Manila - Catholic priests, Protestant pastors, and imams have founded an association that intends "to accelerate the initiatives for peace between the Christian and Muslim communities" in Mindanao, an island in the southern Philippines. It is an interconfessional reality born with the specific objective of advancing projects aimed at harmony and mutual respect among the various faiths, in an area marked by decades of ethnic and religious conflict.
Fr Amado Picardal, a professor of theology, emphasises the importance of the first "local forum that brings together priests, imams, and pastors (IPPF), a movement formed by Christian and Muslim leaders that is meeting in Davao": it represents a decisive impulse for "focusing the objectives of the interconfessional group", in order to elaborate "a common vision of the work of evangelisation". He stresses that "it is an honour to take part in initiatives of this kind, because they represent a sign of hope on the path of dialogue among the different religions" and the hope that these "can work together to bring peace to Mindanao".
The IPPF forum is a local cell of the larger national conference that brings together Catholic bishops and ulema (BUC), founded in 2002 and engaged in promoting peace and interreligious dialogue. Fernando R. Capalla, archbishop of Davao and co-president of the BUC, thanked the founders of the Christian-Muslim forum, expressing the hope that they can pursue their stated objectives.
Catholic and Muslim leaders have established a common effort for peace, in a reality marked by bloody conflicts that have lasted for 40 years. They also intend to create common programmes aimed at social assistance and welfare for the population, regardless of religious creed. by Santosh Digal
Source: http://www.asianews.it (June 25, 2008)