How Much Can One Faith Borrow from Another Without Harm to Either

How much can one faith borrow from another without harm to either?

Msgr. Pat Powers' answer:

Each faith adheres to a set of firmly held truths and all engage in dialogue with each other as a means of mutual understanding. The dialogue intensified with the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate). Here, we were encouraged to enter with prudence and charity into discussions and collaboration with other religions. A similar, but later development, took place when the World Council of Churches (founded in 1948) formed a sub-unit in 1971 to promote dialogue between people of living faiths. Rather than borrowing from other faiths, in our search for mutual understanding, we come to see where some agree and where we disagree. The process encourages all of us to deepen our own understanding of various truths.

As a result, we pray together often. Just a few months ago, Ottawa members of the World Council of Churches gathered for prayer in Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. One of the most significant events in recent history was the World Day of Prayer for Peace held in Assisi on October 27, 1986. Pope John Paul II invited leaders from all faiths to fast, walk together and pray for peace in each others’ presence. Later, the Holy Father observed that it was “a concrete example, a catechesis, intelligible to all, of what is presupposed and signified by our commitment to ecumenism and to the interreligious dialogue”.

So we pray together as often as possible for the peace and well-being of humankind and our stewardship of the earth which God has given us. In the recent words of Pope Benedict, Assisi tells us that faithfulness to one’s own religious convictions is expressed in sincere respect for others, in dialogue and in an announcement that appeals to freedom and reason while remaining committed to peace and reconciliation.

Msgr. Pat Powers is rector of Notre Dame Cathedral.