Religions are messengers of peace and reconciliation, asserts cardinal

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Tauran, Jean-Louis Pierre*
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Special message of Pope Benedict XVI in English to the peoples of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories, at the end of the General Audience. May 6th, 2009

, Nov 13, 2008 / 11:45 am (CNA).- Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, stressed in his speech to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York that “Religions, despite the weaknesses and contradictions of their members, carry a message of reconciliation and peace."

In his Wednesday speech on the theme, “Culture of Peace, the prelate stressed that the U.N., “by its nature and mission, should be a school of peace.” Here, we must "learn to think and act while always bearing in mind the legitimate interests of all sides." Member countries, he continued, “must strive to overcome the simplistic logic of the power of force and replace it with the power of law and the wisdom of peoples, becoming 'builders of peace'.”

Therefore, he added, “in this demanding task, individual believers and communities of believers have their place and their role to play. Religions, despite the weaknesses and contradictions of their members, carry a message of reconciliation and peace."

Having stressed that believers must be "coherent and credible," the Cardinal said that Christians “cannot use religion to attack freedom of conscience, justify violence, spread hatred and fanaticism or undermine political and religious authority."

He went on: "Believers, in contributing to public debate and participating in the societies to which they belong, feel themselves called to co-operate in promoting the common good, which rests on a platform of values shared by everyone, believers and non-believers alike: the sacredness of life and the dignity of human beings, respect for liberty of conscience and of religion, practice of responsible freedom, acceptance of different opinions, correct use of reason, appreciation for democratic life and care for natural resources, to mention but a few," he said.

Concluding his speech, Cardinal Tauran called on his audience to “find the path to a safer and more united world,” without renouncing their “cultural and religious identity.” We cannot “rest content with mere tolerance and vague commitments, let us make fraternity more than an ideal, a reality!"

Comments: 4

Subscriber comments:

Published by: pinetree
Milan/Italy 11/16/2009 05:50 PM EST

Jack says: "As for the Muslims, they despise the west and always have since their religion was invented. Their history is entirely one of bloodshed and subduing of nations by violance." So is the Christian old testament, only that Christians have learnt to pick and choose and have become expert mirror climbers. It's a good thing, but you could help muslims do the same to the sunnah, which contains all the violance, the Koran is less violant than the old testament.

Published by: Robby
South Africa 11/28/2008 11:07 PM EST

The unity that people like Rick Warren, the Catholic churcrh and all these different beliefs are trying to form does not come from God and it is the beginning of the forming of the one world church of which the Antichrist will be the head. I cannot see how they think there can ever be spiritual unity outside of Christ. There can only be unity amoungst when peopple are truely born again and filled with the Precious holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit alone can bring unity between true believers in Jesus Christ. Neither Mary ,Mohammed or anyone else died for our sins and then rose again and is right now seated at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus alone is Lord. Robby

Published by: Jack
NY 11/17/2008 10:16 AM EST

Despite the Cardinal saying the religions are of peace, I still will say how it's relativism. Why the Church continues to relativize religions in a certain sense is beyond me. It just seems that way. There's always a sort of tolerance and acceptance for othr religions. On the Catholic Faith is the way.

Islam basically has an Arianistic approach to Jesus. It denies His divinity and rejects the Trinity.

The Church needs stop reltivizing religions. It seems as if this is done to not hurt people's feelings, but look, only Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

When there is dialogue with Jews, they must discuss the Bible. Do Catholics discuss Jesus the way they are suppose to them? They should. St. Therese Liseaux had a favorite book calle "The End of the Present World." It quotes scholars about how the great Antichrist before the end of the world will be Jewish because the Jews reject Jesus. It will be a kind of chastisement.

As for the Muslims, they despise the west and always have since their religion was invented. Their history is entirely one of bloodshed and subduing of nations by violance.

Published by: H.J. D"cruz
Karachi Pakistan 11/14/2008 03:30 AM EST

The Cardinal is absoletely right provided the other party specially muslims practice it. Muslims are looking for world domination and this agenda is pretty evident in the Middle East, Pakistan, Afhansitan and other muslim countries against mon-muslims particularly Jews and Christians.Islamic clerics preach hatred against the west, jews & Christians from their mosque pulpit and with laud speakers. People outside the mosque also hear it.
Their madrassah also preach hatred of infidels and this is taught to young childres from early age.The so claaed Christian west is the agenda.

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