US bishops' conference inaugurates Catholic-Muslim dialogue [CC]

[Catholic_Press]

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced the formation of the National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue, whose Catholic co-chairman will be Archbishop Blase Cupich of …

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[Beautiful]

“As the national conversation around Islam grows increasingly fraught, coarse and driven by fear and often willful misinformation, the Catholic Church must help to model real dialogue and good will,” said Bishop Rozanski.

Nearly all mosques in the US have been paid for or funded by Saudi Arabia and other foreign Islamic Arab Countries.
Consider how it is a crime in these Islamic countries to show any expression of Christianity.

This concern (not anxiety) is a result of knowing that more Christians were murdered for their faith just in the past half century than in any other time in history.

This is not misinformation.

Model dialogue and good will but the facts can’t and won’t be diminished.

 

[Pulvis]

I apologize at the outset that this may seem less than charitable, but any dialogue with the followers of Islam should begin with an invitation to accept Christ Jesus and the Salvation only He can offer. Anything less than that is in direct conflict with:
St. Matthew, Ch. 28
" [18] And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. [19] Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world."
drbo.org/index.htm

The Bishops need to follow the example of St. Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

 

[Beautiful]

Pulvis,
No need to apologize for that! Dialogue should in fact, begin that way! Truth!
Beautiful

 

[OraLabora]

I apologize at the outset that this may seem less than charitable, but any dialogue with the followers of Islam should begin with an invitation to accept Christ Jesus and the Salvation only He can offer. Anything less than that is in direct conflict with:
St. Matthew, Ch. 28
" [18] And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. [19] Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world."
drbo.org/index.htm

The Bishops need to follow the example of St. Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

The most important quality necessary to begin any dialogue is skill in listening, not in lecturing.

It’s not for nothing that Saint Benedict opened the prologue of his famous Rule with the word “listen”. Listening is an integral part of the Benedictine charism and without it, any “dialogue” simply degenerates into shouting past each other. No better example is what often happens on this Forum.

 

[Beautiful]

The most important quality necessary to begin any dialogue is skill in listening, not in lecturing.

It’s not for nothing that Saint Benedict opened the prologue of his famous Rule with the word “listen”. Listening is an integral part of the Benedictine charism and without it, any “dialogue” simply degenerates into shouting past each other. No better example is what often happens on this Forum.

But for those who would hasten to the perfection of that life
there are the teaching of the holy Fathers,
the observance of which leads to the height of perfection.
For what page or what utterance
of the divinely inspired books of the Old and New Testaments
is not a most unerring rule for human life?

R of B Chapter 73 On the Fact That the Full Observance of Justice
Is Not Established in This Rule

 

[Beautiful]

Persecution and suffering of Christians was foretold by Christ. It should not be our expectation to end this before Christ’s return. It is however our duty to comfort the afflicted and to speak up for them.

Dialogue on Christ suffering in every Christian persecuted for their faith.

Yes, Christ first…only Christ.

 

[Beautiful]

“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.

What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

Matthew 10: 26-27

 

[OraLabora]

R of B Chapter 73 On the Fact That the Full Observance of Justice
Is Not Established in This Rule

Holy Scripture, brethren, cries out to us, saying,
“Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled,
and he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
In saying this it shows us
that all exaltation is a kind of pride,
against which the Prophet proves himself to be on guard
when he says,
“Lord, my heart is not exalted,
nor are mine eyes lifted up;
neither have I walked in great matters,
nor in wonders above me” (Ps. 130[131]:1)
But how has he acted?
“Rather have I been of humble mind
than exalting myself;
as a weaned child on its mother’s breast,
so You solace my soul” (Ps. 130[131]:2).

(RB Ch. 7)

Let us do what the Prophet says:
“I said, ‘I will guard my ways,
that I may not sin with my tongue.
I have set a guard to my mouth.’
I was mute and was humbled,
and kept silence even from good things” (Ps. 38[39]:2-3).
Here the Prophet shows
that if the spirit of silence ought to lead us at times
to refrain even from good speech,
so much the more ought the punishment for sin
make us avoid evil words.
Therefore, since the spirit of silence is so important,
permission to speak should rarely be granted
even to perfect disciples,
even though it be for good, holy edifying conversation;
for it is written,
“In much speaking you will not escape sin” (Prov. 10:19),
and in another place,
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21).
For speaking and teaching belong to the master;
the disciple’s part is to be silent and to listen.

(RB ch. 6)

Exposing Truth is a delicate art, for if by poorly choosing our words or methods we turn away a potential disciple, we have the loss of that soul on our own conscience. Dialogue starts with listening, and possibly building on a common Truth we hold together, belief in one God, the Father of Abraham and his descendants.

 

[Beautiful]

(RB Ch. 7)

Exposing Truth is a delicate art, for if by poorly choosing our words or methods we turn away a potential disciple, we have the loss of that soul on our own conscience. Dialogue starts with listening, and possibly building on a common Truth we hold together, belief in one God, the Father of Abraham and his descendants.

The duty to instruct the ignorant is a work of mercy because there is something important that can be known and should be known to attain spiritual maturity. Cicero said, “To be ignorant of history is always to remain a child.” That kind of ignorance is not the childlike innocence that leads to the Kingdom of heaven. It is the childishness of adults who do not know that there is much they do not know.

Our Lord had something more to teach, of which the human race had previously been ignorant, despite the consolations of wisdom and the hints of prophets. It was the good news about himself, and no one anywhere shop be deprived of it: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Father George William Rutler
Feb. 17 Magnificat Year of Mercy Companion

The Truth comes hard sometimes. Only God knows the outcome of this meeting and dialogue.

 

[Darryl1958]

“As the national conversation around Islam grows increasingly fraught, coarse, and driven by fear and often willful misinformation, …"

What does that even mean.

It is a dialogue based on innuendo against the unnamed, demonizing ‘other’.

 

[Beautiful]

Unfortunately this ‘fear’ is probably due to the increase in people being prosecuted or threat to be prosecuted civilly and criminally for speech that defames Islam. This includes truthful comments about Islamic extremist terrorism and Islamic extremist persecution of religious minorities. Some perceive this silencing as just another form of Islamic extremist terrorism.

Although they will find common ground, I am confident that our Bishops will not offer a delusion that all cultures, values and religions are equal. God only knows what will happen beyond that.

Lately, I’ve been trying to imagine if my children and grandchildren will suffer similar fates as so many Christians have experienced recently in the Middle East. Am I prepared? Have I and am I preparing myself and them?
It isn’t hokey to imagine that all we have seen and heard in the news could possibly happen an ocean away.