A new moral pledge

A “new moral paradigm” is “essential to address contemporary challenges”. Important challenges such as the financial crisis, the fulfilment of the Millennium objectives, the situation of the African continent, armed conflicts, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and migration flows. These are some of the themes addressed by 129 religious leaders – representing Christians of the various confessions, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists from the different denominations, Zoroastrians, Hinduists – convened in Rome on June 16-17. The meeting was occasioned by the upcoming G8 Summit due to be held in Italy (L’Aquila) next July 8 to 10. The G8 will be attended by heads of government and State from the United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada and Russia. Follows an excerpt of the final appeal issued by the promoters of the meeting that summarizes the reflections of the religious delegates.”We, leaders of the worlds religions and spiritual traditions gathered in Rome on the eve of the G8 Summit of 2009, are united in our common commitment to justice and the protection of human life, the building of the common good and the belief on the divinely established and inviolable dignity of all people from conception to death”. “In a time of economic crisis when many securities are crumbling, we feel even more acutely the need for spiritual orientation”.”The current financial and economic crisis weighs most heavily upon the poor. Addressing these related crises call for a new financial pact”.”We are convinced that, in a time of economic crisis and spiritual disorientation for the men and women of our time, religions can and must offer a decisive contribution to the search for the common good”.”There is the need for the spiritual wisdom entrusted to the great world religions so as to steer an ethical path to justice and human flourishing”.In continuity with previous world inter-religious meetings in Moscow, Cologne and Sapporo, “we continue to call for the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals. Their completion has been promised for 2015, but progress has now fallen behind” and “The current crisis has worsened the situation”. “It is our hope that the international community places Africa at the centre of policies for development, by finding new sources for financing cooperation and favouring the involvement of States and civil societies of African countries in a perspective of rebirth of the whole continent”. “Seventy years from the beginning of the great tragedy for humanity that was World War II and the many subsequent conflicts, causing human suffering, injustice and poverty, we call for nations to resist making war a means of international politics and to make every effort to establish a just peace for all”.”We request the G8 Summit to pursue rigorous implementation of nuclear reduction and non-proliferation policies”.”We press for prompt ratifications and entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty”. “Our method and our strength, the strength of yesterday, today and tomorrow will always and only be that of the transformation of hearts and shared action through dialogue. Dialogue is an art that everyone must practise and cultivate within and between religions, culture, politics and especially those who have power in the world. Dialogue requires courage and enables people to see each other more clearly, enabling us to offer life and hope to new generations. This is our renewed commitment; this is the appeal we address to the world”.