ZofranOndansetron Dr. a. Alisher PPT 14.08.2011 LECTURE...IFTAR
Number: 64 September 2014 From the Editor · Iftar Dinners During the month of Ramadan, staff at...
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From the Editor Number: 64 September 2014 bridges Building relationships between Christians and Muslims Centre for Chrisan-Muslim Relaons 167 Albert Road, Strathfield NSW 2135 Email: [email protected] www.columban.org.au In the past few months I have had the extraordinary privilege of vising three of the four major Chrisan pilgrimage sites of mediaeval Europe.* In March I visited Rome, where I prayed in the four basilicas, St Peter’s, St Paul’s, St John Lateran and St Mary Major. Aſter Muslim rule extended over much of the Middle East in the 7 th century, Chrisan pilgrimage to the Holy Land became more hazardous. Fortuitously, in the 9 th century, the remains of the Apostle James were ‘discovered’ in northern Spain. The place was named St James aſter him, in Spanish, Sanago. In the following centuries it became the major place of pilgrimage for pilgrims from all over Europe. In recent decades the mediaeval pracce has been revived. Each year a couple of hundred thousand pilgrims shoulder their packs to follow one of the ancient pilgrim paths to Sanago. In April and May, I was one such pilgrim, walking over 1,000kms from Granada to Sanago. This parcular ‘way’ is called the Camino Mozarabe, as it passes through the territories that were once Muslim Spain. In June I did a biblical formaon programme at Ecce Homo in Jerusalem. It was a wonderful mix of input on the Gospel text and guided visits to sites in and around Jerusalem and beyond, including Galilee. I came away with a greater appreciaon of the land considered holy by all three Abrahamic religions and its peoples. I have been grieved by the violence unleashed in Israel/Palesne aſter I leſt. I am appalled by the atrocies commied in Iraq in recent weeks by the self-styled “Islamic State”. I am dismayed by the ongoing civil conflict in Syria. Together with Jewish, Chrisan and Muslim leaders, interfaith acvists and all people of good will, I condemn the violence and appeal for peace with jusce for all. In these conflicts it is easy to blame one side or the other - but that does not help the situaon. Walking the pilgrim path in Spain, I was embarrassed by painngs and statues of Sanago Matamoros, Saint James, Killer of the Moors (= Muslims)! But I was heartened by painngs and statues of Sanago Peregrino, St James the Pilgrim. I hasten to add that neither of these designaons have anything to do with the Apostle James of history, but reflect the ecclesiascal, naonal and polical interests of mediaeval mes. I use this example to make the point that the Chrisan story has been used for spiritual reasons and for militant ones. The same is happening today with Islam. The vast majority of Muslims around the world are good, decent, god-fearing, spiritually-movated cizens striving for the common good; but a ny minority violate cardinal principles of Islam for their own perverse ends, as is the case with Islamic State. Chrisans and Muslims have shared histories, both in the geographic sense that we have lived together for centuries; and also in the sense that our religions, including our sacred texts, have been used for spiritual as well as for hegemonic purposes. Moreover, we share a common origin in God, a common pilgrim journey in this world, and a common desny in God. For all of these reasons, as Pope Francis has insisted, we are brothers and sisters. In these troubled mes we need to stop the violence and to stand up for our common humanity, in the name of jusce, in the name of peace, in the name of God. Patrick McInerney Editor *The fourth one is Canterbury.
Transcript of Number: 64 September 2014 From the Editor · Iftar Dinners During the month of Ramadan, staff at...
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From the Editor Number: 64 September 2014
bridgesBuilding relationships between Christians and Muslims
Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations167 Albert Road, Strathfield NSW 2135Email: [email protected] www.columban.org.au
In the past few months I have had the extraordinary privilege of visiting three of the four major Christian pilgrimage sites of mediaeval Europe.* In March I visited Rome, where I prayed in the four basilicas, St Peter’s, St Paul’s, St John Lateran and St Mary Major. After Muslim rule extended over much of the Middle East in the 7th century, Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land became more hazardous. Fortuitously, in the 9th century, the remains of the Apostle James were ‘discovered’ in northern Spain. The place was named St James after him, in Spanish, Santiago. In the following centuries it became the major place of pilgrimage for pilgrims from all over Europe.
In recent decades the mediaeval practice has been revived. Each year a couple of hundred thousand pilgrims shoulder their packs to follow one of the ancient pilgrim paths to Santiago. In April and May, I was one such pilgrim, walking over 1,000kms from Granada to Santiago. This particular ‘way’ is called the Camino Mozarabe, as it passes through the territories that were once Muslim Spain.
In June I did a biblical formation programme at Ecce Homo in Jerusalem. It was a wonderful mix of input on the Gospel text and guided visits to sites in and around Jerusalem and beyond, including Galilee. I came away with a greater appreciation of the land considered holy by all three Abrahamic religions and its peoples.
I have been grieved by the violence unleashed in Israel/Palestine after I left. I am appalled by the atrocities committed in Iraq in recent weeks by the self-styled “Islamic State”. I am dismayed by the ongoing civil conflict in Syria. Together with Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders, interfaith activists and all people of good will, I condemn the violence and appeal for peace with justice for all.
In these conflicts it is easy to blame one side or the other - but that does not help the situation. Walking the pilgrim path in Spain, I was embarrassed by paintings and statues of Santiago Matamoros, Saint James, Killer of the Moors (= Muslims)! But I was heartened by paintings and statues of Santiago Peregrino, St James the Pilgrim. I hasten to add that neither of these designations have anything
to do with the Apostle James of history, but reflect the ecclesiastical, national and political interests of mediaeval times. I use this example to make the point that the Christian story has been used for spiritual reasons and for militant ones.
The same is happening today with Islam. The vast majority of Muslims around the world are good, decent, god-fearing, spiritually-motivated citizens striving for the common good; but a tiny minority violate cardinal principles of Islam for their own perverse ends, as is the case with Islamic State.
Christians and Muslims have shared histories, both in the geographic sense that we have lived together for centuries; and also in the sense that our religions, including our sacred texts, have been used for spiritual as well as for hegemonic purposes. Moreover, we share a common origin in God, a common pilgrim journey in this world, and a common destiny in God. For all of these reasons, as Pope Francis has insisted, we are brothers and sisters. In these troubled times we need to stop the violence and to stand up for our common humanity, in the name of justice, in the name of peace, in the name of God. Patrick McInerneyEditor *The fourth one is Canterbury.
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Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au
Archbishop Michael FitzgeraldDuring the months of May and June we organisedand attended a number of events with our international visitor, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, former president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
On the 7th of May Archbishop Fitzgerald was our guest speaker at the 12th Annual Abraham Conference that we co-hosted with Affinity Intercultural Foundation, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Uniting Church of Synod of NSW & ACT. The Archbishop’s keynote address was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith traditions. It was an engaging discussion about the intersection between the mainstream media and faith communities and the issues, challenges and questions involved.
On the 2nd of June we hosted a public event at the Catholic Institute of Sydney where the Archbishop spoke about the Church’s role in interfaith dialogue. He drew on his own stories and experiences, reflecting on the four different types of dialogue – the dialogue of life, the dialogue of action, the dialogue of theological exchange and the dialogue of religious experience. The evening was well attended and was a wonderful success.
Workshops with School StudentsOn Wednesday the 25th of June Fr Brian Vale and Ashleigh Green presented three workshops on the topic of interfaith dialogue at the HSC Studies of Religion Focus Day. Students from across the Sydney Archdiocese gathered at ACU’s Strathfield campus for a series of workshops dealing with different aspects of the Studies of Religion syllabus. Brian and Ashleigh spoke about Australia’s changing religious landscape, the importance of interfaith dialogue in Australia and gave the students contemporary examples of interfaith dialogue.
On the 8th of August Ashleigh presented workshops for the Year 10 Social Justice Day at at St Patrick’s, Strathfield. On the 11th of August she spoke to Year Four students at St Patrick’s Swansea as part of the unit, ‘People and their Beliefs.’
Step Up for Step Out Interfaith Service ProjectOn the 21st of June the Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations co-hosted the Step Up for Step Out Interfaith Service Project with the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Over 60 pairs of undies and socks were donated on the night to be sent to an orphanage in Cambodia. One of the highlights of the night was a talk by Mr Jihad Dib, principal of Punchbowl Boys High School... “Always treat people with respect and dignity regardless of who they are, what religion they believe in or their status in society.”
