GERMANY: BISHOPS URGE MOSLEMS TOWARDS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE

German Bishops Urge Muslims to Respect Religious Liberty
Describe Criticisms of Papal Address as Unjust

BERLIN, OCT. 3, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The German bishops described as unjust the interpretation that many Muslims made of a fragment of Benedict XVI's address at the University of Regensburg on Sept. 12.

In a message published last Thursday at the end of their plenary assembly, the prelates rejected outright the attitude of those who continue to fuel the controversy, "persevering in the presentation of accusations, demands and even threats."

"The Catholic Church and all people who, in Germany and throughout the world, respect and defend freedom of speech, will never allow themselves to be intimidated," they asserted.

The prelates manifested unanimously their hope that Muslim authorities worldwide will refrain from contributing in any way to "exacerbate the situation again," because "any ambiguity leads only to discord and must be avoided."

In this context, the prelates have noted with concern the harassment and attacks that Christian minorities have suffered in some Muslim countries and above all the murder of a woman religious in Somalia.

At the same time, the bishops said they considered it a given that representatives of Islam are opposed, in unequivocal terms, to any legitimization of violence and any manipulation of religions for political ends.

The Catholic bishops acknowledged that in the course of history Christian churches have known the temptation to use violence -- and many times fallen for it.

Because of this experience, a dialogue is more necessary than ever between Christianity and Islam "which might serve both sides to purify the memory and give credit to the common testimony of religions for peace and against violence," they continued.

Reciprocity.

...

"We implore the Muslim organizations in Germany to commit themselves effectively for this respect of freedom of religion in the native countries of Muslims living among us," wrote the prelates.

After stating that "to insult or profane religious faith is an abuse of freedom," the German prelates explained that there is a very fragile balance between the right to freedom of speech and the right to have one's religious convictions respected.

The bishops concluded by referring to another address of Benedict XVI, dated Aug. 20, 2005, to Muslims on the occasion of World Youth Day in Cologne: "Interreligious and intercultural dialogue between Christians and Muslims … is in fact a vital necessity, on which in large measure our future depends."


Pertinent Links:

1) German Bishops Urge Muslims to Respect Religious Liberty