KAICIID deplores the abuse of religion to justify violent conflict

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, based in New York, U.S.A., yesterday published a declaration of principles, signed by the foreign ministers of Austria, Saudi Arabia and Spain, as well as by Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in his role as Holy See Observer, to help build a united front to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the north of Iraq, as well as in other regions of the world. The declaration was approved unanimously by the multireligious Board of Directors of KAICIID, who represent the major world religions of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
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Posted: September 26, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7816
Categories: Communiqué, Vatican News • In this article: dialogue, interfaith, peace, violence Transmis : 26 septembre 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7816
Catégorie : Communiqué, Vatican News • Dans cet article : dialogue, interfaith, peace, violence

Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

We, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, express our profound gratitude to God for the gift of this new encounter enabling us, in the presence of the members of the Holy Synod, the clergy and the faithful of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to celebrate together the feast of Saint Andrew, the first-called and brother of the Apostle Peter. Our remembrance of the Apostles, who proclaimed the good news of the Gospel to the world through their preaching and their witness of martyrdom, strengthens in us the aspiration to continue to walk together in order to overcome, in love and in truth, the obstacles that divide us.
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Posted: November 30, 2014 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7918
Categories: Communiqué, Vatican News • In this article: Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, interfaith, pope, Pope Francis Transmis : 30 novembre 2014 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7918
Catégorie : Communiqué, Vatican News • Dans cet article : Bartholomew I, dialogue, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, interfaith, pope, Pope Francis

Bishop says interfaith dialogue can be a model for French society

Four French Imams, who’ve been part of a Catholic-Muslim delegation visiting the Vatican this week, have expressed their shock and condemnation of the attack on the satirical magazine ‘Charlie Hebdo’. Wednesday’s attack by masked gunmen in Paris left 12 people dead, with several others in critical condition.

In a statement at the end of their 3 day visit to Rome, the delegation, which includes Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, urges all believers to combat hatred and all forms of violence which destroy life, violate the dignity of the human person and undermine peaceful coexistence between peoples.

Pope Francis, who met with the delegation just as the attack was taking place, denounced the killings and offered prayers for the victims and their families. Also taking part in the delegation was Bishop Michel Dubost, who heads the French bishops’ council for interfaith relations. Philippa Hitchen talked to him about the Muslim leaders’ reactions to the attack and about the difficulty of promoting interreligious dialogue in France today…
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Posted: January 8, 2015 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=8003
Categories: Vatican News • In this article: Catholic, France, interfaith, Muslim, Pope Francis, violence Transmis : 8 janvier 2015 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=8003
Catégorie : Vatican News • Dans cet article : Catholic, France, interfaith, Muslim, Pope Francis, violence

In Asia, Pope backs interfaith dialogue — with a ‘but’

Visiting a nation torn apart for 30 years by a civil war that pit Buddhists against Hindus and Muslims, with Christians both bystanders and sometimes victims, Pope Francis was expected to have something important to say about interfaith relationships. He delivered that Tuesday in Sri Lanka, telling a cross-section of the country’s religious leaders that harmony among different faiths is critical, but it cannot come at the expense of the distinctive identity of each. Citing the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Francis said that the Catholic Church has a “deep and abiding respect for other religions.”
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Posted: January 13, 2015 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=7948
Categories: News • In this article: Asia, Buddhist, dialogue, Hindu, interfaith, Muslim, Pope Francis Transmis : 13 janvier 2015 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=7948
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Asia, Buddhist, dialogue, Hindu, interfaith, Muslim, Pope Francis

There is no conflict between our faiths and the science of climate change

On Thursday, Pope Francis issued a powerful and timely encyclical on the environment, urging humanity to come to its senses and cease its reckless onslaught against God’s creation. He addressed this letter not only to his fellow Catholics, but to all people of the world, asking people of different religious traditions to unite in common purpose to save our planet.

As religious figures, we too accept the overwhelming scientific consensus that global warming comes from human activity, as we see no conflict between faith and reason.

