The USCCB hosted the conference on 8-9 September 2024. What follows are Bullet Points of Interest.
- Co-Chairs:
- Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, IL See his bio: Cardinal Blase J. Cupich – Archdiocese of Chicago
- Imam Kareem Irfan See his bio: Awards Breakfast – Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago)
- After seven years as Co-Chair, Cardinal Cupich will hand over his role to Bishop Elias Lorenzo, OSB, of Newark, NJ, beginning in 2025.
- Participants reviewed key passages from Pope Francis’ Encyclical FRATELLI TUTTI (On Fraternity and Social Friendship) published 3 October 2020 Fratelli tutti (3 October 2020) | Francis and LESSONS FROM Beiuzzamon Said Nursi’s TREATISE ON BROTHERHOOD
- Fratelli tutti (3 October 2020) | Francis
- This is a link to PhD summary and assessment of Nursi’s Treatise on Brotherhood: 2e.xps (Original text is difficult to find online.)
- Consensus from dialogue with both documents:
- Cognizant of the conflicts of the past and aware of their historical contexts, we ask God to help us see ourselves anew in the present time.
- The necessity of individual and mutual prayer asking God to help us respond to evil with good (Nursi’s Third Principle of the Fourth Aspect of Brotherhood); patience and understanding to illuminate the evildoers suffering as in Luke’s Gospel Sermon on the Plain Chapter 6 vs 27 ff “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you . . .”
- Quotes from the Qur’an include:
- Q 25:46 God created diversity “so that you know one another”
- Q 49:10 “Indeed, the believers are brothers” (i.e., all believers in God)
- A presentation by The PERCEPTION INSTITUTE as to an essential dynamic in active listening, sensitivity, and acknowledgment of our limitations: Mind Science Research to Reduce Harmful Practices | Perception Institute
- Participant Jordan Denari Duffner PhD is finalizing a brochure on ISLAMAPHOBIA in the USA for distribution to Catholic Churches. Professor Duffner, a Dialogue writes a blog and conducts podcasts. Go to: Jordan Denari Duffner
- FUTURE GOALS FOR THE DIALOGUE:
- Collaborate on promoting Educational Resources for Catholics re. the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
- Advance Humanitarian Efforts to the suffering in Gaza through Catholic Relief Services and promote the International Peace Efforts supported by both Jews and Muslims (E.g., I was recently acquainted with the excellent Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue in Jerusalem, Israel)
- Create Prayer and Liturgical Resources for Catholic-Muslim gatherings.
- Commitment to advance Perception exercises and additional LISTENING tools for dialogue on difficult, complex topics
- Commission an Educational Component on ISLAM for Catholic students in their religious education programs.
- Collaborate on Ecological Justice to address the Climate Crisis
- Future Topics of mutual interest: Gender Equality, Systemic Racism, AI concerns, Colonialism (Past and Present), Immigration, Rising Suicide
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