Building relationships between Christians and Muslims Number 6159 November June 2013 EDITORIAL GodIn the took past an months enormous the world risk has in againcreating been humans.shocked There“At this timeare it alsois vital “natural”for people disastersof all faiths suchto show as Godby actsmade of usviolent free, terrorism.free to accept In April God’s a bomb love, blast but earthquakes,real solidarity in over their whichrejection we of haveviolence no andcontrol, in their but alsodevastated free to rejectthe finishing it. God line does of thenot controlBoston us.Marathon. God tremblecommitment in awe to peace.at the immenseIn particular power it is vitalof nature. that we doesIn May not adetermine soldier in us.plain We clothes are responsiblewas run down for andour build on the excellent relations we have between faith ownbutchered actions, in ablebroad to daylight respond in theas wemiddle choose, of a street free. in Therecommunities are other in this disasters, country, notlike least the withrecent the bushfires Muslim London. incommunity.” NSW, or floods and mud slides in deforested That divine risk had profound implications for the areas, where climatic conditions and cumulative universe.It is impossible For humans not to be trulyaffected to bybe these free, terrible we had acts. to humanOften the choices accusation over isa longmade period that Muslimsof time combinedo not evolveWe cannot within escape a them.material They are reported in the speak out against terroristto violence create highcommitted risk situations by their worldnews, whereforwarded events on by socialoccur media, speculated about co-religionists. The realitywhich is that threaten Muslim lives, leaders homes do onby thetalk-back basis radio.of probability, We feel revulsion at the horrible protest, but their voice of andmoderation properties. is not sensational deeds and want to find someone to blame. so is not heard. We publish statements by the not in accord with divine The National Imams Consultative Forum (NICF) and the dictate.Muslims God also cannot feel the prevent same InAustralian response National to all Imams these badrevulsion, things happening,perhaps evensince disasters,Council (ANIC) natural (p. 6), notingand suchmore divineintensely. intervention When otherwise,that the website some of thewring former their wouldpeople impair from otherthe growthreligions of handshas pages and of fatwasdo little;, rulings but thatcommit freedom atrocities which Godtheir so manyand authoritative are moved statements to respond. desiresreligious in us.affiliation Therefore, does God Negotiatorsagainst terrorism mediate in conflictIslam cannotnot get prevent aired. devastatingBut when anddating advocate back years. for others’ earthquakesmisguided Muslims, and tsunamis. acting rights. Professionals provide Norcontrary can God to express stem floods Quranic and education,Secularity healthis a challengeand social droughtsinjunctions which and cause violating death development.to all people of Firefightersfaith who cardinal Islamic principles, recognize God’s sovereignty andcarry destruction. out similar Neitheracts, their can riskover theirevery spherelives ofdefending life. As Godaffiliation save fromwith Islamextinction is homesthe Prophet and Muhammadproperties. thosebroadcast species to thewhose world biology and Donorsexercised offer both food, religious clothes cannotgives adaptall Muslims quickly aenough bad andand otherpolitical household leadership, goods. it toreputation changing by circumstances. association. Volunteersseems to be comforta particular the ButThis under is unjust. God’s providence, suffering,challenge inoffer Islam. shelter Often theand slowly and inexorably, despite openVatican their too speakshomes critically to the setbacksBeginning and with blind my own alleys, initial the world evolved in all its needy. Others open theirof ‘secularism’.hearts in prayerHowever, and myriadresponse complexity to the reports and humans of emerged free and intercession. Each one ofthe us propercan play autonomy a part. Indeed, and responsible.these violent crimes, I reflect all of the world’s religionsinterdependence teach us to care of for eachthe on the various responses to other, especially those mostreligious vulnerable. and the secular violence that Muslims and enables both to flourish and Recentlyothers make there (p. was 5). Avoiding the terrorist atrocity in Nairobi, facilitates free, democratic, whereboth shoppersextremes wereof naïvekilled indiscriminately. There This issue of Bridges reportsmulti-religious how Christianssocieties and isidealization ongoing turmoil of Islam in andSyria, accusatory where thousands scapegoating have of Muslimsin