Cardinal Tauran attends Catholic–Hindu meeting in Mumbai

(June 15, 2009) A top Vatican official held a meeting with Catholic and Hindu religious leaders in India that underlined the importance of charity and education to foster mutual understanding and contribute to the common good. Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, the President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue led a 7-member Indian Catholic delegation to a meeting with 12 Hindu leaders in Mumbai on Friday. Speaking to AsiaNews after the meeting, Cardinal Tauran said he sought to understand the numerous episodes of anti-Christian violence in a country known for tolerance, religion and culture. He was referring to the attacks against Christians in Orissa and other Indian States.
The Catholic delegation included Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, whereas the Hindu delegation was headed by Swami Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt. Cardinal Tauran described the meeting as “a very positive dialogue with very positive outcome.” He said, “this was the beginning – a kind of orientation which will definitely lead to something larger”.
In a meeting with the media, Swami Sankaracharya stated that there should be no proselytism and conversion in India. Cardinal Gracias agreed that all religions should categorically denounce forced conversions, but added that in accordance with India’s rich spiritual patrimony, religious freedom and the individual’s freedom to choose his/her faith must be safeguarded and protected. The Swami and Cardinal Gracias both underlined the importance of charity and education. For both men they are the tools that will build mutual under standing between religions, particularly among ordinary people and younger generations. According to the Cardinal and the Swami, schools and works of charity are also a privileged means with which to build common good and reaffirm the centrality of the religious dimension in the life of every individual.