And, coming from the three great Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – we stand together on the need to be good stewards of the earth. All of our traditions affirm the inherent goodness of all creation, and the binding obligation on human beings to protect our common home, the planet that sustains us. The Hebrew Scriptures state clearly that the Earth belongs to God alone, and that we are merely sojourners – we do not have ownership on a permanent basis: the fruits of the earth belong to all, including the poor. This ancient teaching is affirmed by both Christianity and Islam. Christians also view the world through a sacramental lenses, believing that the redemption of Christ has in turn redeemed all of creation. And Islam can be thought of as a religion of nature, with 750 verses in the holy Qur’an speaking about our responsibility to the environment and our relationship with all creatures. Islam too recognizes that everything in the heavens and the earth belong to God, and that we are mere trustees and vice-regents.
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Posted: June 18, 2015 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=8597
Categories: Opinion • In this article: climate change, ecology, encyclicals, environment, interfaith, Pope Francis Transmis : 18 juin 2015 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=8597
Catégorie : Opinion • Dans cet article : climate change, ecology, encyclicals, environment, interfaith, Pope Francis

On Promoting Climate Justice and Ending Poverty in Canada

In conjunction with the United Nations Sustainable Development summit, currently underway, Canadian faith leaders are calling for climate justice in Canada—for all Canadians, and for the world. Together they have endorsed the statement “On Promoting Climate Justice and Ending Poverty in Canada.”

“On the same day when Pope Francis spoke at the UN General Assembly, asking for renewed ambition from wealthy countries in efforts to reach a solid international commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions, this statement echoes the need for Canada to act,” said Joe Gunn, Executive Director of Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ).

“In midst of a federal election campaign, climate challenges, ending poverty and responding with justice to Indigenous rights cannot be dismissed. These religious signatories are right to call us to greater respect for the common good.”

CPJ, an affiliate member of the CCC, helped to draft the declaration. In 2011, the “Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change” was released by the CCC.
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Posted: September 26, 2015 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=8750
Categories: Documents, News • In this article: Canadian Council of Churches, climate change, interfaith, statements Transmis : 26 septembre 2015 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=8750
Catégorie : Documents, News • Dans cet article : Canadian Council of Churches, climate change, interfaith, statements

In the Sandals of the Other – Christians and Muslims working together in Nigeria

Key stakeholders in a new inter-religious centre in Nigeria have met to plan for the centre and its work, set to launch in March 2016.

The meeting was held at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, 27 to 28 September.

Institutions represented were the Jordanian Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (RABIIT), the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI).

The project has developed as a result of a high-level international inter-religious visit to Nigeria by representatives of the WCC and RABIIT in 2012.
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Posted: September 29, 2015 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=8764
Categories: Communiqué, WCC News • In this article: Christian, interfaith, Islam, Nigeria, WCC Transmis : 29 septembre 2015 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=8764
Catégorie : Communiqué, WCC News • Dans cet article : Christian, interfaith, Islam, Nigeria, WCC

Le Dialogue hindou-catholique encourage l’hospitalité et l’ouverture du cœur dans l’accueil des réfugiés

À la suite de sa dernière réunion, le 6 février 2016 à Toronto, le Dialogue hindou-catholique du Canada a publié une déclaration commune pour réaffirmer l’importance de l’hospitalité pour accueillir l’étranger et bien recevoir le réfugié. « L’hospitalité est une valeur des plus sacrées dans plusieurs traditions religieuses, dont l’hindouisme et le christianisme », ont affirmé les membres du dialogue. La déclaration concluait par un appel à toute la population du Canada afin d’offrir « des prières pour ceux et celles qui souffrent des conséquences de la guerre, de la terreur et de la haine… » et par une interpellation à « toutes les Canadiennes et tous les Canadiens à faire preuve d’ouverture d’esprit, de sollicitude et de générosité à l’endroit des réfugiés qui arrivent chez nous, de même qu’à l’égard de tous les étrangers parmi nous. Le dialogue et la rencontre sont les ressources les plus importantes dont nous disposions pour répondre aux exigences de la crise actuelle des réfugiés. »