which allhave are responded equal before generously the law. Into Strugglingthe various lostIslam, their I arguelives thatand whatmillions is required have beenin these displaced. troubled disasterswith Secularity that haveRon Rolheisertouched people’sOMI provides lives, a showing useful Thetimes political is a listening instability discernment in Egypt thatcontinues sifts the to good fuel forthanalysis the of howtrue to usenegotiate of ourbetween God-given the two extremesfreedom, sectarianand the bad.tensions. This applies There not is onlyviolence to Islam and but conflict to all embodyingof naïve acceptance the love and of Godtotal andrejection neighbour. (p. 7). intraditions, Afghanistan, religious Pakistan and secular. and inWe many need toother recognize parts ofthe the goodness world. The and Royal decency Commission of the vast in Australiamajority ofis The insert4th of begins November a new serieswas Hijrah in which, the young Muslim Muslims New uncoveringpeople of all the faiths awful and trauma none. We of abuseneed to of be children. rigorously Year.and Christians The 1st will of reflectJanuary on isthe New Pillars Year of Islam, according starting to honest and just in confronting evil, wherever it is found. thewith ChristianRamadan whichcalendar. begins We next wish month. all our readers a AllWe these need disastersto preserve are and “man-made”. promote good They relations are very happy and blessed New Year. May it be a year with all. As the Bishops of England and Wales said in We welcome the election of Pope Francis (p. 4) and look theresponse result toof the bad brutal choices murder that in Woolwich: men and women, offorward new beginnings.to the leadership he will give in interreligious individually and collectively, have made, but the dialogue, especially with Muslims. victims who suffer the most are the poor and the Patrick J McInerney innocent who had no say. Editor Patrick McInerney, Editor Columban Mission Institute https://www.facebook.com/ChristianMuslimRelations.CMI 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 1 NEWS FROM THE CENTRE UN Peace Day Services Auburn Gallipoli Mosque Open Day Staff at the Centre attended two events to mark On 8 September Auburn Gallipoli Mosque opened the United Nations International Day of Peace. On its doors for the annual Open Day. Fr Patrick 21 September Fr Patrick McInerney, Fr Brian Vale McInerney joined other guests in a tour of the and Ashleigh Green attended the interfaith peace mosque, information seminars and a light lunch. After service at St David’s Uniting Church Hall, Lindfield promoting the open day on our Facebook page we where members of various faith communities offered received feedback from one young Catholic woman prayers for peace. On 29 September Ashleigh Green who attended, “I went to the Auburn Mosque Open read from Christian scripture at an interfaith service Day and it was amazing. The event itself was very at the Baha’i Temple. Both services highlighted the well organized and the people were very welcoming! need for prayer as violence and hostility endures in It really helped me learn more about the reality of the world. life for Muslims and it destroyed any prejudice and fear that I previously had.” Golden Rule Discussion, Macquarie University Eid al-Adha On 14 October Ashleigh Green led a discussion on the Golden Rule at Macquarie University’s Love, Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham’s willingness Peace and Faith event. The event began with a to sacrifice his son in fidelity to God. It is also the panel discussion featuring representatives from culmination of the Hajj Pilgrimage rituals (see Insert). the university’s diverse faith societies. Following On 15 October Fr Patrick McInerney attended the the panel discussion, the audience split into four Eid Prayers at Lakemba and then visited the Eid groups, one of which discussed the universality of Festival in Wyatt Park, Lidcombe. The following the Golden Rule and its relevance in today’s world. morning he and Fr Brian Vale attended the Eid One student noted, “It is easy to follow the Golden Prayers at the Shi’a mosque in Granville and visited Rule when I am with my friends; but when I am at the Islamic Centre at Earlwood. This expression the shops buying a shirt that was made by women of solidarity was very much appreciated and many in a sweat-shop and I know that I wouldn’t want to people thanked us for being with them on this sacred be in her position, it is much harder to follow the occasion. Golden Rule.” Harmony Walk Fr Patrick McInerney was one of 600 people from diverse national, religious and ethnic communities who took part in the second Harmony Walk in Sydney’s