Pope Benedict gives response to Muslim Scholars

BBC NEWS | Europe | Pope decries 'religious' violence

Pope Benedict XVI has urged world religious leaders not to allow God's name to be used to justify violence.

He said: "religions must never become vehicles for hatred". He also said that the Catholic Church would continue to seek dialogue to bridge the gap between the cultures:

"In a world wounded by conflicts, where violence is justified in God's name, it's important to repeat that religion can never become a vehicle of hatred, it can never be used in God's name to justify violence," the Pope told the gathering.

"On the contrary, religions can and must offer precious resources to build a peaceful humanity, because they speak about peace in the heart of man.

"With respect for the differences between different religions, we are all called to work for peace and an effective effort to promote reconciliation between peoples."

The Pope highlighted criminal violence in Naples

The Pope also made it clear that he will never budge on traditional Catholic teaching, that Catholicism alone is the one true faith.

Prior to the meeting of religious leaders the Pope celebrated an open air Mass in Naples, but there was a poor turnout for the Mass. Pope Benedict called for a profound renewal in the city of Naples, a city plagued by unemployment and a high crime rate. He singled out the activities of the local mafia of Naples, the organization that controls much of the city's economy.

"How important it is to intensify efforts for a serious strategy of prevention focusing on schools and the workplace and on helping young people spend their free time," the Pope said.

"Everyone must intervene against violence."

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Vatican responds to call from Muslim scholars

A top Vatican official has praised the Muslim call for dialogue whilst at the same time saying that there are difficulties in having a real theological debate because they saw the Koran as the literal word of God and would not discuss it in depth.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran stated in an interview in the French Catholic daily La Croix, that Christians would have to discuss the curbs on building churches in the Islamic world in any dialogue with the Muslim scholars.

The Cardinal stated that: "Muslims do not accept that one can discuss the Koran in depth because they say it was written by dictation from God. With such an absolute interpretation, it is difficult to discuss the contents of faith."

The fact that Muslims can build mosques in Europe (and elsewhere) while many Islamic states limit or ban church building cannot be ignored. "In limited dialogue among believers, it is fundamental to say what is good for one is good for the other" he said.
Whilst other Christian denominations welcomed the letter from the Muslim scholars, the key to any coordinated response is the Catholic response. It is expected that Pope Benedict will make a response to the appeal from the Muslim scholars when he addresses an interfaith meeting in Naples.

A Miracle sign in the fire?

Is this Pope John Paul II waving from beyond the grave? Vatican TV director says yes | the Daily Mail

The Daily Mail reports on a photograph that was taken during a ceremony in Poland to mark the second anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. The shape of a figure was not present in two previous frames by the same photographer, but this one, which was taken at the moment of the death of Pope John Paul II looks very much like an image of the late Pontiff.

What are we to make of this photograph? Personally, I do not know what to think. I see the fire, and I see the image, and when I see a photograph of the late Pontiff, I can see the resemblance of our well loved Pope JPII. What purpose does such a sign prove? Perhaps it indicates to those who lack faith in God that there is life beyond the grave.

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Russian Orthodox patriarch talks of a meeting with pope

Russian Orthodox patriarch talks of a meeting with pope - International Herald Tribune Could it be that at last the Orthodox and the Catholic Church in Rome will be reunited? The signals coming from the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II seems to indicate that there is a good potential for the kind of unity that has been missing for more than 1000 years.

At the start of a visit to France, Patriarch Alexy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, also predicted that a meeting with the pope might take place within two years. The two churches must cooperate to combat the rise of same sex marriages and "propaganda in favor of euthanasia and abortion," the patriarch said in an interview with the daily Le Figaro, adding that he had "the same approach" to Europe's lack of spiritual values as Pope Benedict XVI.

The patriarch will also meet with the Catholic Bishops' Conference and President Nicolas Sarkozy. In his interview in Le Figaro, Alexy said that, in terms of a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, he excluded "nothing." It could happen, "perhaps not in a month but in a year or two."

Hans-Gert Pöttering, president of the European Parliament and a practicing Roman Catholic, described the visit to France and meeting with Sarkozy as "highly significant at the current time," adding, "We need this dialogue if we are to avoid a "clash of civilizations."

Despite the positive message from the patriarch, obstacles could still prevent a meeting with the pope. Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, underlined the problems of "missionary activities among some people belonging to the Catholic Church in Russia and some Greek Catholics in some parts of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan."

It is sad to think that there are priests underneath Patriarch Alexy II who are still placing obstacles in the way of any unity between the two halves of the Catholic Church. The alleged missionary activities have in fact helped the Orthodox to re-establish themselves after the fall of Communism. It is not really fair to blame the Catholic Church of Rome when in fact the people are hungry for knowledge of God that had been kept away from them for so long. Rather than claiming a false sense of hurt, they should be rejoicing that the people of Russia are returning to the faith. Let us pray for this meeting. It is essential that these two heads of the Church come together for a meeting, and the sooner the better.

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