European religious leaders say faith symbols
'offend no one'
A Christian Orthodox metropolitan, a Lutheran bishop and a Roman Catholic cardinal have joined other religious leaders in defending the public display of faith symbols in Europe.
"Christianity, Islam and Judaism are part of European history, while other great religious traditions have also found a place in the continent today," the Oslo-based European Council of Religious Leaders said in a statement after their meeting in Berlin earlier in March.
"The public display of religious symbols or celebration of religious festivals should be seen neither as offensive to other religions nor as a threat to social cohesion," they stated. "Religious minorities in Europe do not generally feel offended by Christmas or Easter celebrations in countries where this is a tradition, as long as their own religious freedom is respected."
The statement was issued after a two-day meeting in the German capital of the council, which was formed in March 2002 to promote conflict resolution through "multi-religious action projects". It is one of four regional inter-religious councils within the New York-based World Conference of Religions for Peace network.
Local and national governments were urged to "engage constructively with religious communities", and to help foster inter-religious dialogue as "a tremendous strength when relationships between communities deteriorate".
However, the statement issued on March 6 added that dialogue should also reflect "a variety of worldviews or ethical systems and interpretations" and needed to promote the participation of all people in society.
"Religion continues to have an important role to play in the public life of a Europe with many religions - this applies to minorities and majorities alike," said the council, which is headed by Gunnar Staalsett, the retired Lutheran bishop of Oslo, and includes Cardinal Godfried Danneels of Belgium and the Russian Orthodox Church's foreign relations director, Metropolitan Kirill.
The 30-member council also includes Orthodox bishops and metropolitans from Albania, Greece and Serbia, and Protestant representatives from Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, as well as Catholic leaders from the Netherlands and Ireland.
Non-Christian members includes Bosnia-Herzegovina's Muslim Rais-ul-ulema, Mustafa Ceric, and France's Jewish Chief rabbi, Alexis Blum, as well as Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians.
By Jonathan Luxmoore, Ecumenical News
International