Iftar DinnersDuring the month of Ramadan, staff at the Centre attended a number of iftar dinners to break the fast with members of Sydney’s Muslim community. Ashleigh Green attended Affinity Intercultural Foundation’s Friendship & Dialogue Iftar at the NSW Parliament on 3rd of July and the joint Affinity/Diocese of Broken Bay Iftar on the 24th of July. Fr Patrick McInerney attended the ISRA Spirit of Ramadan Iftar Dinner at Granville on the 20th of July.
Eid Celebrations On the 28th and 29th of July Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim feast marking the end of Ramadan. The Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations sent Eid cards to over 80 Muslim partners along with a copy of the PCID’s 2014 Eid message in English and Arabic. On the evening of the 27th of July Fr Patrick McInerney attended the Chand Raat Eid Festival. On the morning of the 28th of July he attended Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque. Later in the day, he and Ashleigh Green celebrated Eid lunch with the Ahmad family, good friends of the Centre.
On the 29th of July Fr Patrick, Fr Brian and Ashleigh attended Eid Prayers at Granville Mosque. Fr Patrick also attended Eid prayers at Earlwood Mosque. Later in the afternoon he visited an Eid fair at Sydney Olympic Park. On the 10th of August Fr Patrick and Fr Brian were guests at the Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF). Each year, we celebrate Eid with our Muslim friends as a show of solidarity, friendship and respect.
Teaching This semester Fr Patrick McInerney is teaching Interreligious Dialogue at the Catholic Institute of Sydney. The course treats the development of the Church’s teaching in this area, including the scriptural and theological basis for interreligious dialogue. It is practical also and includes a Mini-Parliament of the World’s Religions with panellists from different religions, as well as other guest lecturers.
News From the Centre
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Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque. (LtoR) Hon Tony Bourke, Sheikh Yahya Safi, Hon Jason Clare, Fr Patrick McInerney. Photo:jasonclare.com.au
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News From the World
Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au 3
Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque. (LtoR) Hon Tony Bourke, Sheikh Yahya Safi, Hon Jason Clare, Fr Patrick McInerney. Photo:jasonclare.com.au
Pope Francis’ Pleas for PeacePope Francis has consistently used the occasion of the weekly Angelus address to plea for peace in Iraq.
On the 20th of July he said:“May the God of peace arouse in all a genuine desire for dialogue and reconciliation. Violence is not defeated by violence. Violence is defeated with peace!”
On the 10th of August he said:“The news coming from Iraq leaves us in disbelief and dismay: thousands of people, including many Christians, brutally driven from their homes; children dead from thirst and hunger during the escape; women who are abducted; people slaughtered; violence of every kind; destruction everywhere, destruction of homes, destruction of religious, historical and cultural patrimonies. All this greatly offends God and greatly offends humanity. You cannot bring hatred in the name of God. You cannot make war in the name of God!” For more information see: http://bit.ly/1nUHVf6 and http://bit.ly/1nUHykX
Israel-Palestinian Peace Camp in the West Bank Declares: ‘We Refuse to Be Enemies’In mid-July fifty peacemakers of Jewish and Arab descent from Israel and Palestine completed a five-day “Vision Camp” which the organizers say responded to the violence “exploding through the Middle East.” Over the week the activities gained a mass following on social media when they made a stand against a growing vitriol polarizing Jews and Muslims by stating #JewsandArabsRefuseToBeEnemies. Like organizations connected by promoting moving images of demonstrations held in other Israeli locations. The 50 campers pleaded for peace saying: “today, in this turbulence, peace workers from Israel, Palestine and other countries are beginning a five-day vision camp in the West Bank. In the middle of the war they hold a peace vigil and create a frequency of calmness in which mutual perception, sharing, deep listening, clear thinking and vision building is possible. They say, ‘We refuse to be enemies’, and, ‘Together we can give a clear sign to end the war’.”
