`Oceans of Peace'

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 6, 2000 by John L. Jr. Allen

Interfaith gathering hears some soothing words from Catholic leaders

In its relations with other religions, Catholicism today seems divided into two camps. One, wielding precise theological concepts, takes clear borders between faiths as its highest value. The other, driven more by a longing for unity than a need to affirm differences, pursues dialogue and theological reflection in search of common ground.

Both camps had strong influence on a Sept. 24-26 summit of religious leaders, held in the Portuguese capital where Christianity, Judaism and Islam have long shared the historical stage.

At the same time, there was agreement here that struggles against poverty, war and the death penalty create zones for interreligious cooperation without tripping anyone's theological wires.

The meeting, which drew 250 leaders of 10 religions from 52 nations, was sponsored by the Community of Sant'Egidio (see accompanying story) in tandem with the Catholic Archbishop of Lisbon.

Two deeply polarizing recent Vatican moves -- the Sept. 3 beatification of Pope Pius IX, and a Sept. 5 document asserting that followers of other religions suffer from "grave deficiencies" -- cast shadows over the gathering. Some Jewish leaders declined to participate, and representatives of other religions voiced reactions ranging from disappointment to dismay.

The Vatican document, rifled Dominus Iesus and released by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the church's top doctrinal authority, asserted that only Christians possess a "definitive and complete" revelation, and that followers of other religions may be saved only through Christ (see story, NCR, Sept 15).

Yet during the meeting, called "Oceans of Peace," Catholic officials took an approach far removed from the insensitivity and triumphalism many critics felt those early September acts implied.

Archbishop Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon warned in his opening homily Sept. 24 against "fundamentalist intransigence whereby the defense of our `truths' becomes a focus of disunion."

"The choice is not between false gods and the one God," he said. "The false gods do not exist, and the true God is but one, in which we all believe, whose face we seek, in the hope of finding that ultimate light which radiates from harmony and peace."

At the concluding ceremony Sept. 26, Policarpo acknowledged that Dominus Iesus had "created a polemic in recent days." But he said the purpose was not to question "the beauty of all paths of justice."

"In the depth of our heart," he said, is only this prayer: "Lord Jesus ... give us the power to love all the men and women of this new world, to respect, as you respect, all the valid paths that lead to the new Jerusalem."

Other Catholics were equally positive. "I take the position that all religions that exist and which are monotheistic and accept one God as origin, lawgiver, father of all mankind are at heart one religion which has undergone separations in the course of time," said Greek Catholic Bishop Lubomyr Husar of the Ukraine. "Separation is a fact of history, not of religion."

Even Pope John Paul II contributed to the conciliatory tone. "The fact of standing side by side manifests, in a visible way, how deeply the human family yearns for unity," his message read. The pope called on all religions to be "more audacious" in pursuit of dialogue.

The approach surprised some delegates. "They spoke about self-criticism and humility," said Dhirka Kurne Das, a Hindu. "I have always believed that Catholicism could be a bridge among the world religions, and here that seemed real."

Despite the good will, aftershocks from Dominus Iesus were keenly felt.

"Islam is suffering from fundamentalism, and this gives the extremists an excuse to pounce and say, `See, we told you, they do not respect us,'" said Mohammed Sammak, a Muslim who directs a dialogue with Christianity in Lebanon. "They will ask us moderates, `Why are you making peace with them? Why do you want to dialogue with them?' It makes my job much more difficult."

Sammak told NCR that Dominus Iesus has drawn extensive coverage in the Arabic-language press and that the Islamic Council, an organization of 85 leading groups throughout the Islamic world, is "very unhappy."

On Sunday, Sept. 24, the opening night of the three-day event, the Armenian Catholicos of Lebanon, Aram I Keshishian, put concerns about Dominus Iesus on the table.

"The recent statement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith raises serious questions about the future course of dialogue and ecumenical cooperation," Keshishian said. "We must confirm ecumenical Relations ... on the basis of mutual love, respect, confidence and understanding."

Catholic participants attempted to restore calm.

"Our brothers and sisters in other faiths have nothing to fear," American Cardinal James Stafford told NCR. "The document uses precise technical language because it seems to be the only way these concepts can be brought home to theologians and bishops in a theological, even canonical way. But underlying it are the key principles of the Trinity and the Incarnation, and both call us to active receptivity to others."