Timely interfaith talk
News
Almost 60 years to the day since the Second Vatican Council published a ground-breaking document examining the Catholic Church’s approach to Judaism and other religions, the Adelaide Archdiocese will host an hour-long webinar on ecumenical and interfaith matters.
Dr Stephen Downs, chair of the Diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission, will deliver a presentation on the Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) and why it is considered a landmark in Catholic teaching.
The Declaration is a short document, consisting of just five paragraphs.
Dr Downs, a former associate professor with the Australian Catholic University, said revisiting Vatican II’s teaching on other religions was timely in view of rising tensions between religions and cultures around the world and in Australia.
“The Council clearly teaches that since we are all children of God, we form but one community. And it urges us all to work together for mutual understanding, and to preserve and promote peace, liberty, social justice and moral values,” he said.
“Nostra Aetate recognises important truths and values in Judaism, Islam and other religions of the world.”
Dr Downs said the presentation would be an introduction to contemporary Catholic views on the world’s religions for some people while for others it might be a valuable refresher.
The webinar, on Thursday October 23 at 7pm, can be accessed at bit.ly/NostraAetate60
Jump to next article
