The PCID and WCC on Thursday released a joint document "Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19".

The document provides a Christian rationale for interreligious solidarity.

"Because interreligious relationships can be a powerful means of expressing and building solidarity, and of opening ourselves to resources coming to us from beyond our limitations, we invite reflection on how we as Christians can become partners in solidarity with all people of faith and goodwill. In this journey towards solidarity, different communities are inspired and sustained by the hope we find in our respective traditions." Read more

Both Jesus and Buddha promoted non-violence and were peacemakers, says Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who is the Council president.

In a letter marking the Buddhist religious festival of Vesakh addressed to "Buddhist friends", the Council urged a unified approach from both religions to help create a peaceful world.

Tauran says the letter notes while Catholicism and Buddhism are unique religions, both agree "violence comes from the human heart, and personal evils lead to structural evils".

If Catholics and Buddhists werre to teach all people the benefits of living a non-violent life, it would involve working together to prevent conflicts and to rebuild broken societies, the letter says.

It would also include urging the media "to avoid and counter hate speech and biased and provocative reporting".

Ways Catholics and Buddhists can respond to the Council's invitation include studying the causes of violence and teaching other Catholics and Buddhists to counter a range of factors that prevent peace and non-violence from flourishing.

The letter includes quotes from both Pope Francis's message for this year's World Day of Peace, and from the Buddhist Dhammapada.

Francis, whose papacy has emphasised disarmament, peacemaking and Christ's teachings about non-violence is quoted as saying:

"He walked that path [of nonviolence] to the very end, to the cross, whereby he became our peace and put an end to hostility," he said.

The Buddhist Dhammapada quote says Buddha "also heralded a message of nonviolence and peace.

"[Buddha] encouraged all to overcome the angry by non-anger; overcome the wicked by goodness; overcome the miser by generosity; overcome the liar by truth," it says.

Source

• National Catholic Reporter
• Lion's Roar
• Catholic Herald
• Image: The Tibet Post

Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of of Ramadan. Literally the word means the "Festival of Breaking the Fast."

Because Islamic calendars are lunar, on the 29th day of Ramadan the crescent moon will show whether Eid falls on July 6 or 7.

In the message the President of the PDIC cardinal, Jean-Louis Tauran, said "We join our prayerful good wishes to those of Pope Francis for abundant blessings during Ramadan and for a lasting joy of Eid al-Fitr. Happy Feast to you all!."

Muslims and Christians working together

The message also expresses the hope that "all work together in assisting those in need." It is a source of great hope when we experience or hear of Muslims and Christians joining hands to help the needy."

"When we do join hands, we heed an important command in our respective religions and show forth God's mercy, thus offering a more credible witness, individually and communally, to our beliefs."

How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated?

At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their best clothes, decorate their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family.

A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques.

Rotorua Muslims share with the needy

In Rotorua members of the Muslim community prepared food for those in need at Love Soup Rotorua this last before eating together to show "they [homeless] were not invisible".

Shiffa Harunani says they tried to fast with both their mouths and with their actions, "to be a good human being."

She said she and her husband donated food to charity Love Soup Rotorua each week, but as part of Ramadan they decided to cook the dinner themselves.

They also invited the Muslim community to join in.

Source

• Supplied
• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: nzherald.co.nz