A lot at stake

During its history, the French society has been strongly marked by deep evolutions which throughout the years changed its religious values. Thus, Christians today coexist with worshipers of other religions, Jews, Muslims , Buddhists. “Whether they like it or not, they live in ever more intercultural and interreligious situations. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the bases and goals of interreligious dialogue”. This is the opening statement of the Catholic church’s commitment to interreligious dialogue presented by Msr. Michel Santier at French bishops’ latest plenary session (November 4-9) which held a work session on this topic. Msr. Santier , who chairs the French Episcopal Conference’s Council for interreligious relations, with the help of experts drafted a text that we summarized.Clear the field from fears and misunderstandings. The Dossier opens with a clarification. A consideration on the Catholic church’s commitment to interreligious dialogue “is needed because today many Christians do not yet perceive the importance of this dialogue and often manifest fears. These fears not only exists among most traditional currents; but also by Christians who don’t belong to a current, who in good faith highlight risks, or even dangers for the Catholic Church linked to interreligious dialogue”. This attitude is common especially with Islam. “In this situation- the group of experts writes- it is important to clear the field from various misunderstandings . First of all It is not religions that dialogue among themselves, but believers. Furthermore, dialogue doesn’t mean finding an “accord” or to ‘agree’; rather it implies that each one can affirm what they believe in, always respecting the other; and if the final goal is not conversion, the dialogue doesn’t exempt from the announcement of the Gospel”.It is not “Ecumenism”. Furthermore, interreligious dialogue must not be confused with ecumenical dialogue. The text points out “the development of different religious traditions in the history of humanity is normal”; but ” the division among Christians is an anomalous situation that should affect all Christians”. Thus “The Ecumenism’s goal is to restore unity among Christians, in compliance to Christ’s own will”. “The goal pursued by interreligious dialogue is fostering understanding and cooperation among people and communities which belong to different religions, enabling coexistence and peace”. A responsibility. The church has a responsibility. In an ever more multicultural and multi-religious world tensions grow. The stake is that of making it more “fruitful” to belong to a religious identity and “acknowledging alterity, within a lay framework”. In this sector the Church can promote respect and welcome differences, no longer perceived as threats but as reciprocal enrichment”. For the French experts the Church can thus “have a privileged role, sensitizing Catholics to the richness of their secular traditions of respect and hospitality, forming them to the art and deontology of encounter”.Conditions for Dialogue. The text also proposes some “conditions” in order to make the interreligious dialogue “authentic and fruitful”. According to the experts “the intererligious dialogue on the one hand enables to understand other point of views and on the other provides Christians the possibility to testify the Gospel”. Dialogue helps Christians to develop a deeper awareness of what they are living through and the possibility to share it with others”. Furthermore, “in order to be true and fruitful, the meeting should include men and women with the desire of getting to know each other”. Therefore dialogue calls for “regular meeting, not merely intellectual but human and serene. This requires time”. Dialogue will really be sincere if “each one has the courage to say what he deems true, without being aggressive” respecting the opinions of others because there is no charity without respect, and respect of alterity is a requirement for peace”. The Dossier concludes with a consideration: ” Dialogue is definitely a difficult and demanding journey. But we can also add that if well undertaken it enables Christians to go far in testing the deepness of Christ’s mystery”.