AMERICA/UNITED STATES - Birth of the "Catholic-Muslim National Dialogue"

Saturday, 20 February 2016 dialogue   islam   local churches  

Washington (Agenzia Fides) - Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago will be the first co-president of a new Catholic interfaith forum of meetings called "Catholic-Muslim National Dialogue", organized by the Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the US episcopal Conference (USCCB).
The Commission has been sponsoring Catholic-Muslim dialogue sessions at a regional level for over two decades. Mgr. Mitchell T. Rozanski from Springfield, Massachusetts, president of the Commission, said that "now is the right moment to start dialogue at a national level".
"While the fear of Islam in society increases, the Catholic Church must help to guide dialogue and goodwill", said Bishop Rozanski. "Our dialogues have had the objective of a greater understanding, mutual respect and cooperation between Muslims and Catholics. The members have established lasting ties of friendship and a deep sense of confidence. I am grateful to Mgr. Cupich for having accepted to represent our conference", he said.
The current Catholic-Muslim dialogue sessions are held at a regional level in areas such as the Mid-Atlantic (in collaboration with the Islamic Circle of North America), Midwest (in collaboration with the Islamic Society of North America) and the West Coast (collaboration with the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County). Each meeting is co-chaired by a bishop and a Muslim leader. These dialogues will continue in coordination with the new national dialogue. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 20/02/2016)


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