an isolated, singular, extremist incident. But more than that, it may start to instill fear in others towards Catholics.

As for the Muslims, I don't think people do that to them b/c they look different and speak a different language, it is simply b/c in recent times the terrorist activities we are exposed to happen to be done BY Muslims. So that breeds fear and distrust towards them. I'm sure if they were committed by Catholics, like you said earlier, then yes, people would fear and distrust them too.

Well, this is all just my opinion.

Answer 4

If Irish Catholics were waging a war against the United States, then yes, I would say to profile Irish Catholics. Note this does not mean a single bomber who happens to be an Irish Catholic. This means a persistent pattern of attacks by Irish Catholics. However, I have not heard of such a series of attacks staged by that particular ethnic group against the US. Have you?

The fact of the matter is that radical Islamics have been at war with us for decades and we have not responded to it a strongly as we should have. The vast majority of bombers, hijackers, and other types of terrorists that are fighting against the US are Islamic. Not only that, they tend to be men who are between the ages of 18 and I think 40 something. They are not Irish Catholics nor are they elderly white men. So, why do we waste our time searching people who are not likely to be terrorists?

Israel's airline, El Al,has about the best safety record of any airline when it comes to preventing terrorism. It has only had one of its planes hijacked in its nearly 60-year history. One of the ways that they prevent such problems is by profiling and focusing on those who are most likely to be terrorist. When a specific group of people pose a threat to you, it is foolish to not focus on that group of people. It is unfortunate for the innocent among that group. However, the innocent among that group should recognize that the terrorists among them also pose a threat to them. (There were Muslims killed on 9/11 too.) So, instead of complaining about the added scrutiny their group gets, they should work with authorities to root out the terrorists. The sooner the bad guys are removed from among them the sooner other people will be able to trust their group as a whole.

Answer 5

Catholics are already the most hated christian religion in the US. possibly of all religions with posssible exception of Muslims. Politically most people dont like Catholics. We are a country divided on important social issues like human life. those who support life (ie no abortion, no death penalty, no euthanasia [sp]) are domanantly Catholic.

so i would say yes you would.

Even though i work at a christian organization, since i work closely with children i disclose my religious affiliation from the parents cause i know there are some parents who dont understand and would treat me with distrust if they knew i was catholic. Just cause some priests got in trouble with sexual abuse (and surely were punished), some people think all Catholics are that way and distrust us. All my coworkers know imCatholic,and trust me still. i would rather not risk job satisfaction on it, not enough time for me to talk to 100+ parents

Answer 6

Apples and oranges. Islamic fundamentalists have a proven track record of terrorism against the West. Catholics don't. You can call it racism if you want. It's just common sense though. Eventually you have to step back and say to yourself, "Well, self, who is doing all the bombing and terrorism throughout the world based on religious motivations? Is it the Irish Catholics...or the Middle Eastern Muslims?"

Answer 7

Check out North Ireland in the '70. The IRA was active there and all Catholics were considered potential terrorists.

It is easier to identify a group by skin color, accent, clothing style so they can be persecuted easier. But it is certainly possible to hate and isolate people for religion alone. Examples: Mormons, Hari Krisna's, Moonies, Davidians, early christians, jews, protestants, catholics, muslims, hindus, Zorastorians, Gnostics, Siks, etc etc etc.

Answer 8

The logical problem with your statement is twofold:

1] Such an event would be unique to where Muslim terror is regular.
2] The IRA was predicated on nationalism, not Catholicism.

What we see here is another poor attempt to evade the real issues of terrorism by someone who does not know what he is talking about. This questioner is exactly why we are in the state we find ourselves.

ADDENDUM:

Lucky,

McVeigh died an agnostic. It was still a unique, not a regular event. There are no Presbyterians with guns demanding 'convert or die.'

Answer 9

Most likely, yes. The early Americans were very hostile against Catholics, they were afraid that they wanted to make the Vatican run this country (which they didn't want to do). As far as I am concerned, some Americans are still hostile toward Catholics.

Answer 10

This United States has a long history of prejudice.

In WWII, we locked up the Japanese but not the Germans and Italians. Was is because they were of a different race, language, and religion?

With love in Christ