During Easter rites in Rome, Pope Benedict publicly baptized journalist Magdi Allam. Magdi Allam is a convert from Islam who, according to the Times, had previously denounced his previous religion as "an ideology which legitimises lies and dissimulation, violent death, which induces both murder and suicide, and blind submission to tyranny." Now he claims to be glad to have found "the authentic religion of Truth, Life and Liberty."

Given the Pope's recent attempts to "build bridges" with Islam, Benedict's recent actions seem a lot like doublespeak. There can be no doubt that this baptism is either a variety of "fuck you" aimed at Muslims, to which they have reacted with criticism, or it is a sign of arrogance and ignorance on the part of the Catholic Church as to what religious tolerance actually is. To publicly initiate a former Muslim with such distaste for his previous religion and such zeal for his new one implies Church endorsement of his message, and it is not one open to religious pluralism. One who believes that his religion is "the authentic religion" cannot accept other religions as legitimate choices for other people.

Indeed, it is a poor Catholic-Muslim relations move on the part of Pope Benedict. While the Church may baptize whomever they choose, be it saint or scoundrel, baptizing Allam at the hands of the Pope himself—on Easter, no less—sends a clear message. A bigoted message, one could say. And yet this message, despite its less-than-honorable origins, contains a few paragraphs that need to be said.

According to Islamic law, apostasy is a crime punishable by death. Rejecting the authority and "kindness" of God, once having known it, is so heinous a transgression in Islamic culture that it is deemed necessary to send the transgressor to hell as soon as possible. Though Muslim countries rarely assassinate apostates, independent death squads and tribal families often kill ex-Muslims in their midst. It is debated as to what scriptural justification exists for this practice. Some say the Koran implies it, others say it does not. Others say the Hadith—records of the sayings and deeds of the prophet Muhammed—prescribes the death of apostates. Whether scripture gives its blessing or no, in practice Islam does not respect the freedom of others to choose their religion.

And so, the baptism of Magdi Allam gains unprecedented import. Here a Muslim apostate is openly and unabashedly baptized into another faith, flying in the face of Muslim tradition. He risks retribution from the wider Muslim community, even in Europe, yet he chooses his own path nonetheless. It is an insult to Islam, no doubt, but an insult that needs to be made, for if relations between Islam and other religions are to be peaceful, Muslims must accept the right of individuals to choose their religion, and to leave that religion when it no longer serves their needs. This event should give Muslims around the world pause, and demand that they reconsider their views.

It is a supreme contradiction. An act of religious intolerance in another sense promotes religious tolerance and freedom. I do not believe that the Catholic Church should be let entirely off the hook. The Church itself has a history of punishing "heretics" and apostates, and if its intention in this prominent initiation of a public critic of Islam is to say "See? Catholicism really is the one true religion!", they should be excoriated for such a foul, dogmatic gaffe. However, in the final evaluation they may have inadvertently committed a good deed, for Magdi Allam's baptism also says "I can be of whatever faith I choose."

And it is respecting that choice, to believe or disbelieve as one wills according to reason and conscience, that lies at the heart of secularism and religious tolerance.