During the plenary of the Austrian bishops, a preliminary study day was devoted to “what it is that unites and what divides” in the relations between Christianity and Islam. The day was prepared by the Right Rev. Helmut Krätzl, the bishop with special responsibility for interfaith dialogue; the rapporteurs at the seminar were the Jesuit Father Christian Troll from Frankfurt and the delegate for relations with Islam in the diocese of Feldkirch, Elisabeth Dörler. In their final statement, the bishops stress that “in the daily practice of co-existence, a wide variety of possibilities for collaboration between Christians and Muslims exists in Austria” and recall Vatican Council II and its document “Nostra Aetate”. The Austrian Bishops’ Conference pledges to intensify interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims “in the interests of peace and coexistence”, a dialogue that must “be conducted with frankness and respect, though without concealing our differences”. “The premise for lasting coexistence must also hold good for Christians in countries with an Islamic majority”, underlined Cardinal Schönborn, adding that “the full respect for freedom of religion is a prerequisite of human rights. Any country that has signed up to the General Declaration of Human Rights is bound to apply this principle”, he concluded.
