New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations 18 March 2019 Dear brothers and sisters in Aotearoa New Zealand, It is with profound sadness that we grieve for the deaths and injury of Muslims in Christchurch through the violence of extremists. We grieve too for the loss of a sense of safety and peace for Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Inter faith relations’
New interfaith booklet promotes peace and understanding
Monday, December 10th, 2018The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Relations (NZCBCIR) has released a revised booklet promoting Interfaith Relations in Aotearoa New Zealand – Te Whakatairanga i te Nohotahitanga o ngā Whakapono i Aotearoa. The booklet provides practical guidance and encouragement for people to welcome and nurture relationships with those of other faiths. Chair of the Read more
President Widodo meets with Catholic bishops
Thursday, August 30th, 2018
President Joko Widodo paid a visit to the headquarters of the Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia (KWI) in Jakarta on August 24. Widodo was welcomed by KWI president Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta, secretary-general Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin of Bandung and 8 other bishops. “In the meeting, I talked about issues related to the Pancasila [the Read more
Indigenous Global Ecumenical Gathering meets in New Zealand
Monday, July 30th, 2018The Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia and the Anglican Missions Board in Rotorua are hosting the World Council of Churches (WCC) for its 2018 Indigenous Global Ecumenical Gathering (IGEG) and youth pre-meeting. Read more
Mosque and church are helpful neighbours
Thursday, October 12th, 2017
In Jakarta, a modern 9000 square metre mosque and a colonial-era Christian church sit across the road from each other. Despite their different faiths, the two houses of worship are friendly, helpful neighbours — and an example of pluralism in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation at a time of heightened fears over religious intolerance. Read more
Jesuit priest graduates from Islamic University
Thursday, August 17th, 2017
A Jesuit priest, has gained a doctorate from the State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah in Jakarta. Gregorius Soetomo graduated cum laude on May 24. One of his dissertation supervisors and examiners was prominent Islamic scholar Azyumardi Azra. He became the first Jesuit priest to earn a doctorate in Islamology from the prestigious Islamic university. “I use Read more
Indonesia: Catholic educators draft guidelines to counter extremism
Monday, July 17th, 2017
Catholic education experts in Indonesia are drafting what they say are new school guidelines to counter growing intolerance and radicalism in classrooms. Father Vinsensius Darmin Mbula, chairman of the National Council of Catholic Education says diversity, pluralism and tolerance need to be taught to children in the family and in school. He said advice would Read more
Diwali: A chance for Fiji to proudly celebrate its diversity
Tuesday, November 1st, 2016
In Fiji, where it is a public holiday (31 October), Diwali gives an opportunity for people of different faiths and communities to come together and live in a spirit of communal harmony. Diwali, a Hindu festival, which signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair, involves followers Read more
Muslims drop lawsuit to stop building of Marian shrine in Indonesia
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2016
Local Catholics are glad that a group of Muslims have decided to drop a lawsuit that sought to stop the building of a Marian shrine in Indonesia’s Yogyakarta province. In a surprise move, the 39 Islamic extremists who opposed the construction of a replica of the Lourdes grotto in the Yogyakarta province have withdrawn their Read more
Bishop-elect celebrates ordination with a inter-faith bike ride
Friday, August 5th, 2016
“What a powerful picture… A soon-to-be bishop dressed in a biker suit among 200 other bikers stopping by three evangelical churches for a cup of water and a prayer offered by a pentecostal, an evangelical and a baptist pastor.” “This is a powerful message of unity by a wise and humble leader. Our prayers are Read more