Dialogue

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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)
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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!
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• Dialogue can take many forms
• Religious Experience
• Action
• Life
• Theological Exchange
• mutual understanding and enrichment
• Learning from each other openness about own
  faith (and own judgements)

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• 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!)

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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
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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
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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
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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 dont come to pray together,
but we come together to pray Opportunities
Multi-faith pilgrimages, respectful presence at
each others places of worship, shared responses
to events (e.g. Holocaust remembrance)
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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
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• 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

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• 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 Churchs work