INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: CARDINAL TAURAN, "A RISK AND AN OPPORTUNITY" (3)

According to Cardinal Tauran, in the interreligious dialogue "it is necessary to have a clear-cut spiritual identity and to consider the other not as a rival, but as a seeker of God; to agree to speak of what separate us and the values that unite us." Speaking of the dialogue with Islam, he said the elements that separate us are "the relationship with our respective Scripture, the person of Jesus and the dogma of the Trinity," but we are united by "our faith in the One God and the sacred character of the human person." According to the Cardinal, "Christians and Muslims can collaborate in promoting the common good, through a life of personal and community prayer." "With their spiritual commitment," they can show that "religious freedom is more than having a Church or a Mosque," but it is the chance of taking part in the public debate through culture (schools and universities) and through political and social responsibilities. Hence the importance for Muslims and Christians "to defend together the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the family," "to fight against ignorance and illness," "to offer the young moral education," "to be peace-makers." They are heralds of two key messages: "only God deserves our adoration (therefore "no" to the idols) and "in God’s eyes men are all belonging to the same family."