Dialogue between religions is "fundamental" for peace in Pakistan

The Archbishop of Lahore opens a seminar on "Interfaith Harmony, Social Necessity". Dialogue helps eliminate violence. “The Church appreciates the beauty of diversity” and does not “want to convert anyone.”

Lahore (AsiaNews) – Mgr Sebastian Shaw, Archbishop of Lahore, opened a seminar on ‘Interfaith Harmony, Social Necessity’ in Lahore. More than 300 Catholic priests, Protestant clergymen and Muslim clerics took part in the event.

In his address, he said that the spirituality of dialogue "helps negate violent confrontations. Ours is a society divided between religions and sects since the 1980s, but we do not want to convert anyone. The Church appreciates the beauty of diversity, the acceptance and construction of new relationships with our brothers.”

Catholics, the prelate said, "launched the first interfaith commissions in 2003. Our schools have become social institutions; more than 90 per cent of our students are Muslims. We are at the service of society."

According to Asim Makhdoom, president of Kul Masalak Ulema, the greatest challenges to a true interreligious dialogue "come from individual members of groups. Most of these people are only interested in fundraising, travel abroad and personal benefits."

Fr Francis Nadeem, executive secretary of the National Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism, blames the general indifference that surrounds the argument.

“It is sad to say, but this operation is limited to private individuals. The government, like the media, ignores our efforts. Indeed, I would say that the government itself is the major obstacle."

According to 2017 census data, minorities in Pakistan account for 3.53 per cent of the population. In In 1998 they were around 3.7 per cent. Christians dropped from 1.59 per cent to 1.27 per cent, as have almost all other minorities.

For Saeeda Deep of the Centre for Peace and Secular Studies, persecution and discriminatory legislation against non-Muslims weigh heavily on them.

• pakistan
• lahore
• catholic church
• interfaith dialogue
• archbishop shaw
• human rights
• islam
• persecution
• discrimination