Two Syrian Catholic bishops
living in Lebanon told the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East that the
blossoming number of Catholic-Muslim dialogue projects has not and may
never lead to real understanding.
But a retired Vatican nuncio who now lives in Lebanon urged synod
members to increase dialogue and to find more practical ways to promote
Catholic-Muslim cooperation, including by encouraging schools to have
student bodies made up of both Catholic and Muslim youngsters.
The three focused on relations with Muslims in Lebanon in their written
submissions to the synod; their statements were released by the Vatican
Oct. 21.
Their statements differed significantly from most of the other synod
members' speeches on dialogue with Muslims in the Middle East; the
majority of synod members -- and the two Muslims Pope Benedict XVI
invited to address the assembly -- focused instead on progress in
understanding and cooperation.
In his written submission, Archbishop Raboula Beylouni, who works in the
Syrian Catholic curia in Lebanon, wrote that formal Catholic-Muslim
dialogues are "difficult and often ineffective," partially because the
Quran tells Muslims they belong to "the only true and complete
religion."
Muslims, he said, come "to dialogue with a sense of superiority and with the certitude of being victorious."
In addition, the archbishop said, "The Quran allows the Muslim to hide
the truth from the Christian and to speak and act contrary to how he
thinks and believes."
Islam does not recognize the equality of men and women and does not recognize the right of religious freedom, he also wrote.
Archbishop Beylouni said he was not advocating a withdrawal from
dialogue but said topics must be chosen with care. A good place to
start, he said, is by entrusting dialogue to Mary, whom Muslims also
hold in high esteem.
Bishop Flavien Melki, also a member of the Syrian curia in Lebanon, said
that at a time when "fundamentalism is becoming more entrenched in the
region," the idea that dialogue could lead to Muslims accepting secular
democracy "seems to be in the domain of utopia."
"Must we wait for the disappearance of Christians in the Middle East to
raise our voices and speak up with force" to call for "liberty, equality
and justice for these religious minorities?" Bishop Melki asked.
The bishop said Middle East Christians need the support of the
international community to press for the reform of Islamic regimes in
the region.
Archbishop Mounged el-Hachem -- retired nuncio to Middle Eastern
countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Yemen, Bahrain and
Kuwait -- said the Muslim world faces great challenges, including a
tense relationship with the United States and Europe because of the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a lack of democracy and freedom,
political tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims and conflicts in
Iraq, the Palestinian territories and Yemen.
Helping ordinary Catholics and ordinary Muslims learn more about each
other and work together can pave the way for a brighter future, he said.
The nuncio called for efforts to educate Christians and Muslims about
each other's faith with accurate information provided "from elementary
school up through university."
He said the church should "encourage mixed schools and exchanges between
Christian and Muslim schools" and should support summer camps where
Christian and Muslim young people live and have fun together.
The archbishop also said Catholics and Muslims must continue to carry
out social, charitable and humanitarian activities together.
SIC: CNS/INT'L