Indispensable dialogue” “” “

REASONS for DIALOGUE. Walking in the midst of the crowd in Istanbul in recent days, I have been reflecting on the mystery of the human person. I feel one of them, but at the same time I see the distances between us that only God who is love can overcome. I think of Izmir, where our little church is situated and where we have so many friends, who have got to know us and now feel affection for us and respect us. The Islamic protests that have been convulsing the world in recent days enable us to grasp that the conduct of some Western politicians and journalists may provide a pretext for the exploitation of religion. Each conflict between the West and the Islamic countries may cause the most serious consequences for the life and future of the Church wherever Christians represent only a minority. That’s why dialogue between religions is indispensable: a dialogue to be intended as ways of encounter between human beings. It involves, above all, the need for mutual understanding and recognition of the equal authority of both sides. The second aspect, no less important, is the mutual recognition of the human rights established by the UN Universal Declaration. What’s at issue here is the very serious problem of the freedom (and the practice) of religion in some Moslem countries and the principle of the freedom of choice of religion, which is denied in practice, if not in law, in all Islamic countries. We also need to educate the young to accept those who are different. Mutual understanding helps to overcome fears and formulate a long-term project of peaceful co-existence. We need, moreover, to make an effort to look back at history with objectivity in order to purify our memory and heal the wounds inflicted on each other in the past. For us Christians the reason for dialogue is the example of the Master: God became man to dialogue with everyone, even with his enemies. The Son of God who dialogues with those who have condemned him to death, in a trial against human and religious justice, becomes the paradigm of the cross, the ultimate weakness, which is the inadequacy and poverty of God himself, who needs to dialogue to save mankind A LOOK AT TURKEY. The Church in Turkey has taken significant steps in inter-religious dialogue, at the level of cooperation with the Faculties of Islamic theology. It has realized this dialogue in the projects of some religious communities and in the annual symposium on dialogue, organized by the Capuchins. We promote the dialogue of life, experienced every day in good relations with people who appreciate it and return it. Of course, this is not always easy for our faithful, because the sole fact of being Christians involves difficulties. There also exists a dialogue between Catholic Church and Turkish State; the Church asks especially that its juridical personality be recognized and for the same rights enjoyed by non-Christian religious communities in Europe. Unfortunately the Turkish State continues to be intransigent. It is a test bed for Turkey, which must allow the world to see its respect for human rights including the fundamental right for the existence of a Church which comprises a community of some 15,000 people. DON ANDREA SANTORO. The life and work of Father Andrea Santoro, after his tragic death, continue to be denigrated by the Turkish press of the nationalist right and the Islamic press which accuse him of proselytism. His murder is a very serious episode. But the Islamic fundamentalist press is trying to minimize it. The death of don Andrea is a heinous crime, and we condemn it without half measure, while at the same time forgiving his murderer as Jesus asks us to do. And we will continue to love also our persecutors. The Church founded by Christ is the only one which in the face of the barbarous death of its sons continues to repeat the words of the Master: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. FUTURE OF THE TURKISH CHURCH. This tragic incident, and other recent lamentable episodes, poses a serious question about the future of the Church in Turkey, which says it wants to become a member of the EU. These incidents also draw attention to other political crimes and crimes against freedom of the press that still remain unresolved. In my fifteen years spent in the Moslem world, studying Arabic, I have struggled to learn by heart the verses of the Koran, and the road towards entering into relation with Muslims, by learning the language and entering into the culture of the host community, seemed an uphill task. But I had already taken the first step. I had begun a journey towards others, towards the human person and his heart. And I have never tired of going forward along that road, notwithstanding all the difficulties it has involved and the suffering of a voluntarily chosen exile. That’s my truth and that’s how I see the arduous journey of dialogue.