Pope Francis has called on Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, to combat extremism and strengthen interreligious tolerance. The pontiff made the appeal during a speech to national leaders in Jakarta on 4 September at the start of his three-day visit to the country. Speaking with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and other officials, Pope Francis Read more
A few days after Easter marked the end of the Lenten season of fasting, and a few days before Eid al-Fitr marked the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan’s fasting, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Washington, DC, hosted an interfaith discussion on fasting with neighbouring Masjid Muhammad, the Nation’s Mosque. The evening gathering on Read more
The Niwano Foundation awarded the 41st edition of its much-coveted Peace Prize to Prof Mohammed Abu-Nimer, a Palestinian-American who has distinguished himself for his “holistic contribution to the cause of peace.” A scholar and an active and committed person, he spent a life working for peace and interfaith dialogue, with involvement and dedication to his Read more
Commitment to interfaith understanding and cooperation has resulted in Singaporean nun Sister Theresa Seow (pictured) being honoured with an Exemplary Interfaith Award. Jamiyah Singapore – the Muslim non-profit organisation behind the award – aims to “work and contribute towards the welfare and overall development of the Muslim community and mankind”, according to its website mission Read more
Inviting an English Catholic cardinal to take part in the Queen’s funeral signals the new King’s openness to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster’s inclusion was the first time for hundreds of years a Catholic cardinal or bishop has had a role in a royal funeral. Nichols is the president of the Read more
When winter regularly throws you more than 200 inches of snow, make an ice chapel. That was the decision of a group of students at a northern Michigan engineering school back in 2016. Following the success of the first ice chapel, each subsequent iteration included more embellishment. An altar was made from ice cut from Read more
Throughout the year, temples across Japan hold a “ningyo kuyo” (人形供養), a funeral ritual for unwanted dolls — especially traditional dolls. The Shinto belief of animism teaches that everything can have a spirit or soul. The doll funeral speaks to this idea. Read more
The reverend Ethan Stark, ordained by the international heathen organization The Troth, and the reverend Andy Behrendt by the mainline Evangelical Lutheran Church in America hosted “A Pagan and a Pastor: A Necessary Conversation” in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The duo answered some frequently asked questions about their faiths and addressed misperceptions each tradition has about the Read more
Wellington-based theology lecturer Dr Christopher Longhurst has been appointed a Fellow of the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID). Longhurst, (on left in the photograph above) is a theology lecturer at Te Kupenga — Catholic Theological College. He is also on the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Committee for Interfaith Read more
The vicar general of the Auckland diocese, Monsignor Bernard Kiely, told a gathering in Auckland to speak out when terrorist attacks occur. He was giving the homily at a service to remember the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. “Speak out and be very clear that the extremists and the terrorists do Read more