Author:
Publication: Zenit.org
Date: May 27, 2006
URL: http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=89862
Clear Talk About Problems Facing Christians
[Comment from the Hindu Vivek Kendra: Please
see the remarks at the end of the article.]
Persecution of Christians in Islamic countries
makes the news almost daily, and the Vatican is concerned. On May 17 Archbishop
Giovanni Lajolo, secretary for relations with states in the Vatican's Secretariat
of State, spoke to participants in the plenary session of Pontifical Council
for Migrants and Travelers. The May 15-17 meeting focused on the theme of
migration and Islamic countries.
After dealing with issues related to migration,
Archbishop Lajolo, the equivalent of the Holy See's foreign minister, turned
to Islam. The faith factor, he noted, is becoming more and more important
in the debate over migration.
He first addressed the issue of migration
from Islamic countries. The Holy See, he noted, has often defended the need
for migrants to be able to freely follow their religious beliefs. This freedom
includes the possibility to practice their religion, or even to change their
faith. For their part, migrants should respect the laws and values of the
society in which they now live, including the local religious values.
Turning to the conduct of Islamic countries
themselves, Archbishop Lajolo warned that we are not faced with a homogeneous
situation, but with a religion composed of many different facets. There is,
nevertheless, a recent tendency for these governments to promote radical Islamic
norms and lifestyles in other nations. He named, in particular, pressures
from groups in Saudi Arabia and Iran.
In Asia, until recently, Muslims and non-Muslims
lived largely in peace. In the last few years, however, extremist groups have
grown and religious minorities are the target of violence. The archbishop
also expressed concern over Islamic expansion in Africa, and, to a lesser
extent, in Europe.
The problems posed by the radicalization of
Islam range from Christians being unjustly subjected to trials by Islamic
tribunals, to a lack of freedom in constructing places of worship and obstacles
for the practice of faith.
The Vatican representative criticized Islamic
countries for ignoring the concept of reciprocity, common in relations among
states, when it comes to matters of faith. Islamic countries, he noted, demand
religious rights for their citizens who migrate to other countries, but ignore
this principle for non-Muslim immigrants present in their own lands.
Strategy detailed
What should the Church do in the face of these
difficulties? Archbishop Lajolo outlined recommendations:
-- Faced with Islam the Church is called to
live its own identity to the full, without backing down and by taking clear
and courageous positions to affirm Christian identity. Radical Islamists,
the prelate warned, take advantage of every sign they interpret as weakness.
-- We should also be open to dialogue, whether
with individual nations or within the United Nations or other organizations.
-- An underlying problem in dealing with Islamic
nations is the lack of separation between religion and the state. Part of
the dialogue with Islamic religious and political authorities should be aimed
at helping to develop a separation between these two spheres.
-- A particularly sensitive point is that
of respect for minorities and for human rights, especially religious rights.
The Holy See will continue to speak out at international meetings for the
human rights of migrants. For its part the international community should
ensure that humanitarian organizations do not unduly pressure recipients of
aid to change religion.
-- The Holy See will continue to declare its
firm opposition to all attempts to exploit religion by using it to justify
terrorism and violence.
-- The protection of Christians in Islamic
countries is particularly difficult in the area ranging from Turkey to the
Middle East. Solutions must be found for the many Christians who flee their
country of residence in search of safety.
-- Muslims who live in predominantly Christian
countries should be integrated into the nation.
-- The Catholic media can play an important
role in educating Christians, including those living in Islamic countries.
-- The Roman Curia together with bishops'
conferences and local churches need to work closely together in these matters,
including looking at the way to spread the Gospel in the Islamic world. This
is our duty and our right, concluded Archbishop Lajolo.
British view
Muslim-Catholic relations were also examined
recently by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. In a speech May 16 at the Oxford
Center for Islamic Studies, the archbishop of Westminster said: "Our
mutual understanding is crucial for world peace and human progress, not least
in this era when globalization and mass migration have placed Christians and
Muslims ever closer to each others, as neighbors in the same European towns
and cities."
Dialogue between the two religions must combine
both an awareness of what they have in common -- and what profoundly distinguishes
them. "Catholics, in order to be good dialogue-partners, must first be
firmly rooted in their understanding and love of Catholicism," the cardinal
stated, "and I suspect that this is true for Muslims too."
But the main obstacle to this dialogue "is
the failure, in a number of Muslim countries, to uphold the principle of religious
freedom," he added. "It is essential that Muslims can freely worship
in Oxford or London, just as it is essential that Christians can freely worship
in Riyadh or Kabul."
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor also called upon
Muslims living in Britain to speak out when Christians are denied their rights
in Islamic countries. "Where religious rights of minorities are disrespected
in the name of Islam, the face of Islam is tarnished elsewhere in the world,"
he argued.
The cardinal furthermore distinguished between
a "twisted religion" that is used to justify hatred and violence,
and true religion. True religion, he explained, points us to healing, honor
and purity.
Another prominent cardinal also recently expressed
some concerns over Islam. Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, Australia, spoke
on the theme of "Islam and Western Democracies" at a meeting of
the organization Legatus in Naples, Florida.
His speech was given on Feb. 2, but only recently
posted on the Web site of the Sydney Archdiocese. On the positive side, Cardinal
Pell noted the points in common between Christians and Muslims, and he noted
the great diversity in how Muslim beliefs are interpreted and lived.
Reciprocity
On the negative side, he observed that the
Koran contains many invocations to violence. Moreover, Muslims believe that
the Koran comes directly from God, unmediated. This makes it difficult for
the Koran to be subjected to the same sort of critical analysis and reflection
that has taken place among Christians over the Bible, according to Cardinal
Pell. What is needed, the archbishop of Sydney stressed, is dialogue between
Christians and Muslims.
The Pope spoke May 15 to the participants
gathered in Rome for the plenary session of the Pontifical Council for Migrants
and Travelers. Regarding Islam, Benedict XVI observed that in these times
Christians are called upon to practice dialogue, but without losing their
identity.
This process, the Pontiff clarified, requires
reciprocity. The Christian community, for its part, must live the commandment
of love taught by Christ, embracing with charity all immigrants. In turn,
it is hoped that Christians living in Islamic countries will also be received
well, and with respect for their religious identity. Reciprocity, it seems,
is increasingly on the Vatican's mind when it comes to relations with the
Islamic world.
