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Westminster Interfaith Newsletter
Addenda – February 2009
"A Culture of Peace Should Permeate All Aspects of Life"
Statement from the Joint Committee for Dialogue of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Cairo-based Permanent Committee of al-Azhar for Dialogue Among the Monotheistic Religions after their meeting in Rome on 24th and 25th February 2009.
Dr. Bernard Sabella, from the Catholic side and Cheikh Ali Shahata from the Islamic presented the theme "The Promotion of a Pedagogy and Culture of Peace with Particular Reference to the Role of Religions".
Discussion was marked by a spirit of mutual respect, openness, and friendship. Participants were inspired by the conviction of the importance of good relations between Christians and Muslims and of their specific contribution to peace in the world.
The following points were agreed:
- Peace and security are much needed in our present world marked by many conflicts and a feeling of insecurity.
- Both Christians and Muslims consider peace a gift from God and, at the same time, the fruit of human endeavour. No true and lasting peace can be achieved without justice and equality among persons and communities.
- Religious leaders, especially Muslims and Christians, have the duty to promote a culture of peace, each within his respective community, especially through teaching and preaching.
- A culture of peace should permeate all aspects of life: religious formation, education, interpersonal relations and the arts in their diverse forms. To this end, scholastic books should be revised in order not to contain material which may offend the religious sentiments of other believers, at times through the erroneous presentation of dogmas, morals or history of other religions.
- The media have a major role and responsibility in the promotion of positive and respectful relations among the faithful of various religions.
- Recognizing the strong link between peace and human rights, special attention was given to the defense of the dignity of the human person and his/her rights, especially regarding freedom of conscience and of religion.
- Youth, the future of all religions and of humanity itself, need special care in order to be protected from fanaticism and violence, and to become peace builders for a better world.
- Mindful of the suffering endured by the peoples of the Middle East due to non-resolved conflicts, the participants, in respect of the competence of the political leaders, ask to make use, through dialogue, of the resources of international law to solve the problems at stake in truth and justice.
Grateful to Almighty God for the abundant fruits of this meeting, the participants agreed to have the next meeting of the Committee in Cairo, from Tuesday, Feb. 23 to Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010.
Cheikh Ali Abd al-Baqi Shahata
Head of al-Azhar Delegation
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran
Head of the Catholic Delegation
[Text adapted]