Their 26 July 2014 statement includes: “What we all agree on is: Enough! Stop this killing. No solution can come from war! Each innocent victim of this war is one too many! We refuse to be enemies. We are calling out to all parties: Stop this war! Our feelings are beyond words, but we can no longer be silent. The civil population is being lied to on both sides, and the world is mostly silent and misled by the media. It does not take much political education to recognise the injustice of this war. Many countries are delivering weapons and enriching themselves through the war. But who sits next to the beds of the injured children and crying mothers? Who feels empathy with
their bleak destiny? Who heals the wounds, dries the tears and eases the pain of all those who have lost family members or beloved friends?” For the full article and links to the statement see: http://bit.ly/1qbgnDL
In a similar story, during the war Muslims prayed in Gaza’s Greek Orthodox church of St. Porphyrius, one of several Christian churches where they had sought and been given sanctuary. For more information see: http://bit.ly/1pdKBt9
And in another related story, Iraqi Christians fleeing the “Islamic State” found safe haven in the cities of Najaf and Karbala, which house some of the holiest shrines of Shia Islam. For more information see: http://bit.ly/1t1jl0I
Berlin Plans ‘House Of One,’ A Place Where Jews, Muslims and Christians Will Pray Under The Same RoofThe Huffington Post related the story of a rabbi, an imam and a pastor planning to create a sacred space for three religions under one roof. The House of One will be a shared place of prayer and learning for the city’s Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities that celebrates the commonalities of the religions longest associated with Berlin.
This unusual project was initiated by Gregor Hohberg, a Protestant pastor who was joined by Imam Kadir Sanci and Rabbi Tovia Ben-Chorin. Ben-Chorin sees it as a place to heal old wounds without forgetting them.
“Berlin is the city of wounds and miracles,” he told The Independent. “It is the city in which the extermination of the Jews was planned. Now, the first house in the world for three religions is to be built here.” For more information see: http://huff.to/1zpqD2W
Displaced Palestinian women sit in a Greek Orthodox church wheremany Palestinians are taking shelter in Gaza City. Photo: thenational.ae
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Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au
On Sunday the 8th of June a widely anticipated prayer initiative between the Pope, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas took place in the Vatican. Pope Francis had proposed the ‘Invocation for Peace’ the previous month when he was on pilgrimage in the Middle East. The Presidents arrived at the Vatican on the 9th of June where they were received by the Holy Father at the entrance of Casa Santa Maria. What followed was a profound exchange that united the three leaders in a common plea for peace and forgiveness.
“Distinguished Presidents,” began Pope Francis, “I greet you with immense joy and I wish to offer you and the eminent delegations accompanying you, the same warm welcome which you gave me during my recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I am profoundly grateful to you for accepting my invitation to come here and to join in imploring from God the gift of peace. It is my hope that this meeting will be a path to seeking the things that unite, so as to overcome the things that divide…”
“Peacemaking calls for courage, much more so than warfare. It calls for the courage to say yes to encounter and no to conflict: yes to dialogue and no to violence; yes to negotiations and no to hostilities; yes to respect for agreements and no to acts of provocation; yes to sincerity and no to duplicity. All of this takes courage, it takes strength and tenacity...”
“We have heard a summons, and we must respond. It is the summons to break the spiral of hatred and violence, and to break it by one word alone: the word ‘brother’. But to be able to utter this word we have to lift our eyes to heaven to acknowledge one another as children of one Father.”
President Shimon Peres addressed all those present and noted the desire of Israel and Palestine for peace:“Two peoples – Israelis and Palestinians – are still aching for peace. The tears of mothers over their children are still etched in our hearts. We must put an end to the cries, to the violence, to the conflict. We need peace. Peace between equals.”
“Our Book of Books commands upon us the way of peace, demands of us to toil for its realisation. It is said in the book of Proverbs: ‘Her ways are ways of grace, and all her paths are peace.’ So too must our ways be. Ways of grace and peace. It is not by chance that Rabbi Akiva captured the essence of the Torah in one sentence: ‘Love your neighbour like thyself’.”
Finally, President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas spoke, saying:“Reconciliation and peace are our goal.. We ask You, O Lord, for peace in the Holy Land, Palestine, and Jerusalem together with its people. We call on You to make Palestine and Jerusalem in particular a secure land for all the believers, and a place for prayer and worship for the followers of the three monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and for all those wishing to visit it as it is stated in the Holy Qur’an.”
News reports state that Pope Francis himself was realistic about the prospects of his initiative, saying it would be “crazy” to expect any Vatican mediation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but added that just praying together might help in some way.
For the Pope’s full address see: http://goo.gl/jA5VqR
For the full address of both presidents see: http://goo.gl/vuYkam
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Pope Francis, Mahmoud Abbas and Shimon Peres arrive for an invocation for peace. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring
Invocations for Peace by Pope and Presidents of Israel and Palestine
5Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au 5
Pope Francis, Mahmoud Abbas and Shimon Peres arrive for an invocation for peace. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring
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Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au
As a popular Arab proverb says, “God comes to us in the person of a guest.” It is this notion of simultaneously welcoming God into our hearts when we invite strangers into our homes that we are currently seeing in exchanges of kindness between Christians and Muslims in the Middle East.
