East Timor bishop optimistic on nation's Muslim-Christian relations

Published: 2004-01-08

DILI, East Timor (CNS) -- An East Timorese bishop said he is optimistic about the development of democracy and relations with Muslims in his overwhelmingly Catholic country. Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, apostolic administrator of Dili and Bacau, spoke to UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand, in late December after receiving a seasonal visit by three representatives of East Timor's Muslim community. Catholics comprise 93 percent of East Timor's 750,000 people, making it the most densely Catholic country in Asia. Muslims account for 2 percent, but East Timor's only land border is with Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Bishop do Nascimento said Christian-Muslim relations in East Timor have been built over a period of nearly 40 years, with Christian and Muslim leaders regularly visiting each other during religious festivals.

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