Muslims and Catholics
to Strengthen Ties
From
left: Salam Al Marayati, Shakeel Syed, Sayyid Mustafa
Qazwini, Dr. Maher Hathout, Cardinal Roger Mahoney,
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Dr. Ahmad Sakr, Hussam Ayloush,
and Father Alexei Smith |
Los Angeles, CA: Muslim American
leaders of Southern California met earlier today with Cardinal
Roger Mahony of Los Angeles Archdiocese to discuss the recent
statements of Pope Benedict about Islam, and to reaffirm the
strong bonds of friendship that have existed between the Catholic
and Muslim communities of Los Angeles for several decades.
The Muslim leaders recalled the hurt that many Muslims felt
when Pope Benedict quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor
who stated that Islam was spread by the sword. The Muslim
leaders also said that they welcomed the Pope’s subsequent
statements clarifying his position on Muslim-Catholic relations,
as a step in the right direction. The delegation also condemned
the violent acts that targeted Christian churches and people
in the wake of the Pope’s initial speech.
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Islamic Shura Council
of Southern California, recalled “Nostra Aetate”
- the Second Vatican Council’s document on the Church’s
relations with non-Christians - urging Muslims and Catholics
to re-double their efforts to work more closely on moral,
social and civil rights issues. Muslim and Catholic leaders
have collaborated on issues of health care, education, immigration
and the alleviation of poverty.
“Los Angeles is the capital of interfaith relations
and of diversity,” said Dr. Maher Hathout, Vice-Chair
of the Shura Council.
Both Cardinal Mahony and the Muslim leaders agreed to create
more opportunities at the local level to educate Catholics
and Muslims in Southern California about one another and to
strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between
the two faiths. Cardinal Mahony said the two religions should
seize this “teachable moment” to affirm commonalities
and increase dialogue in all possible areas.
Muslim leaders and Cardinal Mahony discussed a variety of
opportunities for deepening contacts and broadening friendship
between Muslims and Catholics in Los Angeles, including the
“twinning” of parishes and mosques to promote
interfaith understanding; a visit by Cardinal Mahony to a
local mosque; and, a joint Catholic-Muslim delegation from
Los Angeles that would visit Muslim and Christian communities
in the Middle East and the Vatican.
The Muslim American delegation that met Cardinal Mahony at
the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in Los Angeles included:
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqui, Chairman of the Islamic Shura Council
of Southern California; Dr. Maher Hathout, Vice-Chair of the
Shura; Moustafa al-Qazwini, Imam of Islamic Educational Center
of Orange County; Ahmed Sakr, Islamic Educational Center;
Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of the Shura Council; Hussam
Ayloush, Executive Director of the Southern California of
the Council on American Islamic Relations; and Salam Al-Marayati,
Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Also
attending the meeting was Father Alexei Smith, Director of
Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs for the Archdiocese
of Los Angeles.
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