Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - "We know how much you are suffering, dear Muslim friends, in seeing terrorism practiced in different parts of the world in the name of Islam and in the name of Allah": is what is written in an open letter to Muslim friends by the PIME missionary Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra, founder of the movement "Silsilah" for Islamic-Christian dialogue, in the southern Philippines.
In the letter, sent to Fides, the missionary notes: "You are not the only ones who are suffering, once again, for this act of terrorism perpetrated in the name of your religion. I remember the pages of history when similar things in the name of the Catholic faith happened. Fortunately, those days are over. Even Christians today do terrible things, but not in the name of their religion or in the name of God. They are doing it in the name of another 'god' who is the god of money and the god of power".
Fr. D'Ambra recalls that Muslims believe in the message of "mercy and compassion" and that "the spiritual elements of Islam and many Islamic traditions, such as Sufism, today are not fully appreciated" while "sectors or groups are trying to destroy Islam in the name of Islam". Therefore, one asks the missionary: "what has become of the message of mercy and compassion we read in almost all the verses of the Holy Quran?". "What can we do together?" He continues.
D'Ambra recalls the experience of "Silsilah", which has always insisted on a dialogue that begins "from a spiritual dimension". A dialogue that "starts from God and leads people to God".
"As a Catholic, I believe that today Christians and Muslims have a common mission, to work together for the common good built on the centrality of God. Even if our understanding of God is different - he explains - we must pray, we have to carry out acts of solidarity, we have to respect all, we have to take care of the earth, together" in order to live and witness" a mission of dialogue and peace". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/01/2015)
