Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee

In Its Tenth Year

25/2/1416 – 28/5/1425 H.  Corresponding to 23/7/1995 – 16/7/2004 A.D

Introduction:

To be fair and objective I think that the activity of this committee should be placed in the historical context of the dialogue between Muslims and Catholics. This communication between both sides started in the early seventies of the last century. When the two great leaders, King Faisal Bin Abd El-Aziz Al Saud – King of Saudi Arabia, and Pope – Paulos VI – Pope of the Vatican expressed, through their consultants, the importance of starting a dialogue between the Muslims and the Catholics. On Wednesday 7 Safar, 1392 A.H. corresponding to 22 March, 1972 A.D. the Ministry of Justice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia organized three symposia for dialogues in Riyadh, along with a delegation of the greatest Christian jurists and thinkers in Europe, who came to the Kingdom according to arrangements made by the Saudi Embassy in Paris. During two weeks, the two sides discussed together many issues and questions that were raised by the Christian delegation in a tactful and courageous manner.  The events of those valuable symposia were registered in a documentary book entitled (Scientific Symposia).  By the end of this visit, the Saudi Minister of Justice received an invitation to visit Europe from the Head of the Catholic delegation in order to enable the followers of Islam and Christianity to be more acquainted with one another. The invitation was welcomed; reflecting the desire to maintain dialogues that will lead to more understanding and mutual acquaintance. This desire was fulfilled when a delegation from the greatest scholars and thinkers in Saudi Arabia returned the visit.

·        The first meeting between the delegation and their Catholic peers in Vatican City was on 9 Shawal, 1394 A.H. corresponding to 25 October 1974 A.D. The Honorable Supreme Pontiff of the Vatican, Paulos VI welcomed the delegation and encouraged them to continue the dialogue as it is the right way to be acquainted with each other and to achieve peace among people. The dialogue was held between the Muslims and Catholics. The two sides continued their dialogues of issues that were not tackled in Riyadh due to time constraints; they also discussed the recent developments that followed.  At the end, the two sides agreed on the following meanings: (However, the aim of these Symposia is to elevate the subject matter of these Symposia in the cultural rights, to lay down all the instructions that we have and that will help in achieving this aim, to tackle the issues of dialogues impartially, bearing in mind nothing except our desired aim; that is human dignity and his pragmatic duties in respect of the instructions of our divine religion. This shall be fulfilled through the cooperation among all the humans to protect human dignity, human rights to live in peace, and their rights to be treated with justice and equity with no ethical or religious discrimination).   

·        The second meeting was held in Paris on 7 Shawal, 1394 A.H. corresponding to 23 October 1974 A.D.

·        The third meeting was in Geneva – the International Council for Churches on 13 Shawal, 1394 A.D. corresponding to 29 October 1974 A.D. 

·        The fourth meeting was also held in Paris on 17 Shawal, 1394 A.H. corresponding to 2 November 1974 A.D.

·        The delegation ended their round in Strasbourg, the former capital of the European Council on 19 Shawal, 1394 A.H. corresponding to 4 November 1974 A.D.

As we have mentioned above, the events of these Symposia have been registered in a documentary book titled "Scientific Symposia" in (Vatican, Paris, Geneva and Strasbourg). A copy of this book could be obtained from the Secretariat of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue in Jeddah.

In 1992, a delegation of Muslim World League headed by its former Secretary General, H.E Dr. Abdullah Bin Omar Nasif. The delegation included H.E Dr. Mohammed Ma'rouf El-Dawaliby (may Allah bless him) – President of the Muslim World Congress, His Eminence Sheikh Abduallah Bin Beh- Professor at King Abd El-Aziz University in Jeddah and His Excellency Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie – Professor at King Abd El-Aziz University in Jeddah; assistant Secretary General of the Muslim World Congress. The delegation held the Symposia in Paris, Vatican and Madrid. A meeting was held with Honorable Supreme Pontiff Johanna Paulos II, during which formal speeches were exchanged. Symposia for dialogue were held in the presence of a delegation from Saint Agido Association – Rome. It consisted of (Professor Andréa Ricardo, Mons. Johanna Ibrahim, Mons. Vitgenzo Baglia, Father Vittorio Janary and Dr Klaudio Peity). The delegation signed an agreement of dialogue between the two parties. A common Secretariat was formed of: 

           The Muslims                                                The Christians

1- Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie                       Mons. Johanna Ibrahim

2- Mr. Abd El-Latif El-Ketany                              Father Vittorio Janary

The events of these Symposia are registered in a documentary report available in the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue in Jeddah.

In 1993, The World Muslim League organized a Symposium for Muslims-Christians dialogue on the occasion of opening the Islamic Cultural Center in Madrid, the Muslims who participated in the symposium were:

1.     His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Ma'rouf El-Dawaliby

2.     His Excellency Mr. Kamel El-Sherif

3.     His Eminence Sheikh Abduallah Bin Beh

4.     His Excellency Dr. Gafar Shiekh Idris.

5.     His Excellency Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie

The Christians participating were:

1.      Mons. Antonio Petiero, bishop of Morocco.

2.      Mons. Ambrosio Ashbyaria, bishop of Spain.

3.      Mons. Rafael Ghonthalis Moralikho, Bishop of Hoilfa- Spain

4.      Mons. Terry Becker, Deputy Bishop in Wahran- Algeria

5.      Mons. Kholian Hernando, Secretary of relationships with the non-Catholic, Spain

A common statement was issued at the end of the dialogue. The two parties signed the dialogue agreement; the events of the dialogue were recorded in a documentary report available in the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue in Jeddah.

In 1995, an International Islamic delegation paid a visit to Vatican City. The delegation consisted of:

1.     Dr. Ahmad Ali, Secretary General of the Muslim World League

2.     Dr. Abdullah Nasif, Head of Muslim World Conference

3.     Mr. Kamel El-Sherif, Secretary General of the International Islamic Council for Mission and Relief.

4.     His Excellency Dr. Abd El-Aziz El-Twigry, General Manager of the Muslim Organization for Education, Science and Culture.

5.     His Excellency Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie, Assistant Secretary General for Muslim World Conference as well as Head of Muslim Scientific Forum for Dialogue

6.     Dr. Ali Ahmad Goma'a, representative of Al-Azhar

7.     Dr. Ahmad Abou Lilah, representative of Al-Azhar

8.     His Excellency Enayat Allah, From the Muslim World League

9.     His Excellency Dr. Hassan El-Ahdal, from the Muslim World League

10.  His Excellency Dr. Abd El-Latif El-Ketany, Director of Islamic Cultural Center - Rome

11.  Mr. Mohammed Abd El-Satar, Chief Editor of Muslim World

The delegation was met with its peers in Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue -Vatican:

1.     Cardinal Francis Erenzy, Head of Papal Council for Dialogue of Religions.

2.     Mons. Michael Fitzgerald, Secretary of the Papal Council.

3.     Dr. Khaled Oksha, in charge of Islamic relationship Office in Papal Council.

4.     Mons. Loigy Gaty, from the Secretariat of Vatican City.

5.     Mons. Pier Giorgio Potzy, from the Secretariat of Vatican City.

6.     Father Christian Trol, preparer of the oriental studies- Rome.

7.     Dr. Vincentzo Ponomo, Latran Papal University- Rome.

8.     Father Morris Borman, Pontifical Institute for Islamic Studies – Rome.

 

At the end, the dialogue and counsels between the two delegations resulted in: the conclusion of an agreement between them, the formation of a committee under the name (The Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee) and their approval upon the formation of a Secretariat that will help the Liaison Committee.

This secretariat consists of:

1.     His Excellency Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie - Muslims side.

2.     His Beatitude Mons. Michael Fitzgerald – Catholics side.

The articles of the agreement were as follows:

1.     The Muslim party of the committee consists of representatives of the Muslim World League, Muslim World Congress, Organization of Islamic Conference and the International Islamic Council for Daw’a and Relief as well as Al-Azhar. While the Christian Party consists of representatives of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and other departments of the Vatican.

2.     The Committee membership will be at the level of employees (official level) taking into consideration continuation of work. It goes without saying that if an employee was unable to attend, another employee would be sent instead.

3.     A mutual secretariat for the Committee will be formed from one member from the Christian party and another from the Muslim party, the latter decided to assign Dr.Hamid Bin Ahmad El Refaie for this purpose. Father Khalid Oksha from the Christian party was the Committee Secretariat to be assigned or to assign someone on his behalf in future.

4.     The Committee meeting will be held once a year or more than once, the matter that will be decided. The Christian and Muslim parties shall hold the meetings successively.

5.     The Committee will discuss matters of great importance to both Christians and Muslims and study how religious values contribute in solving problems. The Committee may seek the assistance of experts to study such matters.

6.     Those responsible for the Committee will convene from time to time -as they may find necessary- to discuss the real Islamic- Christian relations, evaluate the Committee work and ensure that the decisions made were fully applied.   

7.     Each party will bear the travel expenses while the hosting party will bear accommodation expenses.

·        Later on, the Muslim party defined the names of its representatives in the Committee as follows:

First: The Muslim World League:

1.      Dr. Ahmad Mohammed Ali

2.      Mr. Rahmat Allah Enayat Allah

Second: The Muslim World Congress:

1.     Dr. Abdullah  Omar Nasif

2.     Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad El Refaie

Third: The International Islamic Council for Daw’a and Relief 

1.     Sen. Kamel El Shrif

Fourth: Organization of Islamic Conference

1.     Dr. Abd El-Aziz El Twigry

Fifth: For Al-Azhar (assigned by Al Azhar Sheikh)

Later on, Al Azhar Sheikh decided to assign representatives for Al-Azhar in their functional capacities as follows:

1.     Deputy of Al-Azhar

2.     Secretary General of the Research & Studies Center in AL-Azhar

As for the Christian party, the assignment of the Christian representatives in the Committee was postponed for reasons related to it but later on it appointed the following persons:

1.     Cardinal Francis Erenzy

2.     Mons.Michael Lewis Fitzgerald

3.     Father Dr. Khalid Oksha and others

At the end, the participants decided to continue their cooperation and communications. The meeting, held in the following day, which discussed the role of women in society both in Christianity and Islam was a good start for the Committee works.  

The Committee continued its work regularly in an efficient manner as follows:

1)    Nine regular sessions, and

2)    three exceptional sessions were held

3)    of which nine statements were issued concerning the ordinary sessions, and

4)     two statements and one minutes concerning the exceptional sessions

5)     the mutual secretariat issued statements and reports concerning national issues:

a)     Bosnia and Herzegovina

b)    The issue of El Nazareth mosque

c)     Violation in the Holy lands (Palestine)

d)    Eleventh of September events in New York.

e)     The war in Iraq

f)      Joint messages to (President Bush, President Saddam and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair)

As for the issues, which the Committee discussed in its regular sessions:

First session:

1.     Women status in society.

2.     Coordination concerning Women Conference that will be held in Beijing.

Second session:

3.     Justice and human dignity.

4.     Preserving the environment and human security.

5.     Poverty and relief ways.

Third session:

6.     How Muslims and Christians address each other.

7.     Minorities rights in the two parties.

Fourth session:

8.      Duties of men and women towards family and society.

9.       Religion and human rights and duties.

10.  Children rights in family and society.

Fifth session:

11.  Building the culture of dialogue among the contemporary generations.

12. Common work to confirm religious principles in the frame of the changes in the global system.

Sixth session:

13. Citizen rights and duties

14. Coordination and cooperation possibility in the fields of international conferences.

Seventh session:

15. Religion and the dialogue of civilizations in globalization.

Eighth session:

16. Religion and racial discrimination as well as religion and the culture of dialogue.

Ninth session:

17. Human dignity and rights during wartime.

18. Islamic—Christian relations concerning a number of current issues.

The number of subjects agreed upon by the Muslim and catholic sides as stated in the mutual statements issued by the Committee and signed by the two parties drawn up in duplicate in Arabic and English languages, each has one of the original as agreed upon. There are more than 49 subjects that can be worthy basic references for a serious and fair international charter. These subjects are as follows:

1.     Confirming women status in society

2.     Respecting women rights and role in society.

3.     Reservation against what is mentioned in the Charter of the United Nations concerning disregarding the religious principles and values.

4.     Continuing communication before and after Beijing Conference to promote women's dignity and efficient role in family and society.

5.     Preserving society from injustice, environment pollution and increasing poverty, as part of religious and political institutions' responsibilities.

6.     Calling the religious and political institutions to hold meetings, each in its specialization, gathering whenever possible, in order to study the threats that face human dignity and environment, and to try to overcome them, recognizing the close relationship between them.

7.     Asking the governmental and non-governmental institutions, the religious organizations, the scientific centers and cultural research centers to cooperate to eliminate the reasons for violating human dignity, environment safety, helping the poor and providing them with their basic needs like: residence, food and health.

8.     Calling experts from both parties to prepare studies on specific subjects, to be submitted to the committee for examination in the future.

9.     The participants express their great sorrow for the seven killed Algerian monks. At the same time, they condemn and refuse all forms of violence.

10.The participants express their happiness for holding the meeting in Egypt and their appreciation for the greater Imam Sheikh Al-Azhar's participation.

11.The two parties understand the problems that face the minorities in many countries in the world trying to contribute in solving such problems.

12.Co-operating to achieve better life for the contemporary human societies.

13.Human’s dignity is a gift from Allah. It is the basic source of the human rights and duties as correlative and complementary values to fulfill the will of Allah, the Great and Almighty.

14.The basic unit of the society is represented in the family that is based on the lawful marriage between man and woman and also the integral sharing between them.

15.Child’s right in life and living in a proper family atmosphere in addition to education and religious upbringing.

16.It is so significant for the dialogue to be clarified to include the gatherings that encourage understanding and mutual respect.

17.Dialogue should be based on developing the mutual confidence for fulfilling justice, peace, respecting human's dignity and achieving the safe human coexistence.

18.The dialogue's culture should be founded on the faith in the One God and the activation of the moral values according to Allah’s will.

19. ِAssuring the necessity of warning of the importance of the religious values regarding directing the political leaderships to create a world order that achieves welfare for the human communities.

20.Respecting the right of living for citizens and not violating this right, as it is a gift from Allah, the Great and Almighty.  

21.Human’s dignity is sacred for its self, regardless of gender, descent and religion.

22.Respecting the justice right for citizens, hence ensuring the right of equality towards law.

23.Respecting the individual privacy of the citizen and his family without harming the others.

24.Cooperation and coordination in order to protect the religious and moral values as well as family that is founded on the lawful marriage between man and woman.

25.Ensuring that the civilization with its two parts, material and technological, is a general human heritage. Moreover, we have to keep its positive sides, spread its utility among people and develop it to be of use and welfare for all human communities.

26.Ensuring that the religious values should be the basic launching point for guiding the humanity, to secure human dignity and achieve environmental safety and safe coexistence among people.

27.Ensuring the importance of dialogue among civilizations for mutual acquaintance, making progress together peacefully and friendly, and for protecting the human communities from disasters, poverty, ignorance, moral deterioration, family disunity, wars and mass destructive weapons.

28. Rejecting the saying of the necessity of clash of civilizations and conflicts between communities.

29.Acknowledging the importance of globalization and its benefits in principle and warning of its significance that hinders creating a fair world order agreed upon, without commitment to the fair standards in achieving the mutual interests of people that also hinder respecting the religious and cultural values of the human communities.

30.Working together for spreading the culture of dialogue and creating accountability among human generations.

31. Resisting the phenomena of the excessive consumption and protecting the human’s dignity and rights.  

32. Resisting the aggression, persecution, injustice and ensuring the refugee’s rights in returning to their homes as well as rejecting all forms of discrimination between nations. 

33.Disapproving the violation of sanctums and offending worship places in addition to the commitment of the mutual work for respecting and protecting sanctums. 

34.Ensuring the belief that Allah, the Great and Almighty, has created all people equal in dignity. Consequently, we reject all forms of racial discrimination.

35.We condemn the racial discrimination that occurs in a lot of societies and shoulder our responsibilities by doing our best in order to correct the concepts and wrong opinions that cause the racial discrimination.

36.Calling individuals, educational and information authorities for contributing to the efforts of fighting racial discrimination.

37.Believing that the commitment of the religious values and purposeful dialogue for fulfilling understanding and mutual respect should aim at creating a world prevailed by justice, security and peace.  

38.The commitment of spreading the culture of dialogue and working together in order to generalize it in all communities through programs of culture and education.

39.Because we believe in the One and Only God, Christians and Muslims, so first of all we realize that Peace is one of the holy names of Allah and that the human dignity is a gift from Him. Therefore, we call for praying to Him constantly for peace and assure that justice and peace are the cornerstone for establishing relationships and coexistence among people.   

40.Calling for the immediate ceasing of wars and all forms of fighting with weapons as well as all kinds of aggression on the security and stability of people and their rights in self-determination. 

41.Calling for rescuing and protecting people's life and dignity, especially innocent people; children, women, elderly and old people in particular.

42.Calling for respecting the rights of civilians and prisoners in case of war and fights with weapons. 

43.Calling for not preventing people from water, food, medicine or health care in case of war. Using this way of prevention as a war weapon is prohibited.

44.Calling for not destroying houses, shoveling farms, annihilating animals and other fundamentals of life, in case of war.

45.Calling for respecting the sacred and worship places as well as respecting the right of worshiping therein and the necessity of their protection in case of war or peace.

46.Ensuring the religious freedom and the freedom of performing the worship rituals and their privacy.

47.Ensuring that violence breeds in violence. Therefore, the cycle of violence has to be ceased.

48.We announce and assure that dialogue is the best and most peaceful way to tackle crises and ceasing wars and fights. Consequently, we encourage the development of the culture of dialogue.      

49.Using the mass media and all legal means as well as activating the common work of the committee on the regional and international levels for applying the above mentioned values and principles.  

It is worth mentioning that:

1.     The total number of the exchanged messages between Muslims and Catholics regarding the committee’s works during the last ten years exceeded 175 messages. 

2.     The phone calls lasted for approximately 965 minutes.

3.     The participants of both parties in the dialogue in the committee's works were about 197 people. 

The information activity:  

Here, we will mention only what the Muslim party has done. After each session of the Islamic-Catholic Communication Committee, the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue used to do the following: 

1.     Sending the common statement of the session to the Islamic organizations that are members of the forum and the International Islamic Council for Daw’a and Relief.

2.     Sending the common statement of the session to the public religious and international cultural organizations that are more than 4000 organizations.

3.     Sending the common statement to the international and regional organizations and foundations such as the United Nations, the European Council, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Arab League.

4.     The statement shall be presented in Arabic and English on the web site of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue on the internet (www.dialogueonline.org). The site is visited by more than two millions visitors weekly.

5.     Both copies of the statement, Arabic and English, shall be distributed on the local and international news agencies. 

6.     Responding to the mass media, the President of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue will talk about the activities of the Islamic-Catholic Liaison Committee after each session. 

7.     The International Islamic Forum for Dialogue has issued ten books about the culture of dialogue. There are another five books in press in addition to a lot of articles written by the President of the Forum Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie, the President of the Muslim World Congress Dr. Abdullah Nasif and the Secretary General of International Islamic Council for Daw’a and Relief Sen. Kamel Al- Sherif.  

8.     The Forum and the Muslim World Congress participated in more than 98 forums and conferences on the regional and international levels during the last period.

9.     The International Islamic Forum for Dialogue, in cooperation with the Muslim World Congress and the International Islamic Council for Daw’a and Relief, held many conferences and symposia regarding the culture of dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations in many cities such as (Cairo, Riyadh, Oman and others). 

10.The Forum has made many conventions for dialogue with a number of authorities and regional as well as cultural organizations all over the world. 

11.  By an invitation of a number of authorities, organizations, conferences and regional and international symposia, the President of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue Dr. Hamid Bin Ahmad Al-Rifaie has given a number of lectures about the culture of dialogue between religions, cultures and civilizations.

Prepared by the Secretariat General

Under supervision of Mr. Mujahid Al-Rifaie

The General Manager of the International Islamic Forum for Dialogue

Jeddah - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia