World Cup Churches 1. Qatar

It's that year again - the World Cup.  Scheduled every 4 years this year it is in Qatar,  Qatar is very hot so it will take place in November instead of the Northern Hemisphere summer as previously.  This gives me nice time to head round the 32 qualifying countries and this time I want to pick out one church in each one.  I am not going to choose only churches that are to my liking.  This is a exploration not a recommendation! To see all in the series select the label World Cup Churches.

So let's start with the hosts, Qatar.  Unlike some of its Arabian neighbours, Qatar has been accommodating to Christian Churches (for expats of course).  There is a Religious Complex in which different churches are sited but the striking one that first grabbed headlines is the Roman Catholic church that services expat workers from Catholic countries.

It gained attention because this is not a small church that Qatar has permitted in an unassuming building as the picture shows.

Nor is it one that is in occasional use:

Qatar has had its critics and many Western commentators have bewailed the (stunningly obvious) fact that Qatar doesn't operate like the EU.  But at least in regards to religious tolerance Qatar offers light that is not often found in its part of the world.