| Author | Message | ||
| Hale, John and Silvana (Jehale) Moderator Username: Jehale Post Number: 69 Registered: 3-2007 |
I would like to share this timely message from Fr. Treacy, previous pastor here at St Patrick Church: August 26, 2010 Dear Friends, On October 2 we plan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the launching in 1960 of the interfaith TV program "Challenge." A dinner will be held at Campion Hall, Seattle University at 7 p.m. We are hoping to have 400 guests and that you will be present! The same weekend, also October 2, there is an international congress of priests and lay people involved in the Engaged Encounter program for those planning marriage. In the past ten years we had about 2000 couples participate in this program at Camp Brotherhood. Several delegates will meet with me at Camp Brotherhood the last week of September. Recently we had a delegation from an organization that was new to me. It is called Urantia. The members are from different religions and countries. They share their faith journey with each other. It was their first time at Camp Brotherhood. They invited me to speak on the subject of "Abba," the term Jesus used for God. There was a fascinating half hour of discussion that followed my presentation. The very concept of an interfaith center and of my involvement in interfaith ministry for 50 years was a message they appreciated. On Wednesday morning, August 25th, I spent from 9-12 with the staff of the Catholic grade school in Mount Vernon discussing how to implement the Charter of Compassion adopted by the city of Seattle on April 26, 2010. I was very impressed by the outline each teacher had prepared on how to present and live the spirit of compassion with their classes. The subject will also be included in talks to the parents of the children. It began with a 20-minute video of Karen Armstrong speaking on compassion. St. Paul said, "I see now dimly as in a faulty mirror." [I Cor. 13:12] I see hope for improvement of Catholic-Muslim relations in the future as we seek to discover and live the way of compassion. Please read the following paragraphs: Beware the world's most threatening religion, a dogmatic, anti-democratic spiritual regime governed by clerical tyrants bent on worldwide domination! Migrants and refugees escaping political repression in their homelands, they cross the ocean determined to exploit the very freedoms they will eventually strive to overturn. Garbed in religious costume to set them apart, the swarthy foreigners huddle in enclaves in our cities and towns. Bent on undermining our values and transforming our way of life, they swear allegiance to an authoritarian despot who issues religious edicts that govern virtually every aspect of their lives, from how they are to vote to how many children they are required to have. Their treatment of women is especially barbaric. Among their number are many given to violence, embedded in secret underground networks. Despite their apologists' denials, the mass of believers is sympathetic to terrorists and shares their basic political orientation. And make no mistake: the new immigrants seek to establish their own schools, seminaries and "private" religious institutions, which will serve as safe houses and nurseries of radical religion and revolution. The above was an article decrying the hordes of Catholics coming to America in the 19th century. Scott Appleby, at the Krol Institute for International Peace Studies at Notre Dame, writes, "Tomorrow's world may be shaped by Catholic-Muslim relations. It would help all of us to recognize the common ground instead of pointing across the divide."We need to remember the statement of the Second Vatican Council on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions: "The Church also has a high regard for the Muslims.... Over the centuries many quarrels and dissensions have arisen between Christians and Muslims. The sacred council now pleads with all to forget the past, and urges that a sincere effort be made to achieve mutual understanding for the benefit of all; let them together preserve and promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values." Scott Appleby points out, "In many places in the world Muslims are victims of political domination and state violence. This provokes them to respond with violence." He concludes, "The pressing question for the 21st century is how individuals, groups, institutions and organizations that define themselves as religious or faith-based can identify and strengthen points of convergence and work to bridge differences with governments, agencies, institutions and individuals that do not." Camp Brotherhood will have a new name as of January 1. It will be known as Cascadia Center at Camp Brotherhood. In 1960 "Challenge" addressed at the time tensions between Catholics and Protestants and Jews and Christians. Now at the Cascadia Center we will focus on violence in the human family, on family needs and on our common ground with Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and where we can find some areas of concern with those not affiliated with any religion, and how all can live by compassion. We shall endeavor to be always mindful of the prayer of Jesus for the human family in John 10:16, "I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must lead them too.... There shall be one flock." We follow Jesus when we follow the way of compassion as is also expressed by the prophet Malachi. "Have we not all one Father? Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with each other violating the covenant of our father?" I count on your support and prayers for Cascadia Center on the road ahead. Sincerely, William Treacy If you like this message, check out Fr. Treacy's new video at: http://campbrotherhood.com/times-of-challenge/ |
