Issue 38 - The Pilgrim - May 2015 - The newspaper of the Archdiocese of Southwark

The Pilgrim May 2015
Focus on faith
Meeting people of other faiths
Fr David Standley, chair of the Southwark diocesan Committee for
Inter-Religious Relations, says that inter-faith dialogue is something
we can all engage in.
Evangelization
Seminar
Spreading
the Good
News
as an
Encounter
with Jesus
Christ
Saturday 16
May 2015
(10am – 1pm)
with John Huntriss (Scripture Adviser,
Clifton Diocese) at the CCF
There is no charge, but please book at the Centre for Catholic Formation
Christians, including Catholics, have
historically been quite hostile to
members of other religious traditions.
We often called them “non-believers.”
Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism
have often been ignored or dismissed
as perverse, unenlightened, even
“godless”. Anti-Semitism among
Christians has been particularly
shameful. Some Christians even
today can see no good or truth in
these venerable traditions.
But the attitude of the Catholic
Church has changed, especially since
the Second Vatican Council (1962-
1965). The document Nostra Aetate
set the Church on a new path.
The Church urges her sons and
daughters to enter with prudence
and charity into discussion and collaboration
with members of other religions.
Let Christians, while
witnessing to their own faith and way
of life, acknowledge, preserve and
encourage the spiritual and moral
truths found among non-Christians,
also their social life and culture.
What a change of language here.
This “discussion and collaboration” is
taking different forms. Many will recall
the several invitations of Pope
John Paul II to the leaders of the
world’s religions to join him at Assisi,
in order to pray for peace.
Pope Francis too has recently met
other religious leaders, and invited
both Palestinian and Israeli Presidents
to come to Rome and pray together
with him for peace in the
world.
Our own bishops have published
Bishop Pat attending a multi-faith
peace vigil for Iraq last year.
their own encouragement to “foster
and respect understanding between
the religions” in their 2010 document
Meeting God in Friend and Stranger.
They note the changing face of
Britain in respect of religious belief:
members of other faiths are our
neighbours as never before. They
reaffirm that the divine plan has its
centre in Jesus Christ, God and man,
in whom God has reconciled all
things to himself.
But we need to be open to what is
true and holy in other religions, for
this too is the work of the one Spirit
of God. Do read it - it is very readable.
How can we start? Very simply, by
engaging with our neighbours or work
colleagues who maybe Hindu, Buddhist,
Muslim, or from some other
faith.
Gradually, quite informally, as and
when, we can learn something about
their own beliefs and practices, and
sharing something of ours. Friendliness
is itself a form of dialogue.
We all carry ignorance and misconceptions
about one another, which
can dissolve through personal contact.
Volunteering also can join people
of different faiths in a natural
way around a common project, such
as a food bank, a sport, a street
party etc.
And there are more specific groups
that meet regularly to socialise and
discuss, for example, South London
InterFaith.
In our own diocese, just as there is
the Christian Unity Commission to
promote good relations with other
Christian Churches, so there is the
Committee for Inter-Religious Relations,
of which I am chair.
We try to find ways of increasing
awareness in parishes of this new
openness to other religious traditions.
There is a lot happening, especially
in London.
But the most effective contacts are
local. Begin by noticing the different
places of worship in your neighbourhood.
Visit one or two, or better, ask
a friend or neighbour to take you and
explain things.
Also, encourage your parish to include
an intercession at Mass for people
of another tradition when a big
feast occurs, such as Diwali (Hindu),
Eid (Muslim), or the Day of Atonement
(Jewish).
The ideal is that there would one
(left) Members of South London
Inter Faith group on their annual
walk.
(above) Cardinal Vincent Nichols at
the Citizens UK summit for civil
society leaders in 2013.
or two people in every parish who
would be alert to other faiths and
their festivals, perhaps look for opportunities
of dialogue, and especially
encourage parishioners in
interfaith marriages.
Could that person be you? If you
are interested, or would like more information,
please get in touch. I can
assure you that exciting new horizons
open up.
You can contact Fr David on
020 8407 9541 or e-mail:
davidjstandley@gmail.com
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