The year of ecumenism, inter-religious dialogues and indigenous peoples
The Philippine Catholic Church, while preparing for the historic celebration of its 500th anniversary, is being confronted with at least three major problems: Global warming and climate change, worldwide terrorism, and endemic poverty and social injustice. This year's response is expressed in the theme: The year of Ecumenism, Inter-religious Dialogues and Indigenous Peoples.
Ecumenism and inter-religious dialogues are imperative in the light of many conflicts around the world involving our Muslim brothers. In the Philippines, a nation of 110 million people there are 90.2 million Catholics (82%), 6.6 million Muslims (6%); and 12.1 million other Christians (11%). The remaining 1% or 1.1 million belong to non-Christian churches like Buddhists, Taoists, and Bahai's as well as indigenous peoples or our cultural communities.
Muslims, Jews, and Christians all come from Abraham, as he was the common forefather of Isaac, Jacob, the twelve tribes of Israel, Moses, David, Solomon, Joseph, and Jesus Christ. Abraham was also the father of Ismael from his wife's Egyptian maid, Hagar, a Muslim. There is then a continuing need for Jews, Muslims, and Christians to come together and nurture what is common among them, rather than focus on what divides them. This year, the Philippine Catholic Church takes it upon itself to lead the inter-religious dialogues, and to include the indigenous peoples in such a coming together of all peoples.
As a deeply religious person, an active Church lay leader, lay minister, and Knight of Columbus, I take it as my responsibility to help the Church push for this. As a lawyer, Law professor, and author of Law and HR books, I always incorporate social encyclicals of the Pope in teaching Labor laws and social legislation, like the Rerum Novarum, the Laborem Excergens, Mater et Magistra, Quadregessisimo Anno, Populurom Progressio and all other relevant teachings of the Catholic Church. It’s every Catholic’s duty to pursue dialogues with Muslims, the INC, the evangelicals, born-again Christians, and even with non-Christians, and find areas of convergence and common principles and values.
I don't think it is difficult to reach a consensus with non-Catholics because the seven themes of the Catholic social teachings are universal and would appeal to the deeper sense of spirituality among all peoples. These are: First, the dignity of life and the human person; second, the call for family, community and participation; third, rights and responsibilities; fourth, the preferential option for the poor and the vulnerable; fifth, the dignity of work and the rights of workers; sixth, solidarity; and seventh, care for God's creation. I don’t know of any religion that doesn’t profess all these seven articles of universal credo and faith.
I believe in Jesus' teaching that faith without action is dead. And action without faith is lifeless. We are all called to action, to reach out to all peoples regardless of race, creed, gender, social status, or ideology. Religions should not divide us but bind us all as children of only one God.
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