Vatican official says religion promotes peace when it defends freedom

Published: 2007-11-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Religions promote peace when they defend the religious freedom of all, help members learn more about their own religion and encourage them to get to know the beliefs of others, said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. "Ignorance is the first and, perhaps, the principal enemy in the life of believers," said the cardinal, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Writing to the world's Hindus in anticipation of their celebration of Diwali, the feast of lights, Cardinal Tauran said Christians and Hindus share a belief that God is the origin of true peace. Most Hindus will begin their three-day Diwali celebration Nov. 9. The cardinal said Christians and Hindus should work together "to receive God's gift of peace and to spread it around us so that the world becomes for all people a better place to live." He said, "Our respective communities must pay urgent attention to the education of believers, who can so easily be misled by deceitful and false propaganda."

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