By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Following the annual meeting of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and the Permanent Committee of al-Azhar for Dialogue Among Monotheistic Religions, Catholic and Muslim leaders signed a joint declaration pledging to work together to stop religious violence in the world.
The Vatican Press Office is reporting that Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Wasil signed the joint declaration at the end of a Feb. 23-24 meeting held in Cairo, Egypt.
Both sides agreed on the following recommendations: “to pay greater attention to the fact that the manipulation of religion for political or other ends can be a source of violence; to avoid discrimination on the basis of religious identity; to open hearts to mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, which is a necessary condition for peaceful and fruitful coexistence.”
They also called “for similarities to be recognised and differences respected as the prerequisite of a culture of dialogue, based on shared values; for both sides again to commit themselves to recognising and respecting the dignity of each human being, without distinction of ethnicity or religion; for religious discrimination in all fields to be opposed (just laws should guarantee fundamental equality); for ideals of justice, solidarity and co-operation to be promoted in order to ensure a peaceful and prosperous life for everyone”.
The participants likewise undertook “to oppose with determination any act that tends to create tension, division and conflict in societies; to promote a culture of mutual respect and dialogue through education in families, schools, churches and mosques, spreading a spirit of fraternity between all persons and the community; to oppose attacks against religions by social communications media, especially satellite channels, considering the dangerous effects these transmissions can have on social cohesion and peace among religious communities.”
Finally, the members of the joint committee called for steps to be taken “to ensure that the preaching of religious leaders, as well as school education and textbooks, do not contain declarations or references to historical events that, directly or indirectly, may arouse violent reactions among the followers of different religions.”
The two leaders plan to meet again in Rome in 2011.
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