Mabda Report 24/10/11

Benedict XVI: “We, the people of faith” and the interreligious dialogue with Islam

Pope Ratzinger is a promoter of the Church’s dialogue with the Islamic world, established by the Second Vatican Council, which his predecessor was actively engaged in. But Benedict XVI goes even further. He strongly believes that those who believe in God should make a special contribution to the shaping of society.

He called the meeting that will be held on 27 October in Assisi (a quarter of a century since John Paul II sponsored the conference of religious communities in the same city), as a “day of reflection, dialogue and prayer for peace and justice in the world.” By this he means, as he has often reiterated, that “we, the people of faith and religion, must bring our special contribution to building a better world.

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/homepage/world-news/detail/articolo/assisi-asis-islam-cristianesimo-chritianism-cristianismo-dialogo-dialogue-9025/

Interfaith Peace Garden sows seeds of religious harmony

After the groundbreaking for the Interfaith Peace Garden, Imam Mustafa Yigit, right, of Houston Blue Mosque hugs Rev. John Ogletree of the First Metropolitan Church next to The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas before more than 200 gathered with Houston area religious and political leaders during a prayer service calling for sensible immigration reform at The Institute of Interfaith Dialog Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, in Houston. Imam Mustafa Yigit, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, and Rabbi Michael Rinehart were a few of the religious leaders in attendance. The prayer service was followed by a series of workshops on human trafficking, work and wages, and pending federal legislation and policy. "We are renewing our commitment to our brothers and sisters," Cardinal Daniel DiNardo said.

http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Interfaith-Peace-Garden-sows-seeds-of-religious-2228709.php

Call to promote dialogue for interfaith harmony

ISLAMABAD - Speakers at a seminar on Thursday unanimously called for promotion of inter-religious and inter-culture dialogue to promote interfaith harmony in society. Addressing the participants of the concluding session of a leadership conference and worship programme held here, they said the interfaith dialogue was a must to bring peace and stability in the society. Speaking on the occasion, State Minister for National Harmony Akram Masih Gill said inter-religious and inter-culture dialogues were the need of the hour. Gill stressed for the need of holding seminars, events and meetings on interfaith dialogues to bring people of different beliefs closer to each other.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/10/call-to-promote-dialogue-for-interfaith-harmony/