Religious persecution is not acceptable, Pope Benedict XVI said Friday following a historic meeting between top Catholic and Muslim leaders.
While the three days of Christian-Muslim dialogue focused on encouraging better relations between the world’s two largest religions, the head of the one billion-member Catholic Church stated Friday that individuals should have the right to practice their own faith without persecution.
“The discrimination and violence which even today religious people experience throughout the world and the often violent persecutions to which they are subject, represent unacceptable and unjustifiable acts, all the more grave and deplorable when they are carried out in the name of God” the pontiff said, according to BBC.
Tariq Ramadan, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford who participated in the summit, said he thought Benedict’s points were “fair.”
“No Muslim should avoid speaking about this,” he said, according to Religion News Service.
Last week’s historic Catholic-Muslim meeting was the first of its kind and brought together 48 leading scholars and leaders of both religions. The official theme of the meeting was “Love of God, Love of Neighbor.”
During the Nov. 4-6, meeting, the pope apologized to Muslims for his remarks in the 2006 speech in Germany that referenced a medieval scholar who described Islam as “evil and inhuman” and spreading the faith by violence. The comment had sparked a wave of violence in Muslim-majority countries around the world.
The speech also inspired two open letters to the pope from an international group of Muslims scholars and leaders, which resulted in this past week’s Vatican meeting.
A final declaration was issued from the meeting, which renounces “any oppression, aggressive violence and terrorism, especially that committed in the name of religion,” and affirms respect for “choices in matters of conscience and religion.”
The document also denounces “any form of mockery or ridicule” of founding figures and symbols considered sacred by religious minorities.
"Muslims and Christians have different approaches in matters concerning God... but must consider themselves members of one family," Benedict said during the meeting.
The pontiff challenged the leaders and scholars of both faiths "to overcome past prejudices and to correct the often distorted images of the other, which even today can create difficulties in our relations."
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Psalm 7:9
O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.
Scripture shows that Peters authority was shared by the other apostles (Ephesians 2:19-20) and the (loosing and binding) authority attributed to him was likewise shared by the local churches, not just their church leaders (see Matthew 18:15-19; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Corinthians 13:10; Titus 2:15; 3:10-11). Thus, the foundation of papal infallibility...the existence of the papacy itself, is not scripturally founded.
The only true ROCK is Jesus Christ:
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20).
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded (1Peter 2:6).
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1Corinthians 3:11).
And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ (1Corinthians 10:4).
You're right Cameron, but I think that's what he is saying, he seems to be speaking out against all religious persecution:
"The discrimination and violence which even today religious people experience throughout the world and the often violent persecutions to which they are subject, represent unacceptable and unjustifiable acts, all the more grave and deplorable when they are carried out in the name of God" the pontiff said, according to BBC.
Muslims have been persecuting their own in Afghansitan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia and Turkey. Pope Benedict XVI must include fellow Muslims beside Christians against persecution. A person like Pope Benedict XVI should also tell the Hindus "Thou shall not kill Christians in India".
Pope Benedict XVI should also tel the Protestants and catholics that "Thou shall not kill fellow Christians".
I am not a narrow minded Christian but a human who happened to be Christian seeking to eradicate persecution against all humans because we are all children of Adam and a united family under God.
In thinking about what I wanted to write concerning this article, only one thing came to my mind. Do you remember that bumper sticker that was going around awhile back?
It said: "No Jesus, No Peace - Know Jesus, Know Peace".
Muslims feel that their religion is the most perfect religion. But because it is not working like it should, it must be the fault of the Jews and the Christians. This is why they want so very much to rid the world of Jews, Christians, Hindus, etc., and etc. They feel if they can do this, the world will be a utopia and will usher in a new and lasting peace. Indeed, have they not called the U.S. the "Great Satan"?
But they have been deceived. For even if they were able to rid the planet of all Christians and Jews, they would still know no peace, and would eventually turn on themselves. This is the nature of the one who leads this religion.
Beloved, more than ever now, we must not lose heart or faint. Things are really starting to move now. The stage has been setting for some time now, but now the curtains are ready to be drawn open.
Persecution will come to those that follow Him, as He said it would. It also has been written that this too will increase as the last days continue on. Now, more than ever, is the time to choose sides. It's time to start putting faith into action. It's time to display His love and gentleness. This is what Muslims will respond to, in much the same way the centurions did at the cross. For until these soldiers stood at the foot of the cross, examined the evidence, and proclaimed Him as the Son of God, they only recognized Him as a prophet, or a good man, and they knew no peace.
The Pope is also discussing life issues like the Catholic-Muslim moral belief that abortion is murder and that contraception is a moral evil.
I wish all Catholics would pay more attention to our consistent teaching on contraception. Only 42% of practicing Catholics do not use contraception. It is also reported that only 6% of Protestants believe that Contraception is morally wrong. catholicherald.
Contraception is always morally wrong.
wrhalver,
Do not worry, the Catholic Church has never compromised and will never compromise with the Muslims. Last time I checked historically, it was the Catholic Church always on the front lines against the Muslims not Protestants.
Also, historically speaking it was Protestants who have historically compromised with Muslims for closer relations to help them fight against Catholics like at the battle of Lepanto.
Neither Catholics or Protestants will ever compromise on faith matters. The Pope simply wants to open up dialogue with this monotheistic faith, so that there may be more tolerance and peace between the two faiths so that Christianity can be spread in the Middle East and so Muslims may convert without fear of being killed.
Founded on the Rock, the Catholic Church will never bend on faith or moral issues ever! We will always defend Christianity throughout the world and always be on the front lines.
Where do we read in the scriptures that there will be genuine world peace in these last days?
tallguy, rumor has it the Anti-Christ will be the answer to that prayer, we need to be careful for what we pray for and we need to consider what it will cost for those prayers to be answered in the way we want. Like Jesus prayed in the Garden we need to pray that above all our desires we want more than anything else for God's will to be done.
Thank God for the Pope speaking up in this way! It's time someone stood up as a voice against the violence of Muslim extremists....Way to go Benedict!
Let's pray for world peace and peace between Muslims and christians. This is a great way to start...
A.S.Mathew
Forguve me if I have misinterpreted your comments, but its sound like you are saying that persecution is acceptable in politics only because politics do not come from God.
According to the Bible, God has chosen some to be ministers of His Word even to the point of suffering death.
By no means should this be a suprise to anyone who obeys and serves God. It can be a test as to how serious we are about fearing God, and fearing the world.
Thank God for the Pope for his solid stand to tell the
Muslims friends " Religious persecution is Unacceptable".
In politics, there will be persecution of the other
party because politics is not from God, but those relgious
people who are basically telling about heaven and life
after death is taking a course of action depriving of
others freedom to practice what they believe; besides
to kill them in cold blood is a matter of serious
question. Minority religious followers are
being persecuted in many countries, even in democractic
countries, and this practice of torture, the minority
religious followers has to suffer must be addressed as a serious
offense. Since Christians are fulfilling their mandate
of spreading the gospel everywhere, they have been
targeted for burning and shooting paractice by other
religious radicals. What an irony in a civilized world?
"Muslims and Christians have different approaches in matters concerning God... but must consider themselves members of one family," Benedict said during the meeting."
If Christ is accepted as the Saviour to one group and just a Teacher and Prophet to another, this is the key difference that cannot be ignored.
Christ was not raised onto a cross to be a martyer. He was raised so that we could be freed from eternal damnation.
If we compromise this, then there is no Christianity or Catholic church. There is only The Law which did not offer redemption from sin.