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Patrick J Mcinerney, Editor Number 60 September 2013 EDITORIAL In June I was one of ten Catholics from around the When Cardinal Tauran presented me to the Pope as a world to participate in the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Columban priest from Australia, I said “Your Holiness, Committee in Rome. Established in 1995 by the I too have come to Rome from the end of the earth!” Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) and At this, the Pope burst out laughing and said, “Yes, but The International Islamic Forum for Dialogue (IIFD) this from the other part!” was the Committee’s nineteenth meeting. I feel enormously privileged to have shared a joke with Cardinal Tauran, President of the PCID, headed the the Pope and given him a laugh. Filling the shoes of the Catholic delegation, which included staff from the fisherman is an awesome responsibility. Hopefully, our PCID and the Pontifical Council for Culture, Maronite very brief, humorous encounter lightened his day. Bishop Paul Rouhana from Lebanon and professors from the Pontifical Gregorian University, the University But for me it was also a profound moment. Pope Francis of Notre Dame and the World Council of Churches. is a man of the people, for the people. He enjoys The Muslim delegation was meeting ordinary people led by Prof Dr Hamid Bin and taking pleasure in Ahmad Al-Rifaie, President the ordinary things of life. of the IIFD and included Like his namesake, he is academics and religious humble and simple in his leaders from Doha, Dubai, openness to people and Ireland, Italy, Morocco and in his deep concern for Saudi Arabia. the poor. Our topic was “Believers This year Pope Francis Confronting Materialism personally wrote the and Secularism in Society”. Vatican’s traditional Eid I shared the Australian message to Muslims. His experience of cooperation chosen theme of Promoting between secular and Mutual Respect through religious organizations. Education is very relevant Our deliberations were to the crises and violence summarised in a press unfolding in the Middle East. release which commits If Christians and Muslims Christians and Muslims were to practise the to the on-going path of profound and wholesome dialogue and collaboration with each other and also respect which Pope Francis with secular society. The delegates were privileged to proposes, their relations among themselves and with have a private meeting with the Holy Father, a sign of his each other would be transformed. Accordingly, we personal commitment to interreligious dialogue. dedicate this issue of Bridges to the theme of mutual respect. We share Pope Francis’ message (see insert). We share 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai’s plea for free When Cardinal Tauran presented the newly- education for all (pp. 4-5), Aftab Malik’s reflection on elected Pope to the world from the balcony of St. building respectful relations in Australia (pp. 5-6) and Peter’s Basilica on 13 March 2013, Pope Francis Ethar El-Katatney’s plea to his fellow Egyptians to stop said: “You know that the work of the conclave is to the violence (p. 7). May mutual respect transform our give a bishop to Rome. It seems as if my brother hearts, our minds, our societies and our world. cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth.” Patrick J McInerney, Editor Columban Mission Institute Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations 167 Albert Road, Strathfield NSW 2135 • Postal Address: Locked Bag 2002 Strathfield NSW 2135 Phone (02) 9352 8013 • Fax (02) 9746 8033 • Email [email protected] • www.columban.org.au NEWS FROM THE CENTRE Launch of The Golden Rule Poster Eid Celebrations The Golden Rule Poster was launched at NSW Frs Patrick McInerney and Brian Vale attended Parliament on 19th June by the Hon Victor Dominello. Eid prayers at Lakemba Mosque on 8th August and Leading representatives from various religious groups, at Granville Town Hall on 9th August, where Sheikh members of the public and Members of Parliament Alsalami publically acknowledged their presence. joined the Minister in launching the poster. Guests had the privilege of listening to a panel discussion led On Sunday 18th August Frs Patrick McInerney and by author and ABC broadcaster, Rachael Kohn. The Brian Vale and Ashleigh Green participated in the panel explored the reality of living the Golden Rule in Multicultural Eid Festival and Fair (MEFF) in Fairfield. the 21st century. More than simply words and symbols During the official programme Fr Patrick McInerney on a page, the poster reflects the mission and purpose shared Pope Francis’ Eid message about mutual of all who attended the launch and the communities respect. The festival provided an opportunity to they represented. The poster can be purchased online reconnect with our Muslim friends and broaden our at http://www.columban.org.au/thegoldenrule networks. During Eid we circulated Pope Francis’ Eid Message via post, email, Facebook and by hand. You will find the message as an insert with this edition of