Common commitments

The German bishops “reaffirm their willingness to engage in dialogue, denounce violence against the Christian minorities in some Moslem countries, condemn the exploitation of religion for political ends and invite the Islamic community in Germany to pledge their support for the right of Christians in Islamic nations to enjoy religious freedom”. The bishops’ appeal for dialogue is contained in a statement issued at the end of their recent plenary assembly, held in Fulda. The German episcopate was prompted to issue the statement following the furore caused after the Pope’s lecture in Regensburg on 12 September. Dialogue with Islam was also the theme of the annual Festival of Fruits recently held in Stuttgart. TOWARDS AMICABLE CO-EXISTENCE. The bishops write that “the Pope has stressed the vital importance of peaceful co-existence and genuine dialogue between Christianity and Islam. Many Muslims are grateful for these clear expressions of the Catholic view. But we firmly reject all those who want to further aggravate the situation with ever new accusations, claims or even threats. The Catholic Church and many people in our country and throughout the world will not be intimidated. We expect the Islamic authorities throughout the world to avoid anything that might lead to a further aggravation of the situation”. Recalling the recent attacks on Christian minorities, the bishops firmly reject “such acts of violence, execrating any relation between violence and religion as an abuse and profanation of faith”. “We expect the representatives of Islam – continues the statement – to reject in an unequivocal manner any religious justification of violence and any exploitation of religion for political ends”, and to reaffirm their commitment to religious liberty. “Muslims – points out the German episcopate – enjoy religious freedom, based on the Constitution, here in Germany. We expect the inalienable human right to freedom of religion to be respected also in Islamic countries, without limitations. We ask the Islamic organizations in Germany to expressly endorse the right of freedom of religion in the countries of origin of the Muslims who live in our country”. In their statement the bishops acknowledge “with apprehension that the fear of violence motivated by religion is spreading, not just in Germany, leading to a direct or indirect limitation of freedom of opinion. We firmly oppose such tendencies, and at the same time reject the non-culture of lack of respect for religion and for believers, which sows discord and creates division in society. In engaging in dialogue with the other religions, our aim is to contribute – especially in Germany – to amicable co-existence between Christians and Muslims”. CROSSROADS OF THE FUTURE. “Christians and Muslims at the crossroads of the future: steps of dialogue in daily life, place of encounter with foreigners from all over the world”: that was the title of the recent Festival of Fruits 2006 held at the Scalabrinian Centre of Spirituality in Stuttgart, with the participation of over 200 people of 24 different nationalities, including migrants and refugees. This year the speakers also included the auxiliary bishop of the local diocese, the Most Rev. Thomas Maria Renz, delegate for youth ministry. He encouraged the participants “to continue along the road of inter-religious dialogue, which prepares for peaceful co-existence amid diversities”. The main speaker of the day was Father Hans Vöcking, head of the “Islam and Migrations” Commission at the CCEE (Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe), accompanied by his confrere Father Miguel Laburu, who has conducted his mission for 36 years in Algeria at the service of the local Church and in close contact with the Moslem majority. The participants in the meeting expressed their determination to “foster dialogue with Muslims in Europe” and seek new ways of dialogue that take account of the effective religious and cultural plurality of Muslims, from whom we have been separated by centuries of history and different developments in philosophic thought, social systems and mentalities”. Father Vöcking also pointed out possible points of convergence such as “the common commitment to human rights and the service of witness that Muslims and Christians together may offer in a secularised world”. The final message of the meeting was: “it’s always possible to find ways of accepting diversity, a way already illuminated by the death and resurrection of Christ that opens us to the meeting with everyone, including our Moslem brethren. The way of dialogue and reconciliation enables us to discover we are members of the one human family”.