Dialogue with Other Religions
Christ asks us to love unconditionally. This means Christians need to be wholeheartedly committed to reaching out to every neighbour and to be concerned for the common good.
The call to dialogue is at the heart of the Church’s vocation. We believe that especially in a multi-faith society, inter-faith engagement is essential. But the first step is always to help Christians know and understand their own faith - what we believe and why - so that together we can positively engage with people from other faith communities.
Here you'll find messages from the Vatican to mark the festivals of the world's major religions along with news and further information.
You may also want to visit our Dialogue and Unity page. Dialogue and Unity is a department of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and has a Committee for Relations with Other Religions.
Meeting God in Friend and Stranger
“Meeting God in Friend and Stranger: fostering mutual respect and understanding between the religions” is the 2010 teaching document on interreligious dialogue from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. It reminds all Catholics that they are called by their Baptism to engage in dialogue with others, and specifically with people of other religions. This is part of the Church’s task of continuing the dialogue that God engages with His Church, and of reading the signs of His will in our times.
The document stresses that this dialogue is not restricted to academics, but takes place where everyday life is shared in an atmosphere of respect and openness. Shared experiences of worship – where the worship takes the form not of coming to pray together, but of coming together to pray, is also a valuable aspect of dialogue, and one which meets appropriately the desire to share occasions of grief, joy and remembrance.
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Nostra Aetate
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions
28 October, 1965
Although this Vatican document is over four decades old, the principles it lays down are as relevant today as ever - especially with ongoing tension in the Middle East and around the world.
The document finishes by pointing to Scripture to encourage us to work together as friends and neighbours describing discrimination as 'foreign to the mind of Christ'.
"The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men, so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven."
Paul VI, Nostra Aetate
Read/download:
Link to Nostra Aetate on Vatican.va
Nostra Aetate The Introduction by Archbishop Kevin McDonald Nov 05
Nostra Aetate The Way Ahead by Archbishop Kevin McDonald Nov 05
Nostra Aetate 40 years on by Archbishop Kevin McDonald
Nostra Aetate Encounter Story by Sr. Roisin Hannaway Nov 05
Nostra Aetate The Changing Face of Europe by J M Gaudeul Nov 05
Nostra Aetate Dialogue of Experience by Peter Bowe Nov 05
Vatican messages
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the Vatican office that promotes mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between Catholics and the followers of other religious traditions, releases messages from its president, Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, to celebrate the major festivals of the world's religions.
Links
Vatican the Holy See
Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
Inter Faith Marriage Network
Muslim/Christian Marriage Support Group
Muslims ask, Christians answer
The Golden Rule - Scarboro Missions
Pope John Paul 11 Address to the Representatives of the World Religions at Assisi on 24 January 2004
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Interfaith Calendar
Interfaith Network for the UK
World Conference of Religions for Peace
Interreligious resources from the Methodist Church