The Vatican, reaching out….

Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE, wrote a beautiful letter to our Muslim brothers and sisters, for their Feast of Eid al-Fitr, at the close of the month of Ramadan.

This is what he said:

"I wish to offer to all of you, in whatever part of the world you may be, my very best wishes for a Happy Feast.

"In 1991, His Holiness Pope John Paul II wrote about the need for ‘a sincere, profound and constant dialogue between believing Catholics and believing Muslims, from which there can arise a strengthened mutual knowledge and trust.’

"On 2 April of this year John Paul II completed his earthly life. A Muslim journalist wrote: ‘The death of Pope John Paul II has been a great loss for the Catholic Church, and also for Christian-Muslim relations. There can be no compensation for this loss other than to follow in his footsteps and to continue in the way that he has traced out with the faith and courage of Assisi in 1986 - Assisi where lie the remains of Saint Francis, pioneer among Catholics of Christian-Muslim dialogue.’

"It was faith in God and confidence in humanity that impelled the late Pope to engage in dialogue. He constantly reached out to brothers and sisters of all religions, with respect and desire for collaboration. His commitment was rooted in the Gospel, following the example of the Lord Jesus who showed his love and respect for each person, even for those who did not belong to his own people.

"Continuing on the path taken by Pope John Paul II, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, when receiving the representatives of other religions, stated: ‘I am grateful for the presence of members of the Muslim community, and I appreciate the growth of dialogue between Muslims and Christians, both at the local and international levels.’

"He said: ‘I assure you that the Church wants to continue building bridges of friendship with followers of all religions, in order to seek the true good of every person, and of society as a whole.’

"Making reference to the conflicts, violence and wars present in our world, the Pope emphasized that it is the duty of every one to work for peace.

"He concluded by saying: ‘It is therefore imperative to engage in sincere and authentic dialogue, built on respect for the dignity of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God.’

"Encouraged by these words of the Pope, we must work together for greater justice and for enduring peace. Let us, as Christians and Muslims, show that we can live together in true fraternity, striving always to do the will of our Merciful God, who created humanity to be one family."

Here in the Philippines, whenever Muslims and Christians really live together, and work together, it always comes out beautifully! Frank McSorley, O.M.I., was the first Catholic Bishop of Jolo. Ninety-five percent of the students in his school were Muslim. He started a radio station, and over that station the Muslim Imam called his people to prayer. They taught deep, human, Filipino values – over the Catholic station – from the Koran!

Bishop McSorley sent one of his bright Muslim students to UST, to study medicine, on a scholarship. After this Muslim passed the Medical Board Exam, he had a chance to specialize in the United States. Bishop McSorley said: "Take that opportunity. Go!"

After years in upper New York State, the Muslim wrote to Bishop McSorley: "Would you be angry if I stayed here? I am married. I have a good position in a hospital, which needs my specialty. I have an excellent practice. . . . .But I promised to come home to Jolo!" Bishop McSorley wrote to him: "Stay! You have found the place where God wants you to be."

This Muslim had eight children. The first seven were boys. He named every one of them after Bishop McSorley: Francis I, Francis II, Francis III, Francis IV, Francis V, Francis VI, Francis VII. His eighth child was a girl. So he called her: "Frances." He treated all the Catholic priests and Sisters in his area, free of charge, out of his deep gratitude to Bishop McSorley.

In order to promote the campaign of Archbishop Capalla for "Reconciliation, Unity and Peace", we did a number of television shows on Muslim-Christian relations. In one program we presented a Maranao Princess, Baicon Macaraya. She was a young, beautiful Muslim, married, with children.

She was perfectly at ease in the studio of Family Rosary Crusade, speaking very fluently both in English and in Tagalog. She was describing, very simply, the hardships of being a Muslim in the Philippines.

She was in a beauty parlor, having her hair done. A Tagalog woman came into the parlor, with a little five-year old girl. The child was running around the parlor, as children do. The mother, irritated, called out to her, loud and clear in Tagalog: "Stop running around! If you don’t sit down and be quiet, I will give you to the Moro!"

There was a moment of death-like silence in the beauty parlor. Baicon was shamed and humiliated. But she said nothing. When the attendant finished her hair, she stood up, and put on her veil. So there she was, in full Muslim attire, obviously a "Moro". She said, quietly: "I looked at the little girl. . . . .and I smiled. I hope that – when she grows up – she will remember that I smiled."

Every one who saw that program was touched. They were thinking: "Well! If this is a Muslim. . . .if Muslims are like her. . . . .The Muslims are alright!" After that, she was invited to speak, in many places. That is dialogue, and it works!

Our hostility to the Muslims, or course, goes all the way back to the Crusades. Even our Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Victory, on October 7, goes back to the naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571, when the Christian fleet defeated the Turks. It is alright for Catholics to treasure Christianity, and for Muslims to treasure Islam, but the mutual mistrust, the fear of each other, the hatred. . . . . is all wrong! We are all brothers and sisters, one family, children of the same God.

Archbishop Fitzgerald also wrote a letter to the Hindus, praising their Festival of Diwali. In that letter he said:

"Diwali celebrates light, goodness, reconciliation, peace, harmony and happiness. Dear Hindu friends, let us continue to collaborate in building solutions to the problems we face, whether they be small or great, whether local or international.

"Through the bonds of friendship forged over the years, we Christians have come to discover that you, as Hindus, are greatly concerned about those who are suffering.

"Nostra Aetate, the declaration of the Second Vatican Council on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions, states: ‘We cannot call upon God, who is the Father of all, if we refuse to act in a brotherly way toward all men, who are created in God’s image. A man’s relationship with God the Father, and his relationship with his brother men, are so linked together that Scripture says: He who does not love does not know God.’

"In places affected by the Tsunami, solidarity across religious boundaries has brought hope to many of the victims. Teams of relief workers, belonging to different religions, have been tireless in working to alleviate immediate suffering, and to begin reconstruction. At a time when respect for basic human values appears to be on the decline, this cooperation among people of different religions is a sign that religion can be a positive force for unity in today’s world.

"May this holiday season bring you refreshment in mind and body, and renew you in spirit, to continue meeting the difficulties of daily life with courage and hope!"

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