ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts with initiatives to promote Christian/ Muslim dialogue

Tuesday, 19 October 2004

AFGHANISTAN

2024-04-22
Commemoration of the victims of the Easter attacks: Catholic Church wants to initiate the beatification process of their martyrdom

2024-02-07
Manipur, torn by conflict, tries to reconnect the threads of dialogue

2023-12-04
The Franciscan Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Jinan celebrates the 60th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, to continue walking on the paths opened by the Second Vatican Council

2023-10-16
Prayer for the reconciliation of the peoples of Israel and Palestine

2022-02-24
Integrating refugees into society: the commitment of the Pro Bambini Association of Kabul

2021-12-18
The Barnabites, with their hearts in Kabul: "Pray for Afghanistan"

Zamboanga City (Fides Service) - In the southern Philippines the Muslim month of prayer and fasting Ramadan was marked by initiatives to promote dialogue and peace. Mindanao and surrounding smaller islands are home to the country’s Muslim minority which in recent years started a movement for independence from Manila. However today the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which leads Islamic secessionists in the south is showing a desire for opening and dialogue with the new government of president Gloria Arroyo, installed before the Summer. The recent arrival in the southern Philippines of a team of Malaysian observers, sent to mediate, would seem to indicate that negotiations are about to resume. One major question on the agenda is sure to be disarmament of separatist guerrillas, a first step for restoring peace in the area.
In the meantime Catholics in Mindanao are working hard to build good relations with Muslims, to help them integrate in the social and civil life of the country and feel they are citizens with the same rights as others as a means to create a virtuous circle of a culture of peace and tolerance especially among young people in schools and colleges.
The beginning of Ramadan14 October was marked by a series of initiatives to strengthen this spirit. For example the Silsilah Centre (meaning “chain”) in Zamboanga on the tip of the peninsula of Zamboanga, founded by Italian missionary Father Sebastiano d’Ambra PIME, organised a meeting with Muslims in a spirit of prayer communion and reconciliation.
In a message of respect and appreciation for Islam and the month of Ramadan Silsilah expressed the hope that the month of Ramadan would help believers draw closer to God and neighbour. “We hope the Lord will listen to the prayers of Christians, Muslims and all believers for a world of peace and harmony”.
Recently the Interreligious Leaders Council organised a meeting on the theme “Religion and education to values: channels for dialogue and peace” during which the results of a survey among state and private school pupils in Zamboanga were presented. According to the survey 75% of the youngsters wanted religion to be part of the regular school curriculum and most were in favour of initiatives of interreligious dialogue.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/10/2004 righe 35 parole 350)