A Council of Religions, bringing together representatives of the three national churches (Protestants, Catholics, Old Catholics) and the Jewish and Muslim communities living in Switzerland: it was established today in Berne, after one and a half year’s preparations, with an official ceremony, during which the members of the Council signed a jointly-prepared agreement. The purpose of this body is: "to be a place of dialogue among the leaders of the religious communities of the country and a party which can talk with the federal authorities", in order to contribute to "religious peace in Switzerland". This body is the brainchild of pastor Thomas Wifp, president of the Council of the Federation of the Protestant Churches in Switzerland, for finding places "of regular meetings and dialogue, thus giving a clear sign of the joint responsibility of the national churches and the religious communities to promote religious peace in Switzerland". According to bishop Kurt Koch, vice-president of the Swiss Bishops Conference, "the Council of Religions is a profession of public faith: religion is of course a private matter, but it ought not to be limited to the private sphere". According to Hisham Maizar, president of the Federation of the Islamic Bodies in Switzerland, Muslims, "as members of Swiss society, think it is their duty and their responsibility to take part in the building of inter-religious peace".
