18/09/2009
Press release
Issued by the Catholic Communications Network
Christians and Muslims urged to work together to combat poverty
As we approach the end of the Islamic feast of Ramadan, Christians and Muslims are being encouraged to unite to combat poverty. This is the theme of the Eid message of the Vatican’s Interreligious Dialogue office.
Cardinal Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, calls for a unified approach from Catholics and Muslims to help the poor:
"We all know that poverty has the power to humiliate and to engender intolerable sufferings; it is often a source of isolation, anger, even hatred and the desire for revenge. It can provoke hostile actions using any available means, even seeking to justify them on religious grounds, or seizing another man’s wealth, together with his peace and security, in the name of an alleged “divine justice”. This is why confronting the phenomena of extremism and violence necessarily implies tackling poverty through the promotion of integral human development that Pope Paul VI defined as the “new name for peace” (Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 1975, n. 76).
The Cardinal goes on to cite a life of prayer, fasting and charity as a way of coming together:
"As believers, the desire to work together for a just and durable solution to the scourge of poverty certainly also implies reflecting on the grave problems of our time and, when possible, sharing a common commitment to eradicate them. In this regard, the reference to the aspects of poverty linked to the phenomena of globalization of our societies has a spiritual and moral meaning, because all share the vocation to build one human family in which all - individuals, peoples and nations - conduct themselves according to the principles of fraternity and responsibility."
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