Conservative Muslims are furious, but the emir of Qatar, home of international broadcaster Al-Jazeera, has refused to prevent the church inauguration, in time for Easter.
"If all goes well, we will celebrate Easter in our new church", confirmed the Doha-based Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary in a statement to Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) network.
The church has been constructed without a bell tower or cross, apparently to prevent more tensions with the local Muslim population. St. Mary’s parish priest, Father Tomasito Veneracion, a Filipino, stressed in published comments that the church would be "merely a place for collective prayer." In addition, the church had reportedly to promise authorities that it will not engage in missionary activities.
POPULAR REFERENDUM
Yet despite these compromises, Muslim intellectuals and several media outlets in Qatar are not satisfied, saying only a popular referendum can decide on whether to allow a Christian church in the Arab emirate.
"The cross should not be raised in the sky of Qatar, nor should bells toll in Doha", commented the influential Al-Arab newspaper.
In a letter to Al-Watan newspaper, engineer Rashed al-Subaie said Christians have the right to practice their faith, but should not have permission to build places of worship. Lawyer and former Justice Minister Najib al-Nuaimi was quoted as saying that Qatar "is a Muslim country, not a secular one," adding that "a referendum is the only way to ensure that the church is socially acceptable."
Non-Muslims, like elsewhere in the region, are in a minority, however church observers say among guest-workers there are many Christians.
LARGE CHURCH
The new church is expected to serve some hundred thousand Catholics residing in the tiny emirate, most of whom are from the Philippines, India and Lebanon. The St. Mary Church, which costs 18 million dollars, will reportedly contain a conference hall, a library, accommodation for clerics and a café.
Construction of other chruches, including can Anglican church, will begin in May, according to Qatar’s Anglican priest Canon William Schwarz. Building has already begun on a Greek Orthodox Church and another for Copts.
Despite protests, Italian ambassador in Doha, Ignatio Di Pashi, suggested to local media he does not expect church closures. "A few years ago, opening a church in Qatar was sort of impossible", he was quoted as saying. "But Qatar has changed since the coming of the
new emir."
Since coming to power in 1995, Prince Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thanihas made clear he wanted to the tolerant face of Islam and to accommodate the new Christian minority in his gas-rich country. Thirteen years later Christians want to see that promise fulfilled.
Once St. Mary’s opens, neighbour Saudi Arabia, which also practices Wahhabism, will be the only Arab nation in the Gulf that bans churches.
