Archbishop of Vasai: Nostra Aetate, the "the art of living together" between different religions
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - In Asia, "there is no other way to communicate with each other - in adherence to our ethics, culture and Asian mentality - if not through respect for the sanctity of human life. We cannot spread the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus, who is the living Word, without a deep respect for other people. This means that 'dialogue is indispensable'”, says Msgr. Felix Anthony Machado, archbishop of Vasai (in the Indian state of Maharashtra) and President of the Office for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).
Marking the 50th anniversary of the conciliar declaration Nostra Aetate on religions Christian. According to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, the prelate continues, "respect for human life, of his inviolable dignity, is the basis of interreligious dialogue."
"Nostra Aetate - Declaration on the Relationship of the Church with Non-Christian Religions" is one of the 16 documents of Vatican II [in all four constitutions, nine decrees and three declarations were published - ed] and was published October 28, 1965 .
Before that date, continues the bishop, "the scholars of religions, especially Christian ones, studied and read the sacred texts of other religions. There were also cordial relations between believers of different religions. What has changed since then is the way Nostra Aetate made Christians aware of the reasons for our relationship with different religions. " The Council declaration he says, "has made people conscious of the characteristics of our time, which is a time when men are much closer and the bonds of friendship between different peoples are strengthened."
Nostra Aetate "encourages a positive, friendly and constructive relationship, between people of different religious traditions. The Catholic Church teaches that dialogue is part of her evangelizing mission. If, on the one hand, the Church encourages Christians to be open to dialogue with the other, on the other asks it asks them to remain grounded in the essential truth of their faith. "
Msgr. Machado points out, however, that there is a profound difference between the Church's call to promote interreligious dialogue and the way in which governments encourage religious harmony, often under the control of the State. "It is not enough to control people through the laws," he says. Rather we need to promote "the art of living together in society between followers of different religions. Religion is not just a private affair. It is inevitably a public reality. Religions must never allow themselves to be manipulated to serve the interests of anyone. "
Today more than ever, continues the bishop, "Christians live in many societies marked by tensions and conflicts between religious communities, that feed a climate of widespread fear and suspicion, where people are overwhelmed by impotence and resignation."
Instead the Church "encourages Christians to live their faith by building bridges of friendship to overcome religious boundaries. Inviting the faithful of different traditions to work together in all levels of society, Christians bear witness to the values of the Kingdom of God as preached Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the world. "
The prelate stresses the importance of "cultivating relationships between religions, especially in good times. Do not wait until the crisis takes over. Living the truth of the Christian faith in a multi-confessional society is the challenge and the Catholic Church is responding to it in a commendable way "
This means the Christian community must take on a leading role in society: "We must be active and committed participants, witnessing to hope in an ecumenical and interreligious environment around making an extraordinary contribution in the heart of the church".
Finally, Msgr. Machado says papal encyclicals, including Laudato sì, are rooted in Nostra Aetate as basic teaching of the Church. He remembers that even "the first encyclical of Pope John Paul II saw the terrestrial globe as a map of various religions [Redemptor hominis, chap. II, para. 11 - Ed]. Today Laudato sì on the environmental doctrine of the Church, focuses on respect and care for creation as a vital element of our dialogue and cooperation among believers".
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07/11/2005
