THE INTERFAITH CONVERSATION

An Introduction

By Paul McKenna
September 2001

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Fifty years ago, who could have predicted...

• that Catholic teachers, in various parts of Canada, would one day emerge as pioneers in the teaching of world religions?
• that some Catholics, in various parts of the world and at various levels of the Church, would one day emerge as leaders in the international interfaith movement?
• that a Pope would one day emerge as perhaps the most influential interfaith figure on the planet?

As more and more regions of the world become environments of multiculture and multifaith, there is occurring an encounter of religions that is new to history. At the same time, the great faiths of the world are talking to one another in a fashion that is new, challenging and exciting. Pope John Paul II and the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue have asked all Catholics to join this interfaith conversation.

Someone once defined interfaith dialogue as God’s all-important business of unity and reconciliation. In this regard, Pope John Paul continues to lead the way. In the January-February 2000 issue of Scarboro Missions magazine, we chronicled the career of this courageous “interfaith giant.” Despite the limitations of an aging and fragile body, he perseveres in God’s business of unity and reconciliation. Three recent gestures stand out: the historic visit to the Holy Land; the apology to the Greek Orthodox Church; and the first-ever papal visit to a Muslim mosque (Syria).

This edition of Scarboro Missions reports on Scarboro Missions’ ongoing interfaith journey. Our recipe for interreligious dialogue is very simple—we bring together people of various faiths for interfaith conversation. We are committed to building a family of faiths in which interpersonal, intercultural and interreligious relationships are nourished.

At all times we keep one eye fixed on social justice. On a planet-wide scale we are witnessing the beginnings of a wedding of the social justice and interfaith movements, and we are committed to this marriage.

Each year, the Vatican sends greetings to all Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims in the world. In last year’s statement to the international Muslim community, the Church strongly encouraged youth involvement in interfaith dialogue. Accordingly, this edition of the magazine also reports on Scarboro Missions’ interfaith work with young people.

A year ago, we published The Golden Rule Across the World’s Religions poster and have sent a copy to Pope John Paul II. We see this poster as a witness to unity and reconciliation, helping to bring God’s peace to our world.

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