[For more information about this year’s Azhar-
Vatican Dialogue Committee meeting see the previous article and AWR 2009, week 8, article 22]
A group of Vatican
Bishops and Azhar Shaykhs have issued a joint statement calling for the amendment of school books that contain texts
that insult religious feelings. This statement came as part of the activities of the annual Azhar-Vatican Dialogue Committee
that was held recently on February 24 and 25, 2009.
Members of the committee stressed that the importance of reviving
education and culture of peace gives the role religions play special referential aspects. They also observed that the
insertion of texts abusive to religious feelings in school courses leads to the misconceptions one party has about the other.
The role of the media has been moreover confirmed in establishing understanding and thereby good relations reinforcing
respect among religions worldwide.
Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, the Vatican’s delegate in charge of relations with
Islam, pointed out that the ease and mutual understanding with which the meeting was held did not seem to have an impact on
Muslims in general. This, Cardinal Tauran concluded, reflects a major problem regarding the way such dialogue affects
society.
[Reviewer: Similar news was reported in October of March 1, 2009 (p. 19)]
العربية