Cardinal Urges Objective Teaching of Religion in Message to Muslims for Ramadan
(27 Aug 10 – RV) “Violence among followers of different religions, is, unfortunately,
a pressing subject, at least in certain areas of the world”, says Cardinal Jean Louis
Tauran, President of the Vatican’s Council for Inter-religious dialogue. This is
why - he adds in his message marking the Islamic feast of Id al-Fitr and the
end of Ramadan – Christians and Muslims must work together to overcome it.
The
theme for this years message was also the topic of discussions at the last meeting
of the Pontifical Council and al-Azhar Permanent Committee for Dialogue among the
Monotheistic Religions.
In his message published Friday, Cardinal Tauran shares
the meeting’s conclusions. He notes the many causes for violence including: “the
manipulation of the religion for political or other ends; discrimination based on
ethnicity or religious identity; divisions and social tensions”, as well as “ignorance,
poverty and underdevelopment”.
The Cardinal invites civil and religious authorities
to “offer their contributions” for a solution “for the sake of the common good of
all society” and calls on civil authorities to “safeguard the primacy of the law by
ensuring true justice to put a stop to the authors and promoters of violence”.
Cardinal
Tauran also urges Christians and Muslims “to recognize what we have in common and
to respect differences, as a basis for a culture of dialogue”; he recalls “the importance
of education towards respect” at home, in the school, in churches and mosques.
“Teaching
by religious leaders, as well as school books which present religions in an objective
way, have, along with teaching in general, a decisive impact on the education and
the formation of younger generations”.
Only in this way, he concludes “we will
be able to oppose violence among followers of different religions and promote peace
and harmony among the various religious communities”.