Dialogue – Catholic structure and Dialogue – Catholic structure and terminologyterminology

Interfaith, interreligious, ecumenicalInterfaith, interreligious, ecumenical

Vatican: Pontifical Council for Interreligious Vatican: Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Commission for Religious Relations Dialogue, Commission for Religious Relations with Jews within the Pontifical Council for with Jews within the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian UnityPromoting Christian Unity

England and Wales – Committee for Catholic England and Wales – Committee for Catholic Jewish Relations and Committee for Jewish Relations and Committee for Relations to Other ReligionsRelations to Other Religions

Locally: Coordinator in each Diocese Locally: Coordinator in each Diocese (Cambridge belongs to East Anglia)(Cambridge belongs to East Anglia)

Meeting God in Friend and Stranger. Meeting God in Friend and Stranger. Fostering respect and mutual Fostering respect and mutual understanding between the religionsunderstanding between the religions

New teaching document – New teaching document – www.catholicchurch.org.uk/interreligious

At the core: A summary on the Catholic At the core: A summary on the Catholic theology of interreligious dialoguetheology of interreligious dialogue

Message to Catholics: Interreligious Message to Catholics: Interreligious dialogue is a duty!dialogue is a duty!

Dialogue can take many forms: Dialogue can take many forms:

o Religious ExperienceReligious Experience

o ActionAction

o LifeLife

o Theological ExchangeTheological Exchange

““mutual understanding and mutual understanding and enrichment”enrichment”

Learning from each other – openness Learning from each other – openness about own faith (and own judgements)about own faith (and own judgements)

Shared challenge – religion becoming Shared challenge – religion becoming ‘private’ and relativism‘private’ and relativism

Catholic view:Catholic view:

•Duty to seek truth – freedom of Duty to seek truth – freedom of religion followsreligion follows

•““Signs of the times” – globalisationSigns of the times” – globalisation

•Continuation of the work of JesusContinuation of the work of Jesus

All involved: A good knowledge of All involved: A good knowledge of their own faith, and a willingness to their own faith, and a willingness to overcome prejudice (their own as overcome prejudice (their own as well as those of others!)well as those of others!)

TheologyTheology

Nostra Aetate (“In our times”) – Nostra Aetate (“In our times”) – Second Vatican Council (1962-65)Second Vatican Council (1962-65)

Developed from Jewish-Catholic (“our Developed from Jewish-Catholic (“our dearly beloved brothers” – “olive tree dearly beloved brothers” – “olive tree image”) to interreligiousimage”) to interreligious

Statements on special relationships Statements on special relationships with each religionwith each religion

In all teaching: Jesus Christ as the In all teaching: Jesus Christ as the central “good news” of Christianity central “good news” of Christianity and the conviction that God wants the and the conviction that God wants the same good end for all people same good end for all people

Dialogue is needed!Dialogue is needed!

BecauseBecause the Church continues a the Church continues a dialogue God has begun and dialogue God has begun and continues (signs of the times)continues (signs of the times)

BecauseBecause there are “practical” there are “practical” outcomesoutcomes

BecauseBecause of what is true and holy of what is true and holy in other religions can be an in other religions can be an inspiration for Christians inspiration for Christians

BecauseBecause of the spirituality of of the spirituality of differencedifference

Because Because it is part of sharing the good it is part of sharing the good news without expectations: “honest news without expectations: “honest witnessing and sincere listening”witnessing and sincere listening”

BecauseBecause we are brothers and sisters we are brothers and sisters (the same plan for all, the same rights (the same plan for all, the same rights and dignities, and our shared and dignities, and our shared questions)questions)

John Paul II: unity that is John Paul II: unity that is “radical, “radical, fundamental and decisive”fundamental and decisive”

Shared prayerShared prayer

Same motivation – but a prayer reflects Same motivation – but a prayer reflects the tradition it is set in the tradition it is set in

Respect for differences and need for Respect for differences and need for shared prayers – to grief, to celebrate, shared prayers – to grief, to celebrate, to share experiencesto share experiences

Assisi Peace Prayers: “We don’t come to Assisi Peace Prayers: “We don’t come to pray together, but we come together to pray together, but we come together to pray”:pray”:

Opportunities:Opportunities:

Multi-faith pilgrimages, “respectful Multi-faith pilgrimages, “respectful presence” at each other’s places of presence” at each other’s places of worship, shared responses to events worship, shared responses to events (e.g. Holocaust remembrance) (e.g. Holocaust remembrance)

Daily life Daily life

Marriages between religionsMarriages between religions

- can be the ideal of a - can be the ideal of a dialogue of lifedialogue of life

- ways can be found to adapt - ways can be found to adapt the ceremonythe ceremony

- many marriage and family - many marriage and family values are shared values are shared

-in need (and deserving of!) -in need (and deserving of!) continued supportcontinued support

Involvement at all levelsInvolvement at all levels - Through the structures of the - Through the structures of the ChurchChurch (youth work, education)(youth work, education) - By making resources available- By making resources available

Involvement at all levels (continued)Involvement at all levels (continued)

- By taking up offers offer dialogue – - By taking up offers offer dialogue – government, forums, organisations…government, forums, organisations…

- Religious orders- Religious orders

-Schools (within and to the outside, Schools (within and to the outside, learning from and learning about)learning from and learning about)

- Chaplaincies Chaplaincies

- Using cooperation that already exist Using cooperation that already exist with other churcheswith other churches

Dialogue

Expresses the Hope of the Church

Shows how the Church sees herself

Is open, honest and without expectations

Forms a part of all the Church’s work