Pope Francis & Interreligious Relations
How New Pontiff Crosses Lines of Faith
For the first time in history, the newly elected pontiff chose to be called Francis, a name with significant resonance for the poor and for interreligious relations. On March 13, 2013, the Conclave of Cardinals of the Catholic Church elected Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina as the 266th Pope, bishop of Rome, and successor to St. Peter.
In response to questions, Vatican spokesman Fr. Frederico Lombardi, S.J., clarified that the new pope chose this name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was known as “Il Poverello” (the little poor one) because of his affection and concern for the poor and his simple lifestyle. These have long been hallmarks of the life of Cardinal Bergoglio, who abandoned the elaborate episcopal residence in Buenos Aires for a simpler abode and who used public transportation instead of a chauffeur. He has spoken passionately about the plight of the world’s poor as a scandal that cries to heaven. Read more...
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Parliament Delegation Meets Mexico Guadalajara Style
By Andras Corban-Arthen
In mid-February, a delegation from the CPWR returned to Guadalajara, México for further conversations with our partners from the Carpe Diem Foundation there, as well as with government officials and business leaders, to further explore the possibility of holding the next Parliament of the World’s Religions in that city. As part of this visit, the spring meeting of the Council’s board of trustees was held in Guadalajara, Read more...
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Parliament Task Force Discusses Violence Against Women at U.N.
by Kathe Schaffe
Women's Task Force, Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
The Women’s Task Force was represented as more than 6,000 women from around the world converged on the United Nations headquarters in New York for the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women March 4-15. More than 100 workshops and panels anchored by grassroots women and NGOs explored this year’s theme, eliminating and preventing all forms of violence against women and girls. Read more... |
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Venice School of Human Rights Deadline for Summer Programs April 30, 2013
Applying the "rights-based" approach to national, organizational, and humanitarian bodies on human rights is the methodology studied at the Venice School branch of the European Inter-University Centre. This field of study may alert Interfaith advocates working across sectors to better integrate or advance fairness ideologies in individual or community settings. These trainings are open to academics and professionals... Read more...
Interfaith Caravan of Hope Pushing Immigration Reform Beyond Borders
Immigrants to the United States are often targets of anti-religious bias due to the hostile nature of the immigration debate in our country. A caravan scheduled April 29 - May 31, 2013 by The CHIP foundation, an (International Humanitarian Coalition for Immigration) in East San Diego, CA will utilize faith and spirituality across traditions to reach a higher moral ground in public discourse on immigration. Read more...
The Wisdom of Difficult Listening
By Imam Malik Mujahid, Chair of Board, Parliament of World Religion's
 I did not know him well. But he gave me a very important lesson in listening.
It was days after 9/11 when we were in a CPWR meeting. We were thinking about the future. Everyone was coming up with good ideas. Interfaith people are so much alike. Their smiles, their language, the way they carry themselves is quite similar. So much so that I developed a level of skepticism toward the “interfaith people” as nice people who hang out with the other nice people.
In the meeting, Brother Wayne Teasdale was quiet, listening attentively. And then he spoke. It was the first time I heard him speak. What he had to say literally woke everyone up from “just being nice”.
It is important, he said, that we listen to the voices which are not normally heard. Why not invite extremists to our Parliament? Why not hear from them about their perspectives? Read more...
Last Chance to Register for Monday's Webinar
"How Interfaith Coalitions Can Strategically Combat Hate"
In August 2012, in response to the massacre of six worshipers at a Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the Sikh Coalition petitioned the U.S. Senate to hold a hearing on hate crimes and the threat of domestic extremism. The appeal was endorsed by over 150 organizations and resulted in a hearing the following month that paid tribute to the men and women who lost thier lives in Oak Creek and also highlighted the growing dangers of extremism and religious intolerance in the United States.
Rajdeep Singh, Director of Law and Policy at the Sikh Coalition, will discuss his organization's strategic engagement with government, media, and community groups to make the hearing a reality. Using the hearing as a model, the discussion will focus on advocacy strategies that interfaith organizations can use to combat bigotry and promote social justice. Read More...
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State of Formation
Voices of Emerging Leaders
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You can now have your gift to support our year-long Faiths Against Hate campaign matched by a generous donor to the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions!
As hate is rising in our nation, it is critical that the forces of faith mediate anger and promote the positive energy of relationships. We must build a stronger interfaith movement for the future of our children and the planet.
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