Vatican Considers Establishing a "Trialogue" to Include Muslims

January 27, 2006

Source: Houston Chronicle

Wire Service: AP

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/3617171.html

On January 27, 2006 the Associated Press reported, "The Vatican is exploring whether to expand its Catholic-Jewish dialogue to include Muslims, although talks are at a very initial stage, a Vatican official said Friday. Monsignor Michael Fitzgerald, who heads the Vatican's office for interreligious dialogue, made the comments after the World Jewish Congress said its chairman, Rabbi Israel Singer, had discussed the initiative with Fitzgerald and other high-ranking Vatican officials during a visit to Rome. The main point of the talks was to intensify the Vatican's official dialogue with Jews, but they also included 'specific possibilities to expand interfaith talks to also include representatives from the Islamic faith,' the WJC said in a statement. Details on establishing a 'trialogue' would be discussed in future meetings, the statement said. 'It is important to enter into discussions with the third "Abrahamic child" - Islam,' Singer said in the statement. 'No one in the meetings has underestimated the difficulties in bringing about a meaningful dialogue. But we all agreed that the principle of mutual respect can override differences that exist between the religions.'"