PHILIPPINES - Philippines sets stage for interfaith partnership

MANILA (UCAN) — The “rich tradition” of cooperation between bishops and Muslim leaders in the Philippines inspired interfaith peace and development talks between more than 60 countries to be held here next week, government organizers say.

The government-hosted Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development will run from March 16-18.

It will not discuss theology but focus on common interests of faith groups in dealing with poverty, development, peace, order and security.

The aim is to come up with a plan to tackle these problems together.

“This meeting came about because of the rich tradition and success of religious-cultural dialogue here exemplified by the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC),” Department of Foreign Affairs official Leslie Gatan said.

“The BUC is an example of community involvement in a dialogue for peace, attempting to mediate in the Mindanao peace process,” the foreign affairs official said.

Some 67 countries of the 118 in the Non-Aligned Movement have confirmed they will send representatives. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference will also attend.

The conference will feature sharings of religious leaders, civil society and businessmen involved in peace building.

There will be two discussions run by William Bentley, secretary general of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, on Global Issues that affect Peace and Development.

Reverend Christopher Ferguson, World Council of Churches Representative to the United Nations, will present a paper on Collaboration Between Government And Civil Society On Interreligious Dialogue.

Catholic Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao told UCA News that Pakistan’s foreign minister wants to bring 12 delegates, including religious leaders, to the meeting and hopes to visit Mindanao.

During BUC members’ visit to Pakistan in January, “the foreign minister and his deputy ministers showed great interest in our programs and we invited them to come to Mindanao after the NAM meeting,” the archbishop said.

The Bishops-Ulama Conference brings together 24 Catholic bishops, 26 Muslim religious leaders and 18 Protestant bishops and pastors in a permanent forum for dialogue.

It holds a meeting of bishops and Islamic scholars every three years as well as the Imams-Priests-Pastors Dialogue aimed at ending religious and cultural prejudice in communities.

It also hosts exchange dialogue programs involving youth and leaders from Indonesia and other countries.

Recently, it oversaw the government’s Konsult Mindanaw series of consultations with communities and sectors on government peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

(Published in UCAN News, March 10)