Bridges. Community Relations Commission Symposium On Wednesday 7th August Ashleigh Green attended the annual CRC Symposium at the Novotel Hotel in Parramatta. Local community groups were given the opportunity to showcase their projects during workshops. Ashleigh attended the media themed workshops and was inspired by the way individuals and groups are using media to engage the community and create positive change. Ashleigh Green and Fr Brian Vale at the launch. Photo by: Adam Dostalek. FEN Multifaith Prayer Vigil On Wednesday 14th August believers from twelve Teaching religions met at Martin Place for a prayer vigil about mining fossil fuels. The vigil was organized by the Fr Patrick McInerney is currently teaching an online Faith Ecology Network and Anne Lanyon played a course on Interreligious Dialogue at the University key role in its planning. Representatives from each of Newcastle. In the coming weeks he will also be religious tradition offered prayers of thanksgiving for teaching the Islamic component of an introductory the earth’s gifts and prayers of forgiveness for the course on Judaism and Islam at the Australian way we have exploited the earth. Fr Charles Rue Catholic University. prayed for leadership in our future decision making regarding the earth’s resources. Iftar Dinners See video link: http://bit.ly/15k43r0 During the month of Ramadan, staff at the Centre attended a number of iftar dinners to break the fast with members of the Sydney Muslim community. Frs Patrick McInerney, Brian Vale and Reg Howard and Ashleigh Green attended Affinity Home Iftars with Muslim families. Barriers were broken over delicious home-cooked meals and shared stories. On 18th July Frs Patrick McInerney and Brian Vale attended the Affinity Iftar dinner at NSW Parliament. Fr Patrick McInerney also attended the ISRA Iftar dinner and the Iftar dinner hosted by Cardinal Pell. Each was an opportunity for dialogue and we were humbled by the kind hospitality we received. 2 NEWS FROM THE WORLD Abu Dhabi’s Ramadan Food Wastage Campaign Mary Meets Mohammad Brian Roewe reported in ncronline that “the Environment Heather Kirkpatrick has produced a stunning Agency of Abu Dhabi has partnered with a charitable documentary about a 71-year-old Tasmanian Christian organization and a food-and-beverage chain to donate woman, Mary, meeting Mohammad, a 26-year-old each day for the next five years 250 meals of untouched, Afghan asylum seeker. There was much fear and safe, leftover food to the capital city’s homeless. The prejudice toward asylum seekers in the community agency introduced the campaign at the start of Ramadan near the Tasmanian detention centre but Mary’s life and will launch it in full at its conclusion”. The aim is to was changed once she met Mohammad in person. raise awareness of the importance of conserving their For articles and audios about the documentary see: environment “by reducing food waste at social events, restaurants, hotels, governmental organizations and in ABC Radio interview for PM by Sally Sara ‘When Mary Met Mohammad’ private entities.” ‘The Wire’ interview by Sarah Spencer For more information see: http://bit.ly/14lajlL ‘Mary Meets Mohammad’ Silsilah Dialogue Movement Wins Peace Award Tasmanian Mercury article by Emma Hope ‘Clash of Cultures Inspires Film’ Silsilah has won the 2013 Goi Peace Award, a ABC Hobart audio interview by Ryk Goddard Japanese peace prize. Silsilah is an interreligious ‘Knitting binds cultures together’ peace movement founded in 1984 in Mindanao, Philippines, by Italian missionary priest Fr Sebastiano D’Ambra to promote peace between Christians and Muslims. Since 1984 the Southern Philippines island of Mindanao has suffered from conflicts between the military, Islamic and Communist rebels. The movement has set up training in peace building and other dialogue activities, including sustainable agriculture, environmental advocacy and holistic healthcare. For more information see: http://bit.ly/1d43MBB Young Jews, Catholics and Muslims United at WYD Rio Among the many official activities at the Catholic World Youth Day celebrations at Rio de Janeiro was a meeting on 21st July 2013 between young Jews, Catholics, and Muslims at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. The aim was to have round table discussions to raise awareness of the importance of interreligious dialogue and ponder concrete ways of bettering society. The idea came from a local interfaith group which works towards mutual respect and understanding through dialogue between the three faiths. Photo: utas.edu.au For more information see: http://bit.ly/1f3Vp4G The Danger of the Single Story To the Palestinian Arab Idol, from a former Israel Defence Forces Soldier Nigerian author Chimemanda Adichie states that when we accept only a single story about someone we can A young Israeli student, Natan Odenheimer, has overlook all the complexities of people, lose connection written a moving letter to Mohammad Assaf, the winner with them as human equals and hence dispossess of Arab Idol in Gaza City.
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