Editorial

Dear friends,

In the best of worlds, this issue of Current Dialogue would have been a joint publication by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) and the Programme on Dialogue and Cooperation of the World Council of Churches (WCC). The entire issue is devoted to a topic, which for many years has been a matter of conversation in staff meetings between the two offices: conversion as an issue in interreligious relations. We began reflecting on the topic, alerted to the increasing problems between our constituency and other faith communities. We heard about problems in India between Hindus and Christians, where aggressive evangelism destroyed the fibre of good neighbourly relations and where legislation against conversion was not ruled out. We heard about conversion as a bone of contention between Buddhists and Christians in Sri Lanka. Also here the threat of legislation against conversion hangs as the sword of Damocles over the communities. We heard about the same in Malaysia as an issue between Christians and Muslims, where the case of Lina Joy caught media attention. We have heard about it in Pakistan connected to accusations of blasphemy against Christians. We heard about it in the case of Afghan national Abdul Rahman, who had converted to Christianity, arrested and charged with apostasy under what was interpreted to be traditional Shari`a laws.

The PCID and the WCC have had a very good and friendly relationship through their dialogue programs. They have addressed issues that have been cutting-edge issues in a world, where religion matters. I think the issue of conversion is one of the most important issues to be addressed by people of religions today. Conversion touches Christian self-understanding, mission, religious freedom and respect for the other, sharing faith. It has ramifications on how we live with each other. It is not only an issue for Christians.

This thematic issue begins with some of the contributions from Lariano, Italy, where the two offices sponsored a multifaith hearing on conversion. Although we have presented the report from Lariano in an earlier issue of Current Dialogue, we decided to reprint it here to provide comprehensive information. The second block of contributions hail from Toulouse, where we organised an intra-Christian consultation in August 2007 trying to articulate topics to be particularly addressed in the end product of this common project: an ethical code of conduct for religious conversions. The key note presentations will give you an idea of where this project needs to go to respond to the many voices present in Toulouse: Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Protestants, Anglicans, Orthodox and Catholics.

This issue would have merited a joint publication of Current Dialogue and Pro Dialogo. Although it was not possible to do so, this issue bears witness to an ecumenical endeavour, which I hope will be a sign for the future, in relations between Christians and in relations between Christians and people of other faiths. I hope the code of conduct will be something Christians could refer to and that people of other faiths could remind Christians of, in situations where arrogance and denigration of the other reigns.

I myself will not be part of the continuation of this project. I have resigned from my position as Program Executive in the Program on Dialogue and Cooperation. I leave the WCC after 18 years and most of them as editor for Current Dialogue. This task has given me invaluable contacts with our constituency and in the case of the Dialogue program, our constituency and readers are Christians as well as people of other faiths. I would like to thank the readers for a pilgrimage together, where we have been able to explore and penetrate together issues in interreligious relations, whether expressing common ground or divisive issues. It has been a privilege. Thank you.

This editorial gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to my friend and colleague in the PCID, Msgr Felix Machado. “The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Felix Anthony Machado of the clergy of Vasai, India, under-secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, as bishop of the diocese of Nashik (area 57,532, population 20,295,000, Catholics 86,750, priests 111, religious 406), India, with the personal title of archbishop.” Blessings of peace upon Fr. Felix in his new ministry.

Finally, we also welcome the Director for the Programme Dialogue and Cooperation, Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana. Shanta introduces himself in this issue of Current Dialogue He has already embarked upon his new role to lead the work of dialogue in the WCC. “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore”.

Sincerely

Hans Ucko

Editor