When the self-stated “Islamic State” (IS) insisted that Christians living in the Iraqi city of Mosul choose to flee, convert to Islam or pay the tax once imposed on religious minorities in Muslim states, the majority of Christians chose to flee. Many of the Christians headed south where they were able to find safe havens both in the homes of Muslims and in some of the holiest shrines of Shi’a Islam.
The shrine of Imam Ali issued a public statement saying, “it is ready to host the Christian families who departed their houses in fear of being killed…”
At the same time that Iraqi Christians were finding a safe haven in Muslim homes and places of worship, mosques in Gaza were being razed to the ground by Israeli forces. In a reversal of roles, it was now Muslims who found a temporary safe haven in Gaza’s churches.
For Gaza resident Mahmoud Khalaf, “it was a bizarre new experience prostrating himself for his daily Muslim prayers beneath the gaze of an icon of Jesus Christ. ‘They let us pray. It’s changed my view of Christians – I didn’t really know any before, but they’ve become our brothers,’ said Khalaf, 27, who admitted he never expected to perform his evening prayers in a church.” (The Daily Star, 28/07/14). Khalef thanked Christians for taking him in and standing by his side.
In an Eid message Gregory III Laham, Greek-Melkite Catholic patriarch of Antioch wrote, “We have to stay together, Muslims and Christians, to build together a better world for our future generations and our common future.”
During this period of tremendous suffering, fear and uncertainty in the Middle East as thousands of people are left without homes, “staying together” as Christians and Muslims takes on a more literal meaning. Through simple gestures of hospitality, it must be a beautiful experience for guests and hosts to see glimpses of a loving God amidst the terror and darkness.
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“Jesus said love your
neighbor, not just
your family but your
colleague, your classmate
– Muslim, Shiite, Hindu,
Jewish…
We open our doors to all
people.”
A Christian
volunteer in Gaza,
Tawfiq Khader spoke to
Lebanon’s The Daily Star.
Muslims find a safe haven in Gaza’s churches. Photo: Aljazeera America
Sacred Hospitality in the Middle East by Ashleigh Green
For the last two years I have been privileged to attend a number of Iftar dinners during the Muslim month of Ramadan. Some have been held in office buildings, others in the homes of Muslim families and another in the function room at NSW Parliament. Every Iftar is different – some are small and intimate while others are more formal – but all of them embrace the idea of sacred hospitality. Aptly, Sacred Hospitality was the theme of the joint Affinity-Diocese of Broken Bay Iftar that I attended on the 24th of July.
7Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations E: [email protected] www.columban.org.au 7
Muslims find a safe haven in Gaza’s churches. Photo: Aljazeera America
The following letter is claimed to be from the Prophet Muhammad to all Christians. Whatever the historical provenance of the letter, it reflects the positive attitude of the Islamic tradition to Christians. The original letter is held in the Topkapi Museum in Instanbul.
At a time when tensions between Islam and Christianity seem to be at an all-time high, the letter is a reminder that a true Muslim cannot hurt a Christian in any way, neither by hand, nor by tongue.
This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.
No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.
No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.
No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.
Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).
English translation from ‘Muslim History: 570 – 1950 C.E.’ by Dr. A. Zahoor and Dr. Z. Haq, ZMD Corporation. P.O. Box 8231 – Gaithersburg, MD
“We’ll love Muslims 100 Years”
Letter to Christians from the Prophet Muhammad
On Friday the 22nd
of August Fr Patrick McInerney and Fr Brian Vale joined with other Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders on the steps of Sydney’s Lakemba mosque behind a banner which stated that “We’ll Love Muslims 100 Years”.
The banner made a play on the words of a recent headline in The Weekend Australian, “We’ll fight Islam for 100 years”, which accompanied an article quoting a former head of the army saying we must prepare for a war against Islam for the rest of the century.
While there are security concerns within Australia it is better to keep meeting and reaching out to different ethnic communities to keep the communication going rather than building walls of suspicion and mistrust which can cause alienation and separation. Alienated young people can easily be led into radical positions and choose violence.
“Us and them” language does not help the situation. Rabbi Zalman Kastel voiced his concern about the “shrill and harsh talk against Muslims in mainstream
and social media, even though there is a lot of good interfaith work going on in Australia every day”.He said, “we are all on the same team, if I may use that word, in terms of the result, and that is peace.”
For more information see: www.lovefor100years.com
For a gracious Muslim response see: wwwlovefor100yearsresponse.com
Religious leaders gather outside Lakemba Mosque. Photo: Fadi El Haje
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21 September UN International Day of Peace
25 - 26 September Rosh Hashana, Jewish New Year. www.hebcal.com
2 October International Day of Non-violence
3 October Day of Arafat (Islam). This day is the culminating event of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. http://islam.about.com
4 October Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
4 October Yom Kippur, Jewish Day of Atonement.
9 October Succot, ‘Harvest Festival’ commences (Jewish). www.jcrelations.net
19 October One World Week www.oneworldweek.org
25 October Hijrah/Muharram Islamic New Year
1 November All Saints Day (Catholic) www.timeanddate.com
2 November All Souls Day (Catholic) www.timeanddate.com
7 November Kristallnacht Commemoration, Martin Place, 12pm. www.jewishsydney.com.au
11 November Armistice Day
June 2013
bridgesBuilding relationships between Christian and Muslims September 2014
On the 12th of August the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue issued a statement asking for religious leaders, especially Muslims, and all people of goodwill to take a clear and courageous stance on the crimes being committed in Iraq by jihadists of the “self-stated Islamic State” against Christians, Yazidis and other religious minorities.
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE Declaration of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on Iraq
The whole world has witnessed with incredulity what is now called the “Restoration of the Caliphate,” which had been abolished on the 29th of October 1923 by Kamal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey. Opposition to this “restoration” by the majority of religious institutions and Muslim politicians has not prevented the “Islamic State” jihadists from committing and continuing to commit unspeakable criminal acts.
This Pontifical Council, together with all those engaged in interreligious dialogue, followers of all religions, and all men and women of good will, can only unambiguously denounce and condemn these practices which bring shame on humanity:
• the massacre of people on the sole basis of their religious affiliation• the despicable practice of beheading, crucifying and hanging bodies in public places• the choice imposed on Christians and Yezidis between conversion to Islam, payment of a tax (jizya) or forced exile• the forced expulsion of tens of thousands of people, including children, elderly, pregnant women and the sick• the abduction of girls and women belonging to the Yezidi and Christian communities as spoils of war (sabaya)• ........
No cause, and certainly no religion, can justify such barbarity. This constitutes an extremely serious offense to humanity and to God who is the Creator, as Pope Francis has often reminded us. We cannot forget, however, that Christians and Muslims have lived together - it is true with ups and downs - over the centuries, building a culture of peaceful coexistence and civilization of which they are proud. Moreover, it is on this basis that, in recent years, dialogue between Christians and Muslims has continued and intensified.
The dramatic plight of Christians, Yezidis and other religious communities and ethnic minorities in Iraq requires a clear and courageous stance on the part of religious leaders, especially Muslims, as well as those engaged in interreligious dialogue and all people of good will. All must be unanimous in condemning unequivocally these crimes and in denouncing the use of religion to justify them. If not, what credibility will religions, their followers and their leaders have? What credibility can the interreligious dialogue that we have patiently pursued over recent years have?
Religious leaders are also called to exercise their influence with the authorities to end these crimes, to punish those who commit them and to reestablish the rule of law throughout the land, ensuring the return home of those who have been displaced. While recalling the need for an ethical management of human societies, these same religious leaders must not fail to stress that the support, funding and arming of terrorism is morally reprehensible.
That said, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is grateful to all those who have already raised their voices to denounce terrorism, especially that which uses religion to justify it.Let us therefore unite our voices with that of Pope Francis: “May the God of peace stir up in each one of us a genuine desire for dialogue and reconciliation. Violence is never defeated by violence. Violence is defeated by peace.”
Vatican City, 12th August 2014
For full statement see: http://bit.ly/1tfTG8b
Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations167 Albert Road, Strathfield NSW 2135Email: [email protected] www.columban.org.auPhone: (02) 9352 8013
Each year on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends a message to Muslims worldwide. This year’s Eid emphasises that Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters and that we need to work together for justice, peace and respect for the rights and dignity of every person.
