Speakers say interreligious dialogue changes faith communities

Published: 2005-09-27

ROME (CNS) -- Forty years of official engagement in interreligious dialogue have changed not only the individuals involved in dialogue, but have caused their faith communities to change somewhat as well, said speakers at a conference in Rome. Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, opened the Sept. 25-28 conference at Gregorian University saying that dialogue helps individuals and religions clarify their own identities as they explore similarities and differences with others. The conference marked the 40th anniversary of "Nostra Aetate," the Second Vatican Council's declaration on interreligious dialogue. The gathering, which brought together more than 350 people from more than 20 countries, was co-sponsored by Georgetown University in Washington, the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Center for Theology and Ministry at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .