Notes from May 2007 Dialogue-Other 1 Group Conference Call
Notes: Chapter Acts implementation Conference Call, “Dialogue-Other” Group 1
Date: May 2, 2007
Participants: Barbara Boudreau, Mary Boys, Jane Ellen Burns, Ann Marie Joyner, Rosemarie Kasper
Introduction: Welcome to Mollie Reavis. Mollie grew up in Medford, with a Catholic mother and a father who became a Catholic at age 82. Her mother was always inclusive of others: “God will be the judge and what's important is to be kind.” Mollie teaches at St. Mary's Academy in Portland. The Academy's Muslim students got her interested in their faith. A professor at Portland State U., Wajdi Said, and a Presbyterian
minister, Rev. Chuck Cooper, formed the Institute for Christian-Muslim Understanding in 2002 and invited Mollie to join. This group holds public lectures and potluck suppers to foster Christian-Muslim understanding. Mollie has learned about Islam as well as about other Christian denominations. Another group in Portland, the Muslim Educational Trust, has established an Islamic elementary school and plans to open an Islamic high school in the fall. Mollie has been a consultant for the new high school. It will be coeducational; head scarves will be optional for girls; the curriculum will be similar to St. Mary's curriculum; and a course in World Religions will be included.
Reading/Discussion:
Christian and Jews in Dialogue: Learning in the Presence of the Other
Barbara found the Dialogues and Proclamations impressive and challenging. What encouraged her was that engaging in dialogue is a commitment to be transformed. Dialogue partners are companions on the path--personal transformation has to continue whether successful or not.
Challenging is the statement in #29, “ . . . .it will be in the sincere practice of what is good in their own religious traditions and by following the dictates of their conscience that the members of other religions respond positively to God's invitation and receive salvation in Jesus Christ, even while they do not recognize or acknowledge him as their saviour.” Mary feels that certainly there is triumphalism in the document, but there's also some advance. She cites # 42 on the three forms of dialogue: 1) of life, 2) of action, 3) of theological exchange, and stresses #s 41, 46, 47 and urges us to take what is good and leave behind what is not. Fran remarked on the importance of communication. #46 stresses dialogue as a way of life. Also #55, we walk the journey together.
In terms of Mary's book: Did the question of the Israeli -Palestinian conflict ever cause any problems?
Mary said this was extremely complex and of course there were questions.
Mollie said she had heard about the four forms of dialogue from a Presbyterian minister.
Barbara: We have a need to study theology, to learn terms of the correct expression, not personal opinions.
Mary: #77 on the weight of history-- What we have to bring to dialogue is humility. Our church's history is not exactly innocent. Tolerance was not a virtue in previous times. We need to bring out the ”infected worm” in our backgrounds; bring out our imperfection, those strong feelings coming from the pain of the people.
Mollie was blindsided in her work by the Pope's statement about the Muslims. We need to become interpreters of our tradition.
Mary: the Motu Proprio. The Pope seems to be bringing back the Tridentine Mass, praying for the Jews. It's necessary ft have personal lead rather than Church lead.
Rosemarie: Indian discrimination is still going on . We all suffer from lack of understanding and dialogue. They are introducing a Native-American Mass, retreats and culture. She recommends “The Lady Blackrobe.”
Summer/Fall Group Meeting July/Sept may be too soon. Need to clarify purpose of a gathering.
Next Conference Call: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 5:30 pm PDT/8:30 pm EST Prayer: Rosemarie
Commonweal, 134:1 1/12/07
“Praying to Buddha: Living Amid Religious Pluralism,” Peter C. Phan,
