For the last seven years, interfaith dialogues between Muslims and Christians have been held in different parts of Sydney, sponsored jointly by the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia (IFAA), and Initiatives of Change (IofC)...
At a tribute dinner given by the IFAA in honour of his interfaith work, Catholic Bishop Kevin Manning, recently retired, said:
“The experience of inter-religious dialogue in the Parramatta Diocese has been one of the richest experiences of my life, especially being invited into homes, experiencing the hospitality of my Muslim brothers and sisters and getting to know their families. This is just as much part of inter-religious dialogue as meetings between experts.
“I confess that it was not on my own initiative that I became involved in inter-religious dialogue. It was at the invitation of David Mills and Keysar Trad, and later of other prominent Muslim leaders too numerous to mention.
“I continued to be involved because interfaith dialogue is the teaching of the Catholic Church and that teaching is based on the Church's belief in the unity of the human race and the God-given presence of truth and holiness in other religions. I haven't made this up: it is in the Documents of the Church...
“For the future, we must take courage and we must not flag in our commitment to inter-religious dialogue even though there are those who want us to fail. You have them in your communities and I have them in mine.
“A sense of perspective, a sense of history, and a sense of humour, all clothed in mutual respect will help us to worship the One God in peace and harmony.
“Pope John 23rd, who called the Second Vatican Council, said, ‘consult not your fears but your hopes’.”
Politicians, ambassadors, religious leaders, academics and media people were amongst those who attended the dinner. Messages of appreciation came from the Australian Governor General, Prime Minister and Opposition Leader and the NSW Governor and Premier.
David Mills from IofC, who did much to help organise the Muslim-Christian dialogues, said the aim was “not just about comparing, debating or accommodating each other. It was developing a sense of united purpose through understanding what we have in common, and seeing how to mature our Australian community in learning to appreciate the beliefs and values of others who have so much to give. They had also been designed to highlight the deeper parts of spiritual life in a society where the materialist drive does not bring satisfaction”.