Le thème de la dernière réunion du Dialogue hindou-catholique portait sur la théologie de l’incarnation pour les traditions catholique et hindoue. Huit délégués de la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada (CECC) participent à ce dialogue national, dont le coprésident catholique, Mgr Daniel Miehm, évêque auxiliaire à Hamilton. M. Tinu Ruparell, Ph.D., professeur d’études religieuses à l’Université de Calgary, est le coprésident hindou. Le dialogue catholique-hindou se réunit deux fois par année, et sa prochaine réunion est prévue pour août 2016.
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Posted: March 31, 2016 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=9049
Categories: Communiqué, Dialogue • In this article: Canada, Catholic, dialogue, doctrine, Hindu, incarnation, interfaith Transmis : 31 mars 2016 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=9049
Catégorie : Communiqué, Dialogue • Dans cet article : Canada, Catholic, dialogue, doctrine, Hindu, incarnation, interfaith

Hindu–Catholic dialogue encourages hospitality and open hearts in receiving refugees

Following its last meeting in Toronto on February 6, 2016, the Hindu–Catholic Dialogue of Canada released a joint statement to reaffirm the importance of hospitality in receiving the stranger and welcoming refugee. “Hospitality is among the most sacred values in many religious traditions, including Hinduism and Christianity,” stated the members of the dialogue. The statement concluded with an appeal to all peoples in Canada “to offer our prayers to those reeling in response to war, terror, and hate…” and urging “all Canadians to respond with openness, care and generosity to those refugees who find their ways to our shores, and indeed to all strangers in our midst. Dialogue and encounter are among our most important resources for meeting the demands of the present refugee crisis.”

The theme of the last meeting of the Hindu-Catholic Dialogue was on the Theology of Incarnation in both Catholic and Hindu traditions. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has eight appointees on this national dialogue, with the Most Reverend Daniel Miehm, Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton, serving as the Catholic Co-Chair. Dr. Tinu Ruparell, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Calgary, is the Hindu Co-Chair. The Hindu-Catholic Dialogue meets twice annually and is scheduled to meet again in August 2016.
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Posted: March 31, 2016 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=9047
Categories: Communiqué, Dialogue • In this article: Canada, Catholic, dialogue, doctrine, Hindu, incarnation, interfaith Transmis : 31 mars 2016 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=9047
Catégorie : Communiqué, Dialogue • Dans cet article : Canada, Catholic, dialogue, doctrine, Hindu, incarnation, interfaith

Interfaith Representatives Call for Improved Palliative Care across Canada

Today, representatives from various faith communities united to issue a joint call to Canada’s elected officials to support a robust, well-resourced, national palliative care strategy and to raise awareness of inadequacies in palliative care, particularly in the wake of the debate over Physician-Assisted Dying/Suicide.

In addition to issuing an Interfaith Statement on Palliative Care, the organizations reaffirmed that compassion is a foundational element of Canadian identity that should directly shape Canadian public policy when it comes to end-of-life issues. The spokespersons warned that assisted dying/suicide must not become a default choice for those struggling with terminal illnesses, and that it is a national imperative to enhance access to and the quality of palliative care.
“The need for quality, widely accessible palliative care should be one of the most pressing concerns of our country,” said the Most Reverend Noël Simard, Bishop of Valleyfield, on behalf of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Faith communities, along with health care workers, have for centuries stood by the bedsides of the dying to comfort and protect, to heal and console. Today, as faith leaders, we recommit ourselves to this sacred task of providing the spiritual care so essential to palliative care.”
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Posted: June 14, 2016 • Permanent link: ecu.net/?p=9600
Categories: News • In this article: Canada, euthanasia, interfaith, palliative care Transmis : 14 juin 2016 • Lien permanente : ecu.net/?p=9600
Catégorie : News • Dans cet article : Canada, euthanasia, interfaith, palliative care