Dialogue – Catholic structure and terminology
Interfaith, interreligious, ecumenical
Vatican: Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue,
Commission for Religious Relations with Jews within the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
England and Wales – Committee for Catholic Jewish
Relations and Committee for Relations to Other
Religions
Locally: Coordinator in each Diocese (Cambridge
belongs to East Anglia)
Meeting God in Friend and Stranger. Fostering respect
and mutual understanding between the religions
New teaching document –
www.catholicchurch.org.uk/interreligious
At the core: A summary on the Catholic theology of
interreligious dialogue
Message to Catholics: Interreligious dialogue is a duty!
Dialogue can take many forms:
o Religious Experience
o Action
o Life
o Theological Exchange
“mutual understanding and enrichment”
Learning from each other – openness about own faith
(and own judgements)
Shared challenge – religion becoming ‘private’ and
relativism
Catholic view:
•Duty to seek truth – freedom of religion follows
•“Signs of the times” – globalisation
•Continuation of the work of Jesus
All involved: A good knowledge of their own faith,
and a willingness to overcome prejudice (their own as
well as those of others!)
Theology
Nostra Aetate (“In our times”) – Second Vatican
Council (1962-65)
Developed from Jewish-Catholic (“our dearly beloved
brothers” – “olive tree image”) to interreligious
Statements on special relationships with each religion
In all teaching: Jesus Christ as the central “good news”
of Christianity and the conviction that God wants the
same good end for all people
Dialogue is needed!
Because the Church continues a dialogue God
has begun and continues (signs of the times)
Because there are “practical” outcomes
Because of what is true and holy in other
religions can be an inspiration for Christians
Because of the spirituality of difference
Because it is part of sharing the good news without
expectations: “honest witnessing and sincere listening”
Because we are brothers and sisters (the same plan for
all, the same rights and dignities, and our shared
questions)
John Paul II: unity that is
“radical, fundamental and decisive”
Shared prayer
Same motivation – but a prayer reflects the tradition it is
set in
Respect for differences and need for shared prayers – to
grief, to celebrate, to share experiences
Assisi Peace Prayers: “We don’t come to pray together,
but we come together to pray”:
Opportunities:
Multi-faith pilgrimages, “respectful presence” at each
other’s places of worship, shared responses to events (e.g.
Holocaust remembrance)
Daily life
Marriages between religions
- can be the ideal of a dialogue of life
- ways can be found to adapt the ceremony
- many marriage and family values are shared
-in need (and deserving of!) continued support
Involvement at all levels
- Through the structures of the Church
(youth work, education)
- By making resources available
Involvement at all levels (continued)
- By taking up offers offer dialogue – government,
forums, organisations…
- Religious orders
-Schools (within and to the outside, learning from and
learning about)
- Chaplaincies
- Using cooperation that already exist with 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